Such a policy has already been implemented at several elite schools, including MIT, Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore. A less stressful transition period would help to mitigate disparities between differing levels of high school preparation by allowing time for students to adjust to the difficulty of Princeton coursework. Engineers provide a good study in the pitfalls of transitioning to Princeton academics: Though they may have been the top math or science students at their high schools, freshman engineering classes often present more than even the best-intentioned and -prepared students can handle. As a result, many freshmen in the engineering school switch out by the end of their first semester, and retaining the number of students admitted for BSE degrees has become a recurring issue. Removing much of this stress with a first semester pass/fail policy would go a long way to solving this problem.
But this policy would not just benefit engineers. In addition to reducing academic pressures, a pass/fail first semester would stimulate true exploration across course disciplines. Such a semester creates a virtually risk-free opportunity for students to branch out in just the sort of way programs such as “Major Choices” or the distribution requirements are designed to encourage. The existing pass/D/fail option does not encapsulate this ideal: Students may shy away from taking a course pass/D/fail because graduate schools and potential employers may interpret a “P” as a cop-out, roughly equivalent to a “C.” But mandating a pass/fail first semester would insulate students from this possibility.
Though less pressure could lead to lax attitudes towards classes, professors would still be required to provide grades and feedback to students and their academic advisers. And various concerns — like the grading of writing seminars and the ban on pass/fail grades for departmentals — would obviously need to be studied and addressed in formulating this policy change. But the Editorial Board believes that the benefits of a pass/fail first semester would far outweigh the effort required to confront such issues.
As the Office of Admission finalizes decisions for the Class of 2013, it is crucial that West College consider the ways in which the freshman experience can be improved for these and future matriculating students. A pass/fail first semester would compensate for inequity in high school preparation among freshmen and simultaneously provide all students greater opportunity to explore inside and outside the classroom. The University should begin to study how to implement such a policy immediately.
Read More
A guide to the upcoming divestment and dissociation inquiry related to Israel
John T. Groves"Whether short or long, I can promise you that we will run a process that allows all perspectives and views to be carefully considered by our committee."
"Whether short or long, I can promise you that we will run a process that allows all perspectives and views to be carefully considered by our committee."
Calls for VP Calhoun's resignation mislead on free expression
Bill Hewitt“In joining a letter so firmly based on a questionable factual narrative, some 10 percent of Princeton faculty have rushed to condemn Vice President Calhoun for a “lie” and to demand her ouster.”
“In joining a letter so firmly based on a questionable factual narrative, some 10 percent of Princeton faculty have rushed to condemn Vice President Calhoun for a “lie” and to demand her ouster.”
Deciding disciplinary matters by popular vote of the faculty sets a harmful precedent
Jonathan Mummolo"In short, fairness demands that all members of the Princeton community be subject to a common set of rules and procedures. We are all meant to be granted equal protection under these rules. Our established procedures for disciplinary matters do not call for a full faculty vote."
"In short, fairness demands that all members of the Princeton community be subject to a common set of rules and procedures. We are all meant to be granted equal protection under these rules. Our established procedures for disciplinary matters do not call for a full faculty vote."
