Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the time and location of the next Faculty Senate meeting.
Instructors should have a meaningful grade in the Canvas Gradebook by Week 4, the Oregon State University Faculty Senate decided in a meeting on Thursday.
The Canvas policy – approved through multiple votes of the Senate – covers regular credit undergraduate 100- and 200-level courses and is meant to help faculty and advisors identify struggling students, particularly with the goal of retaining first years.
“An individual instructor may know that a student is struggling in their class, but they may not know that a student is struggling in other classes as well,” said Faculty Senate President Andrew Valls. “This will trigger reach out and support for students.”
Several professors were skeptical about the exact wording of the policy and its implementation, especially what constitutes a “meaningful” grade.
“I think of ways in which, in my experience, Canvas Gradebook misleads students,” said Terrence Blackburne, a senator from the College of Business.
Blackburne expressed concern that the way he weights his midterms and homework could cause confusion for students trying to predict a final grade in his class.
After discussion, a clause allowing determination of what constitutes a meaningful grade to be at the discretion of the instructor and a clause allowing instructors to opt out of the policy with approval from their school or college were added.
Additionally, during the meeting, the Senate voted to approve two new Masters of Science degree programs, one in business analytics and applied AI, and the other in information systems.
Other items in the meeting included presentations about proposed changes to community teaching evaluation surveys, as well as a presentation on academic freedom led by Scott Vignos, OSU vice president for Mission and Impact and Becca Gose, OSU vice president and general counsel.
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be Jan. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Multipurpose Room. A new senator orientation will be on the same day, 2 to 3 p.m. in the same location.