Chancellor Carol Christ hosted a Reddit AMA on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (UC Berkeley photo by Yvonne Edwards)
UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ took concerns on sets from pass/no pass grade demands, tuition refunds and springtime break, to her response to this year’s dual Nobel award win whenever she sat straight straight down on Tuesday for an Ask me personally such a thing on Reddit .
below are a few AMA shows (Some concerns had been reduced for size and quality):
Concern from bustedlame : is there conversations or ideas of changing the optional P/NP technique to one thing more restricted like permitting (one) major requirement to be P/NP, or something like that comparable? It appears for me that the complete P/NP strategy is extremely modifiable in a fashion that will give pupils who will be highly influenced by remote learning the breathing space this is certainly necessary , … we n brief, have you been dudes considering any restricted or modified form of the P/NP policy for the semester?
Chancellor Christ : many thanks for the concern. I understand this is certainly a really topic that is hot our pupils, therefore I’m maybe maybe maybe maybe not amazed that here is the most widely used subject for this AMA.
To start, we notice that pupils are dealing with unprecedented challenges in this time that is extraordinary wish to accomplish such a thing we are able to to simply help relieve the responsibility. Having said that, P/NP needs aren’t a simple problem, nor one thing i will manage by fiat.
The University of Ca features a long-standing tradition of provided governance that numerous would argue has added to its extraordinary success. As a result, the authority to create modifications to P/NP needs are delegated through the entire college together with campus. Some facets of the P/NP policy are set by the systemwide senate that is academic. Other people are in the range for the Berkeley unit associated with Academic Senate. Other people are set by the faculty of this schools and colleges.
You can find four aspects that are basic our P/NP policy — the limitation in the amount of total devices that may be taken P/NP, the limitation that major demands is not taken P/NP, the limitation that prerequisites for majors can’t be taken P/NP, plus the due date in which a program may be switched from graded status to P/NP. The initial of the components of the insurance policy is beneath the control over the systemwide Senate. One other three sleep inside the authority associated with educational schools and universities. L&S has made the due date for switching to P/NP much later — moved it till we’re encouraging other colleges to consider such a change december.
Take into account that you have got a range that is wide of to cut back your scholastic anxiety. You are able to currently use up to 33per cent of one’s graduation needs P/NP (and semester’s that is last don’t count from this total). Most UC Berkeley pupils are using more devices you may want to consider reducing your course load than they need to. As well as your college and department advisors is there to assist you: they’ve considerable latitude to give exemptions to P/NP limits — for major needs, as an example.
I’m sure this really is a tremendously time that is stressful We encourage one to utilize the latitude you’ve got in going classes to P/NP or asking your consultant for an exclusion.
Concern from bee5sea6 : what is happening with springtime break 2021? When you look at the study, it absolutely was recommended you had been considering getting rid from it very nearly totally. Whenever can we expect any updates on that choice, and exactly how really is the fact that choice really being taken?
Chancellor Christ we realize that the pandemic is hugely troublesome to pupils and their own families, and we also wish to accommodate students as well we can. Berkeley has refunded housing and dining charges for people who left college housing this past springtime. Our company is attempting to help all pupils, no matter where they decide to live, including through educational funding and pupil solutions to meet up both in-person and learning that is remote living requires. Crisis capital and value of attendance changes (through our educational funding and Scholarships workplace) is present to aid specific pupils dealing with hardship that is financial. Of course a students’ families’ financial circumstances have substantially changed within the last few month or two, they need to contact our aid that is financial office we’re going to cause them to become getting all help for which they have been qualified.
Because each situation that is individual’s unique, we encourage pupils that are dealing with significant challenges to speak with their consultant for more information about resources and choices accessible to them.
Concern from sprucegoose11 : Chancellor Christ: I’d want to hear some concrete plans for rehabilitating the admissions procedure to ensure under-qualified pupils can’t just purchase their means into this college. What exactly are some tangible actions which are being taken?
Chancellor Christ : Our admissions procedure is dependant on a holistic writeup on every applicant, looking not merely at test grades and ratings, but additionally at students’ achievements into the context of the possibilities, challenges, and socioeconomic status. Our present admissions procedure is sound and reflects lots of significant improvements manufactured in modern times. Within the last admissions period, we admitted a more class that is ethnically diverse admitted more lower-income pupils. Admitting an exemplary class that is additionally diverse, showing a cross-section of California’s communities, is a vital facet of our objective being a college.