Motion US04/05-6 – Proposal to Modify Procedures for Processing

      Y Grade Changes

 

 

Sponsored by:            Scholastic Review Committee, Shelly Kerr, Chair

Approved by:             Undergraduate Council on April 13, 2005

For senate action:      May 11, 2005

 

 

Moved that,

 

Requests for any grade changes involving the “Y” mark must include a letter of explanation to the University Registrar who approves, denies, or determines alternative appropriate action for the request.

 

 

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Background to the Motion

 

In 1970, the University of Oregon faculty approved a grading scheme that eliminated the grades of D and F and substituted the mark of Y, meaning no basis for grade.  Since that time, the D and F grades have been reinstated, but the Y remains.  Over time, the Y has been used to indicate that the student registered incorrectly and did not attend class so there was no basis for evaluation.  The University of Oregon is one of the few campuses in the country that use this mark, so there is not a ready understanding of the mark’s meaning by transcript readers.  In an effort to alleviate the confusion, a proposal was first made to eliminate the Y grade and institute a more commonly found mark of NC, meaning “no credit.”  Both the Undergraduate Council and Graduate Council discussed the proposed elimination of the Y grade and new NC mark. The Graduate Council was in favor of eliminating the Y mark, but the Undergraduate Council felt use of NC had too negative a connotation on a transcript.  The Undergraduate Council therefore recommended retaining the Y mark, but having subsequent changes to the Y grade go through the Registrar for approval.  An example of an approved request would involve processing a retroactive drop/add petition, switching the student to the correct class section, and subsequent submission of an earned grade.