Student Senate passes bill in support of satisfactory/no credit option

Ohio University Student Senate passed its first bill of 2021 on Wednesday, which demanded Ohio U extend the satisfactory/no credit grading option for the spring semester. 

The grading option gives students the choice to keep their letter grade or switch to either a satisfactory or no credit grade, which would not factor into a student's grade point average. 

During the meeting, Senate Treasurer Becky Ivan voiced support for the bill. 

“This beneficial option has helped many students, not just academically, but also mentally, as well as myself while we continue our studies during a global pandemic,” Ivan said. 

Ivan added that for some students, she believed two semesters of online learning compared to 12 years of in-person learning is not enough to adjust to a virtual setting. 

Senate President Ian Carter said he believed the school should keep the grading system in place, giving students an option to utilize the satisfactory/no credit option and put it on their transcripts. 

Carter added that while the university has had previous meetings with Provost Elizabeth Sayrs and other administrators about this topic, no decision has been made on whether the policy will extend into the spring.

A majority of the Senate approved the bill.

The body also voted on a resolution to appoint a vice commissioner for the LGBTQA+ Affairs Commision. Faith Laughlin, who is now the vice commissioner of the LGBTQA+ Affairs Commission, received 16 votes.

Vice President Elizabeth Lilly and Commissioner Molly Davis welcomed Vice Commissioner Laughlin to the union. 

“I am very excited to have a full commission and welcome Faith to the team,” Davis said.