Columbia Law School Offers Optional Pass/Fail Grading Amid Campus Protests

Following up on yesterday's post, Pro-Palestinian Protests Disrupt Law School Finals And Commencement Ceremonies:  Bloomberg Law, Columbia Law School Offers Pass/Fail Grading Amid Gaza Protests:

Columbia Law School in New York is offering an optional pass/fail grading scale as the university struggles to deal with Pro-Palestine student-run encampments on its campus.

Students may elect a course to be graded on a full credit or fail basis up until an hour before taking the final exam for that course, according to a memo sent to the student body, which was obtained by Bloomberg Law. The optional grade shift was offered to students May 1. Final exams will resume remotely May 2.

“We know that the current final exam period has been challenging and unpredictable, and we appreciate your continued understanding and forbearance as we aim to implement adjustments that balance compassion, flexibility, and the integrity of the academic experience,” read the memo, attributed to the law school’s senior operations team.

Reuters, Columbia Law Resumes Finals With Pass-Fail Option Amid War Protests

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• New York Times, 54 Columbia Law Faculty Condemn Administration For Disciplinary Action Against Anti-Israel Student Protesters (Apr. 23, 2024)
• Washington Post, Punish Columbia Professors, Not Students Protesters, For The Intellectual Degeneration On Campus (Apr. 28, 2024)
• Law.com, Columbia Law School Delays Exams Amid Protests and Police Activity (May 1, 2024)