Western Oregon University has announced a major change to its grading policy, which would see professors replace failing grades such as “D-minus” and “F” with a score of “no credit.” The policy change is motivated by the University's desire to lower the undergraduate student dropout rate by alleviating students' fixation with grade point average.  

It's important to note that this policy change would not result in a free ride for students who failed to earn credit for a particular class. They would be required to retake the class in order to earn credit, but the modified Western Oregon University policy would allow them to do so without having their GPA adversely affected by the previous failing grade.  

The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help any student who needs an advocate in a conflict with their university. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. 

Students With Fs Have Higher Dropout Rates 

It's easy to understand why so many undergraduates are concerned with their grades. In addition to being more attractive to prospective employers, students with higher GPAs have more choice in where to attend graduate school, which can also lead to more lucrative employment opportunities. This is why a high GPA has become something of a holy grail for so many college students. 

However, there is another side to that coin. Students can become so GPA-obsessed that they forget their mission at university is to actually learn, not simply to earn high grades. More disturbingly, this obsession with GPA can lead students who get failing grades to drop out because they feel like the bad grade is a scarlet letter that will forever damage their future employment and educational prospects.  

Rather than continue, many students simply drop out of school entirely after receiving a failing grade. In changing its grading policy, Western Oregon University cited a study showing that nearly 2/3 of the freshman who dropped out of school over a five-year period had received a failing grade in the first quarter of their academic career. Many of those students may be walking away from what could still be a successful academic career. 

GPA Obsession Has Other Potential Consequences 

The high-pressure environment of “academic achievement or else” at many universities can land students in hot water for offenses like plagiarism, which can result in disciplinary action, including, potentially, expulsion from the university.  

Failing Grades Are Not the Only Problem Students Face 

At universities with traditional grading policies, being put on academic probation—and thrown out of school if your grades don't improve—can be a consequence of failing grades. But what if you're being graded unfairly? What if you're facing discipline for a non-grade-related infraction, such as violating the university's code of conduct?  

You have the right to defend yourself, that's what. The Lento Law Firm's  Student Defense Team offers nationwide student discipline defense against everything from unfair grading to plagiarism and other code of conduct violations. Everyone deserves an advocate who will defend their interests. Call the Lento Law firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.