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C’s get degrees, but a C- might not
ANDREW EPPERSON | MUSTANG NE WS PA SS OR FAIL
| The Academic Senate might change the passing grade for credit/no credit classes from a C- to a C based off an executive order passed by the California State University Chancellor Timothy White.
Naba Ahmed @nabaahmed
Credit/no credit classes may be more difficult for students to pass if a resolution from the Academic Senate is approved. The resolution was discussed at the Senate’s April 12 meeting, but was tabled until its next meeting on May 3. If passed, the resolution would raise the passing grade for a credit/no credit course from a C- to a C and would take effect starting Fall 2016. The main reason for this proposed change is an executive order passed by California State Chancellor Timothy White that requres A1, A2, A3 and B1 classes to be passed with a C, not a C-, to get credit. Because the executive committee in the Academic Senate did not want to approve that, the committee is proposing the C rule on all classes instead of only those four categories. One other debate that led to this possible change in the Academic Senate is that technically a student could take 12 units of credit/ no credit courses in one quarter. If that student received a C- in each of those classes, they would get credit for all of them. However, that student would immediately be placed on academic probation because they would have a 1.7 term grade point average. “A lot of professors are saying
that we essentially passed this 13 years ago,” Academic Senate Chair Gary Laver said. “In re-thinking the logic, we should not allow a 1.7 because that is not good enough.” Laver had the first reading of the proposed resolution at the Academic Senate meeting April 12. Due to the time sensitivity of this resolution, Laver entertained moving it to a second reading. In different circumstances, the resolution would be set aside after the first reading and then debated at the next Senate meeting. After a second reading, Laver allowed comments from those in attendance. “In order to meet the registrar’s deadline and get it done before fall, we need this all to happen now,” Laver said before the meeting. However, the resolution was not voted on and was instead tabled for another meeting. Meeting attendees said that because the registrar has to make the final decision, they did not need to vote on it April 12. The next steps on the resolution will be discussed at further Senate meetings. The resolution’s terms A resolution similar to the one discussed April 12 was approved in 2003, according to Laver.
“When the formal document was es CR/NC in accord with the passed in 2003 and sent to the pres- following specifications: CR ident, there was no action,” Laver requires the student earn a C said. “The Academic Senate dis- or higher.” covered for a small period of time “The resolution that the executive in 2003 there was a small subset of committee came up with now will resolutions that never reached the fix the disparity between the curfinal stage of the process.” rent Cal Poly policy and the execTherefore, it was never imple- utive order that made the change,” mented by the registrar, who didn’t Laver said. “While it casts a broadwant to take any action er net than necessary by without going covering all classes through all the that a student formal steps could take in the C/NC, we process, will fix Laver the GE “I think it is kind of unfair for stusaid. probdents because a lot of people do have It has l e m have classes they are planning on been and the taking credit/no credit, so this could brought mininhibit their academic success in up again imum some ways.” 13 years grade you later beneed to JANA COLOMBINI cause of the get credit.” executive order Cal Poly’s curfrom the Chancellor’s rent rule on credit/no Office. credit is that a student must get a The registrar suggested a resolu- C- or better in order to receive four tion to cover those four GE areas; units of credit and the completion however, the executive committee of the GE section. However, if the in the Academic Senate did not registrar implements the executive want to approve that. Instead, the order, a student would only receive committee came up with a new four units of credit toward graduresolution that incorporated por- ation but not GE credit for classes tions of the 2003 resolution. Spe- taken credit/no credit in GE areas cifically, the “resolved” portion A1, A2, A3 and B1 with a C-. If that includes: “That undergrad- the executive committee approves uate students be permitted to its resolution, students would take up to 12 units of cours- need to earn a C or better to get
