Dear iEVC Kletzer:
We write as faculty who object to the administration’s insistence that we are responsible for turning in grades on Dec 18 regardless of the circumstances. We ask that the grading deadline be extended until after the wildcat strike is resolved. Those of us who have TAs working in our classes are unable to submit grades without their input. To submit these grades without TA input would be grossly unfair to our students for many reasons, some of which we outline here:
–Students’ performances in discussion sections can only be judged by the TA, who was present. To remove TA participation would inequitably harm students with strong participation.
–If the students’ final projects reflect cumulative work, for example with quarter-long projects, it may be the TA’s who have worked closely with students and therefore can best assess their understanding and growth.
–In some cases, approximately half of final grades are unknown to the instructor as of finals week. For example, the final paper might be worth 25% and discussion section attendance and participation may be worth 25% of the overall grade.
Perhaps most importantly, the syllabus is a contract with students, and they expect to be graded according requirements and guidelines outlined on the syllabus. To grade otherwise would be, from the student’s perspective, arbitrary, which opens up grade grievances on the basis of “Capricious or arbitrary application of academic criteria in a manner not reflective of student performance in relation to course requirements” (Senate Manual appendix C point I.B; see https://senate.ucsc.edu/manual/santacruz-division-manual/part-three-appendices/appendix-c/index.html).
For practical and ethical reasons, we cannot, and certainly cannot in good conscience, submit grades for courses with TAs without knowing the results of TAs’ labor grading student work. The TAs have done this labor. They are ready to release the results, in time for instructors to submit grades as usual. It is up to the administration to take constructive steps to make this happen.
Sincerely,
Faculty Organizing Group