In the current University
policy, students may take
up to 30 credits in the
Pass/Fail grading system,
with
some
exceptions
for major or distribution
requirements. A common
example
of
a
course
that
cannot
be
taken
Pass/Fail is the fourth-
semester foreign language
requirement, which LSA
students must take for a
grade to graduate.
Students
have
raised
questions whether certain
courses requiring letter
grades will be waived for
this semester should a
University-wide policy be
put into place.
Currently,
any
grade
of C- or above is listed on
transcripts as a “Pass,”
while any grade below is
a “Fail.” Courses taken
within
the
University’s
current Pass/Fail grading
system does not affect a
student’s
grade-point-
average.
The
Pass/Fail
deadline
for
Winter
semester has passed.
Students have displayed
mixed reactions to the
possibility
of
moving
away from a letter grading
system.
A Change.org petition
that has amassed more than
4,500 signatures in six days
has called on the University
to offer the option for
students to elect to take
courses under the Pass/Fail
grading system. The petition
listed the large-scale impact
of the virus, difficulty of
remote learning, disruption
of
current
on-campus
resources and the potential
for cheating as reasons why
the University should adopt
this policy.
LSA
freshman
Steven
Tuckel said he likes the
idea of moving all classes
to this grading system, but
expressed concern for how
it could impact students
when applying to upper-
level programs or graduate
school.
2 — Friday, March 20, 2020
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
The
Washtenaw
County
Health
Department
released
a
statement
noting
“community
spread
is
likely”
as
seven
additional people have
tested
positive
for
COVID-19.
As of 10 a.m. Thursday
morning,
14
people
within
the
county
have
tested
positive
for coronavirus, a viral
infection
discovered
in Wuhan, China that
has infected more than
218,000 people globally.
According
to
the
Health
Department’s
website,
the
majority
of the seven new cases
had
no
recent
travel
or known contact with
other confirmed cases of
COVID-19. The website
noted
the
department
is working with these
people — who are all
adults — to alert close
contacts to quarantine.
“Evidence
of
community spread means
we will change how we
respond to local cases,
especially as the number
of tests increases every
day,” Jimena Loveluck,
health
officer
of
the
Health Department, said
in
the
announcement.
“But, we must remember
this
is
exactly
why
we
have
community
mitigation
strategies
and
unprecedented
restrictions
in
place.
Our
collective
goal
remains
to
slow
the
spread of cases as much
as possible. Together, we
can do this. Take every
possible opportunity to
practice prevention and
social distancing.”
Because
of
the
expected
community
spread, the county will
no longer name low-
risk exposure areas and
residents should assume
there is a risk associated
with any public location.
While health experts
are
still
investigating
how the disease is spread,
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
recommends
people
maintain
at
least
six
feet between themselves
and
others.
People
showing
symptoms
are encouraged to seek
medical help.
“Assume
the
possibility for infection
exists,
as
it
does
with
many
common
illnesses. Most people
will recover at home
without medical care,”
Juan
Luis
Marquez,
Washtenaw
County
Health
Department
medical
director,
said
in
the
announcement.
“Isolating
at
home
if
you’re
sick
and
contacting your health
care provider by phone
for guidance will help
prevent
additional
spread and make the best
possible use of critical
health care resources.”
Washtenaw
County
has
approximately
370,000 residents and is
home to the University
of Michigan and Eastern
Michigan University.
Multiple Ann Arbor-
run
buildings
and
services have been closed
as
Mayor
Christopher
Taylor declared a local
state of emergency. Ann
Arbor Public Schools are
closed until at least April
5.
As of Wednesday, 80
cases have been reported
in the state of Michigan.
The first death in the
state was also confirmed
Wednesday at Beaumont
Hospital
in
Wayne
County.
In response to the
virus,
the
University
moved all classes to an
online format beginning
Monday. Students who
are able to have been
asked to leave campus.
Among the 14 cases in
Washtenaw County, two
have
been
confirmed
at
student
apartment
buildings
Vic
Village-
North
and
ArborBLU.
Another
person
who
tested
positive
works
as a cook in East Quad
Residence Hall.
Daily News Editor Alex
Harring can be reached at
harring@umich.edu.
ALEX HARRING
Daily News Editor
GRADING
From Page 1
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MADDIE FOX/Daily
A student works alone in the Undergraduate Library amidst University closures. This image is taken from a photo essay, titled “Between Caution and
Panic,” by staff photographer Maddie Fox.
Community spread of corona
likely, county health dept says
Number of cases doubles to reach total of 14; Washtenaw officials
believe local transfer of virus may have contributed to increase
See GRADING, Page 3