University agrees Black Students should be graded differently

[Mountainmanbob]

University agrees that black students should be graded differently | Free West Media

Students at the University of Washington are demanding that black students should not face difficult exams and time constraints because they are too “busy fighting for [their] rights to sit down and study”.

And the university thinks it is a good idea: It is currently advising professors to pass black students on the basis of race after an online petition gathered more than 26 000 signatures.

“You need to encourage and demand professors to accommodate their black students during this time. If UW truly understands our pain, UW will be a part of alleviating it,” the petition states.

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Seems this may be a better article.
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/coronavirus/article243253766.html

 

[Radagast]

And the university thinks it is a good idea: It is currently advising professors to pass black students on the basis of race after an online petition gathered more than 26 000 signatures.

“You need to encourage and demand professors to accommodate their black students during this time. If UW truly understands our pain, UW will be a part of alleviating it,” the petition states.

Every black graduate of UW just had their degree devalued, in that case.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

This is a terrible decision. Employers will now be tempted to mentally mark down black graduates from the University of Washington. The only other option would be to make all job applicants sit a test to confirm whether they deserved the qualifications they have.

 

[Lost4words]

Unbelievable

 

[Radagast]

This is a terrible decision. Employers will now be tempted to mentally mark down black graduates from the University of Washington.

Exactly.

The only other option would be to make all job applicants sit a test to confirm whether they deserved the qualifications they have.

A lot of employers are doing that already, of course.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

Also worth noting that most employers are in the business of turning a profit and paying dividends to shareholders. They need high calibre employees to do that, and an extra qualification in pulling down statues isn't generally what they're looking for

 

[PloverWing]

The petition is here: Signez la pétition

I'll note here that I routinely give accommodations to my students who have serious situations in their personal lives -- physical or mental illness, death in the family, being a caretaker for a sick family member or partner, and so on. And under the coronavirus lockdown, my whole spring semester turned into one big accommodation -- learn these really important concepts, and get your homework in by the end of the semester, and all deadlines are out the window.

So this fits under that heading, to me. I wouldn't give a blanket accommodation to all and only black students, but I would give an accommodation to students of any ethnicity who spoke to me and said that they were deeply affected by the current situation.

 

[Radagast]

I wouldn't give a blanket accommodation to all and only black students, but I would give an accommodation to students of any ethnicity who spoke to me and said that they were deeply affected by the current situation.

Do you mean "accommodation" in the sense of deadline extensions, or "accommodation" in the sense of a guaranteed A (which is what's being demanded at multiple universities)?

 

[PloverWing]

Do you mean "accommodation" in the sense of deadline extensions, or "accommodation" in the sense of a guaranteed A (which is what's being demanded at multiple universities)?

Deadline extensions. I didn't see a call for a guaranteed A in the petition -- where did you see that? (Nobody gets a guaranteed A in my classes. )

 

[essentialsaltes]

Victor Balta, U.S. senior director of media relations, sent a message to all university instructors Monday, asking them “to consider that while we are together as a community, some are being affected more than others.”

“We are writing to urge you, in these final weeks of the quarter, as assignments become due and exams are taken, to be especially responsive to the needs that your students, especially those who are members of the Black community, may have for accommodations as we conclude the school year,” Balta wrote in the message. “Accommodations might include extra time to finish assignments or providing a ‘final examination optional’ pathway, for example.”


University agrees that professors should consider accommodations for students.

 

[Radagast]

Deadline extensions. I didn't see a call for a guaranteed A in the petition

That's been on the equivalent petition at some universities.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

The petition is here: Signez la pétition

I'll note here that I routinely give accommodations to my students who have serious situations in their personal lives -- physical or mental illness, death in the family, being a caretaker for a sick family member or partner, and so on. And under the coronavirus lockdown, my whole spring semester turned into one big accommodation -- learn these really important concepts, and get your homework in by the end of the semester, and all deadlines are out the window.

So this fits under that heading, to me. I wouldn't give a blanket accommodation to all and only black students, but I would give an accommodation to students of any ethnicity who spoke to me and said that they were deeply affected by the current situation.

Here in the UK, students are permitted to apply for special consideration. It is commonly termed 'extenuating circumstances'. As far as I'm aware students must apply individually. I've never heard of large groups receiving special consideration.

This year, students have had to be marked based on a more limited range of assessment, due to the coronavirus. It's unfortunate, but graduates this year will not be directly comparable to graduates last year. If there is any advantage for any students, it's because they perform better on coursework, and other methods of assessment, than they do in conventional exams. There is no obvious benefit for any particular race.

The only remotely similar situation I can think of is this:

Oxford University is giving students extra time to finish exams because women are 'adversely affected by time pressure'

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I would think that this would open for lawsuits from ones that are not of color?

