Over this past month, the NJIT Student Senate signed a list of resolutions to increase the add/drop period, implement a pass/fail system, create advisor evaluations, and decrease class time. Although none of these resolutions have been implemented, progress towards implementing them has been started by Senate.
Mustafa Maner, a second-year Biology major, is excited for the new changes. “These resolutions are so focused on the best interests of the students. I really hope they pass.”
The current add/drop period is five business days from the first day of the semester, but the new resolutions seeks to extend this period to nine business days following the start of the semester. This will allow students more time to decide if they would like to add or drop classes without the penalty of a W on their transcript until nine business days after the first day of classes, instead of just five days.
The pass/fail resolution is a new system that will allow students to initiate a grade/pass/not pass option for their classes. This option will only be allowed to be used up to two times in an individual’s tenure at NJIT. If a student chooses this option for a class, they will have to choose a minimum grade. If they receive a grade higher than their minimum grade, that grade will replace their minimum. If they do not meet their minimum grade for the semester, the class will be designated either as a pass (P) or not pass (NP). The P or NP grade will not be factored into an individual’s GPA. Although the specifics of this resolution are still being ironed out, the primary goal is to protect a student’s GPA from exceptionally difficult courses throughout their time at NJIT.
Advisor evaluations will be created to identify and correct any issues that undergraduate students may be having with their academic advisors. Currently, there is no academic advisor evaluation system. The details of the evaluation system are also still being ironed out. The Provost’s Office has confirmed this resolution and will allow for immediate implementation.
The decrease in class times resolution specifies for academic instruction to be reduced by 5 minutes in order to allow students more time to get from class to class on an ever-expanding campus such as NJIT’s. Currently, students only have 5 minutes to get from one class to another, a close call for many students travelling back and forth across campus. Oftentimes, instructors will go overtimes as well, allowing even less time for travel class to class.
Maliha Mathew, a second-year Biology major, believes the resolutions are essential based on personal experience. “I know how it feels to rush from a Rutgers class all the way to GITC in five minutes. It’s basically impossible and you’re probably going to be marked late. The resolutions do nothing but help.”
All resolutions except for the advisor evaluations are still under discussion; however, initial talks have seen positive responses from administration.
