Chancellor Carol Christ hosted a Reddit AMA on Oct. 20, 2020 tuesday. (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 such a thing on Reddit .
below are a few highlights that are AMASome 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 enabling (one) major requirement to be P/NP, or something like that comparable? this indicates in my experience that the complete P/NP strategy is extremely modifiable in a manner that would provide pupils who will be highly influenced by remote learning the breathing room that is necessary , you guys considering any limited or modified version of the P/NP policy for the semester… I n short, are?
Chancellor Christ : many thanks for the concern. I understand this is certainly a tremendously topic that is hot our pupils, therefore I’m maybe not astonished that here is the most well known subject with this AMA.
To begin with, we observe that pupils are dealing with unprecedented challenges in this time that is extraordinary wish to accomplish such a thing we could to help relieve the duty. Having said that, P/NP needs aren’t a simple problem, nor one thing I am able to control 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 university and also the campus. Some components of the P/NP policy are set because of the systemwide academic senate. Other people are inside the range associated with Berkeley unit of this Academic Senate. Other people are set by the faculty for the schools and universities.
You will 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 needs can’t be taken P/NP, the limitation that prerequisites for majors is not taken P/NP, while the due date in which a program are switched from graded status to P/NP. The initial of those aspects of the insurance policy is beneath the control of the systemwide Senate. One other three remainder inside the authority of this educational schools and universities. 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 have got a wide variety of methods to cut back your educational anxiety. You are able to currently occupy to 33per cent of the graduation demands P/NP (and semester’s that is last don’t count from this total). Most UC Berkeley pupils are using more devices than they have to; you might think about cutting your program load. As well as your division and university advisors is there to assist you: they’ve considerable latitude to give exemptions to P/NP restrictions — for major demands, as an example.
I’m sure this is certainly a really time that is stressful We encourage one to make use of the latitude you’ve got in going classes to P/NP or asking your consultant for the exclusion.
Concern from bee5sea6 : what’s going on with springtime break 2021? Within the survey, it absolutely was recommended it almost completely that you were considering getting rid of. Whenever can any updates are expected by us on that choice, and exactly how really is the fact that choice really being taken?
Chancellor Christ we all know that the pandemic is hugely troublesome to pupils and their own families, therefore we desire to accommodate students as well we could. Berkeley has refunded housing and dining charges for individuals who left college housing this previous springtime. Our company is trying to support all pupils, no matter where they elect to live, including through educational funding and pupil solutions to fulfill both in-person and learning that is remote living needs. Crisis capital and price of attendance changes (through our school funding and Scholarships workplace) can be obtained to help specific pupils dealing with hardship that is financial. If a students’ families’ financial circumstances have substantially changed within the last few month or two, they need to contact our educational funding workplace and we shall cause them to become getting all help for which they truly are qualified.
Because each situation that is individual’s unique, we encourage students that are dealing with significant challenges to communicate with their consultant for more information on resources and choices offered to them.
Concern from sprucegoose11 : Chancellor Christ: I’d want to hear some tangible plans for rehabilitating the admissions procedure in order that under-qualified pupils can’t just purchase their method into this college. Exactly what are some concrete actions which are being taken?
Chancellor Christ : Our admissions procedure will be based upon a holistic writeup on every applicant, looking not merely at test grades and ratings, but in addition at students’ achievements into the context of these possibilities, challenges, and status that is socioeconomic. Our present admissions process is sound and reflects lots of significant improvements built in modern times. Within the last few admissions period, we admitted an infinitely more class that is ethnically diverse admitted more lower-income pupils. Admitting a exemplary class that is additionally diverse, showing a cross-section of California’s communities, is a vital part of our objective being a college.