GE credit. “If you were to take an A1 class credit/no credit and get a C- next fall or forward, you would not get the GE box checked,” Laver said. “You would have to take the class again to get A1 credit with a C or better.” According to the Registrar’s Office, only 13 students have received a C- in a credit/no credit class since 2011. Student opposition Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors Vice Chair and agricultural sciences junior Jana Colombini is opposed to the resolution. “I think it is kind of unfair for students because a lot of people do have classes they are planning on taking credit/no credit, so this could inhibit their academic success in some ways,” Colombini said. “It’s a matter that by having the credit/no credit option, it allows them to take classes outside of their required courses in order to expand their education.” In an emailed statement to Mustang News, Justin Rajah — ASI Board of Directors representative and business administration junior — also disagrees with the resolution. “If Academic Senate passes the resolution on credit/no credit grading I think it will negatively
affect students by dissuading us from taking extra courses just for the sake of learning,” Rajah said in the email. “Rather than thinking that students take courses credit/no credit as a mean to slack off, on the contrary, they allow us to broaden our knowledge. Isn’t that what college is all about?” What’s next While there is a large debate on the difference between a C and C-, this is an issue that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, Laver said. “While the philosophy between a C and a C- is a perfectly legitimate pedagogical conversation, it is not what prompted the debate,” Laver said. “It can be saved for future discussion because the resolution now has a huge practical component to it and is very focused on what to do with this executive order.” If the resolution passes, Laver wants to ensure that students are well-informed of the policy change. “We need to make sure that the instructors teaching the affected courses let students know well beforehand,” Laver said. “Students can only get four units of credit and GE credit in a credit/ no credit credit with a C or higher, so that kind of communication is critical.”
Pitching powers softball in sweep of Long Beach State Music department blows the roof off Open House Concert
Eric Stubben @ericstubben
CHRISTA LAM | MUSTANG NE WS MELODIES | Cal Poly’s Symphony, Jazz Band I and Wind Ensemble gave the audience a taste of three distinct sounds.
Brendan Abrams @brenabrams
Open House weekend is a great opportunity for potential students and their parents to get a full sampling of all Cal Poly has to offer. As with any first impression, it’s important to trot out the best the campus can manage. That’s why, on Friday night, the keys to the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center (PAC) were handed over to the Music Department to showcase Cal
Poly’s Symphony and Wind Ensemble, as well as the University Jazz Band I. Essentially, this amounts to approximately 100 of “the best we’ve got” when it comes to musicians. The campus may have been bustling with visitors during daylight hours, but once the sun dipped below the horizon, and the curtain rose to reveal the Jazz Band, the place felt like a subway station late at night — no matter how talented the musicians were, nary a soul stuck around to watch. That is, of
course, a bit of an exaggeration, but I have to give a disappointed shake of my head to Mustangs and potential future Mustangs. Where’s the support for this immensely talented group? At the very least, the Open House Concert was a chance to treat one’s ears to some exquisite melodies before they (the ears) get butchered by howls of demonic machines the next day at the tractor pull. Continued on page 5
Strong pitching powered the Cal Poly softball team past Long Beach State this weekend. Sophomore pitchers Lindsey Chalmers and Stephanie Heyward did not allow a single earned run during the three-game sweep of the 49ers, helping the Mustangs snap an 11-game losing streak. Going into the weekend, Cal Poly, ranked last in the Big West Conference, was a heavy underdog against the second-place 49ers. That prospect didn’t stop the Mustangs. Cal Poly snuck out a 1-0 victory over Long Beach State in Friday’s series opener when junior second baseman Ashley Torino drew a basesloaded walk. After only two hits Friday, the Mustangs’ offense opened up with seven hits
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in their 4-1 victory. Long Beach State managed only four hits and scored only one unearned run after a throwing error by Cal Poly catcher Makenna Young. Saturday’s game was much like the other games in the series with another low-scoring affair. Neither team scored in the first five innings, but Cal Poly managed to break through in the sixth inning. Young cracked an RBI single that scored junior left fielder Courtney Tyler. Chalmers completed the weekend with 14 innings pitched (two complete games) while allowing only nine hits and no earned runs. Heyward, who pitched Saturday’s game, pitched the full seven innings and allowed four hits and no earned runs. The Mustangs started the season 16-6 before losing their star starting pitcher, junior Sierra Hyland, to injury. The three wins this weekend snapped their 11-game losing streak and marked the Mustangs’ first three conference wins of the season.