Academic Information

Guide to Interpreting Academic Information

Special Notice:
Grading Policy Fall 2020
Voted on by Faculty Senate, August 7, 2020
Bard has a long tradition of faculty autonomy in setting grading criteria for courses based on disciplinary standards and individual faculty members’ pedagogical goals. Given the current dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and structural racism and violence, our students are differentially affected by a wide range of contextual factors. These circumstances compel us to embrace during the coming academic year the following more flexible grading policy with the aim of  generating the best learning outcomes for all students while also addressing practical concerns such as financial aid requirements and graduate or professional school admission standards. At the same time, we recognize that a grading policy cannot address all the inequities that affect the learning process, so we also encourage all faculty members, regardless of discipline, to explore the pedagogical strategies afforded by universal design and open access materials to create the most accessible and equitable learning environments possible at Bard. 
 
During Fall 2020, the Bard grading system will be letter grades as a default; students may request P/F/D at any point, even after receipt of final grade. The decision to change from a letter grade to a P/F/D should involve faculty providing a clear path to what is needed  to pass the class and ways in which a student might be supported to do so.  No student should have to reveal personal information when making a request to change grading options. If students are uncomfortable approaching their professor about opting for P/F/D grading, they can reach out to their class dean for support and guidance to negotiate the situation. Students will have until the start of the following semester to make a choice about changing the grading option for a class.