Like all DePauw students, I spent this week trying to figure out what classes I wanted to take next semester.
And, like half of you, I was determined to take one of my classes pass/fail.
Out of the nearly 600 classes that DePauw is offering next semester, about one-fifth of them are offered pass/fail. Most of these are music classes, physical education classes or introductory level classes. The problem with only offering a small percent of classes as available to take pass/fail is that it does not allow upperclassmen to explore topics that might interest them.
For example, I have never taken an economics class and was excited at the prospect of being able to take one without the fear of suffering a poor grade.
But alas, there are no economics classes offered pass/fail. The ability to only take introductory classes as pass/fail is, in several ways, a slap in the face to upperclassmen.
The pass/fail system at this school was designed to give upperclassmen, students who have spent at least two years learning how to please professors, a chance to explore other areas of study that might interest them. But, by limiting the options to mostly introductory classes, the faculty has discouraged students from venturing too far out of their comfort zone.
I understand the counter argument, that offering more classes' pass/fail would flood certain classes and prevent students that might need to take that class from getting into it. But, if the scheduling process is restructured to prioritize students who need the class to settle a requirement over upperclassmen who want to take an interesting class pass/fail, then this argument can be overcome.
Another foreseeable problem is that students don't take pass/fail classes seriously enough, and by opening up more classes to the option the productivity of a classroom might be disrupted by students who are not concerned with maximizing their grade in the class. But if students are allowed to take more challenging classes, then they will twork harder.
Is the administration surprised that students who are taking 300 and 400 level classes do not attempt to excel in their 100 level pass/ fail class, a class that more than likely requires daily homework and gives frequent tests and quizzes when what they are used to is grappling with challenging ideas and working them into their own thinking.
If DePauw wants to be a major player in the world of academia, one good way to start would be to trust students more. Trust them to challenge themselves in the classroom.
There may be a few people who screw around in these more difficult classes if they are offered pass/fail, but a few people should not be the rationale for limiting the opportunities of others.
This school does a great job at encouraging younger students to explore different areas of knowledge; by opening up the opportunities for pass/fail classes DePauw can do the same for its upperclassmen.
- Gleason is a senior from New Albany, Ohio majoring in philosophy.