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 anything from pass/no pass grade needs, tuition refunds and springtime break, to her response to this year’s Nobel that is double prize whenever she sat straight straight straight down on Tuesday for the Ask me personally any such thing on Reddit .
below are a few AMA features (Some concerns had been reduced for size and quality):
Concern from bustedlame : is there talks 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 if you ask me that the complete P/NP strategy is very modifiable in a manner that will give pupils that are highly relying on remote learning the breathing space that is necessary , … we n brief, will you be dudes considering any restricted or modified form of the P/NP policy for the semester?
Chancellor Christ : many thanks for the concern. I am aware this is certainly a rather hot subject for our pupils, therefore I’m maybe maybe not amazed that here is the most widely used subject of the AMA.
To start, we observe that pupils are dealing with unprecedented challenges in this time that is extraordinary wish to accomplish any such thing we could to greatly help relieve the responsibility. Having said that, P/NP demands aren’t an issue that is straightforward nor one thing i could manage by fiat.
The University of Ca features a tradition that is long-standing of governance that numerous would argue has added to its extraordinary success. As a result, the authority to produce modifications to P/NP demands are delegated through the entire college plus the campus. Some facets of the P/NP policy are set because of the systemwide academic senate. Others are inside the range for the Berkeley unit associated with Academic Senate. Other people are set by the faculty associated with the schools and universities.
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 can’t be taken P/NP, the limitation that prerequisites for majors can not be taken P/NP, as well as the due date in which a program may be switched from graded status to P/NP. 1st of the components of the insurance policy is beneath the control of the systemwide Senate. One other three sleep in the authority regarding the educational schools and colleges. L&S has recently 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.
Remember that you’ve got a wide variety of methods to lessen your scholastic anxiety. You can easily currently use up to 33per cent of one’s graduation needs P/NP (and final semester’s courses 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. Along with your division and university advisors is there to assist you: they will have considerable latitude to give exemptions to P/NP restrictions — for major demands, for instance.
I am aware it is a rather time that is stressful We encourage one to utilize the latitude you have got in going classes to P/NP or asking your advisor for an exclusion.
Concern from bee5sea6 : the proceedings with springtime break 2021? Into the study, it had been recommended it almost completely that you were considering getting rid of. Whenever can we expect any updates on that choice, and just how really is choice really being taken?
Chancellor Christ : we realize that the pandemic is hugely troublesome to pupils and their loved ones, and now we like to accommodate students as well we could. Berkeley has refunded housing and dining charges for people who left college housing this previous springtime. Our company is trying to help all pupils, wherever they decide to live, including https://besthookupwebsites.org/datingcom-review/ through educational funding and pupil solutions to fulfill both in-person and learning that is remote living requires. Crisis capital and price of attendance alterations (through our educational funding and Scholarships workplace) can be acquired to aid specific pupils dealing with hardship that is financial. And when a students’ families’ financial circumstances have substantially changed within the last couple of couple of months, they need to contact our educational funding workplace and we are going to get them to getting all help which is why they’ve 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 on resources and choices open to them.
Concern from sprucegoose11 : Chancellor Christ: I’d want to hear some plans that are concrete rehabilitating the admissions procedure to ensure under-qualified pupils can’t just purchase their method into this college. What exactly are some concrete actions which are being taken?
Chancellor Christ : Our admissions procedure is dependant on a holistic overview of every applicant, looking not just at test grades and ratings, but in addition at students’ achievements into the context of these possibilities, challenges, and status that is socioeconomic. Our admissions that are current is sound and reflects lots of significant improvements manufactured in modern times. Within the last admissions period, we admitted a more ethnically diverse course and admitted more lower-income pupils. Admitting an exceptional class that is additionally diverse, showing a cross-section of California’s communities, is a vital part of our mission as a college.