Just one more hot mess started.

M

 

[essentialsaltes]

I would think that this would open for lawsuits from ones that are not of color?

Possibly if the title of the thread were accurate.

 

[TheBear]

According to PEW Research and other sources, whites are a majority in these protests.

Sooooo......

 

[trunks2k]

Do you mean "accommodation" in the sense of deadline extensions, or "accommodation" in the sense of a guaranteed A (which is what's being demanded at multiple universities)?

The university in question seems to consider an accommodation as extending deadlines or offering a different path to a final grade outside of taking a normal final exam.

 

[Sparagmos]

This is a terrible decision. Employers will now be tempted to mentally mark down black graduates from the University of Washington. The only other option would be to make all job applicants sit a test to confirm whether they deserved the qualifications they have.

Do you really think employers will even know about this, and remember it years down the road?

 

[Sparagmos]

Do you mean "accommodation" in the sense of deadline extensions, or "accommodation" in the sense of a guaranteed A (which is what's being demanded at multiple universities)?

Did you read the article?

 

[Kaon]

University agrees that black students should be graded differently | Free West Media

Students at the University of Washington are demanding that black students should not face difficult exams and time constraints because they are too “busy fighting for [their] rights to sit down and study”.

And the university thinks it is a good idea: It is currently advising professors to pass black students on the basis of race after an online petition gathered more than 26 000 signatures.

“You need to encourage and demand professors to accommodate their black students during this time. If UW truly understands our pain, UW will be a part of alleviating it,” the petition states.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Seems this may be a better article.
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/coronavirus/article243253766.html

This is because institutions are, at the end of it, completely ignorant of how to reconcile relationships if it doesn't involve money or power (like most all people). When they see a compound fractured leg, they run for the band-aids. When the band-aids don't work, they demand more than flesh-toned options.

Racists and elitists tend to run the same circles because of their superiority complex and incredible ignorance of self and the world around them. Throwing money at problems shows a lack of understanding. Doing one thing, finding out it is wrong, throwing up arms and saying, "why bother" shows even less understanding.


Universities that believe black students should be graded differently are elitist, ignorant and racist (since it is actually influencing someone's life). I wouldn't expect anything less from academic elitists; you cant teach relationships - and you have to be able to relate to black people to understand how to help. Most people fail in both of these regards, though.

 

[Kaon]

The petition is here: Signez la pétition

I'll note here that I routinely give accommodations to my students who have serious situations in their personal lives -- physical or mental illness, death in the family, being a caretaker for a sick family member or partner, and so on. And under the coronavirus lockdown, my whole spring semester turned into one big accommodation -- learn these really important concepts, and get your homework in by the end of the semester, and all deadlines are out the window.

So this fits under that heading, to me. I wouldn't give a blanket accommodation to all and only black students, but I would give an accommodation to students of any ethnicity who spoke to me and said that they were deeply affected by the current situation.

Yes but educators have been doing this forever. I give my students plenty of extensions (if they ask) and even waivers if the circumstances can be vindicated. This is something educators do in general.

However, people that necessarily do not care for blacks know how they will treat them if it got out students got extensions or lowest grade dropped because of anything tangent to their race. That is why this is one of the most ignorant thing a university can do. When the Ivy Leagues began wiping out tuition for students whose household makes less than $60,000/year - that was an actual reparation.

Universities know that allowing extra time, or even dropping lowest grades based anywhere near race will be something other students will torment students over. We see how adults show their prejudice and racism; they are teaching their children the same stuff. It will alienate black people even more than they already are on campuses - especially in campuses and/or majors they are "not supposed to be in".

And, I am not even talking about departmental problems, administrative problems and peer over-scrutinity when it comes to blacks in Universities. The OP is putting a very brightly covered band-aid on a compound fracture. Just do nothing; I don't think Black people need help in University, and if they do it isn't because lessons are too hard - it is because they are being tormented about their existences on campuses (by fellow peers who are raised and influenced by prejudiced and racist adults). I saw this type of behavior with my own students until a few actually told me what the problem was.

If blacks on campuses don't have to worry about someone putting tampons in their personal stuff

#JusticeForJazzy: Student arrested after tainting roommate's belongings


general racism everyone else ignores

2 arrested in racist attack on black student at University of Arizona


or professors' constant passive-aggressive racism

UCF students unite in the wake of racist tweets from professor

perhaps blacks would actually be able to go to University for the same purposes American families send their children. The problem is University is a microcosm of America - which is systemically, historically, culturally and intellectually at enmity with black people in America. Universities treat international dark-skinned students differently - as does America.