Support for Campus-specific Policies for Repeating Courses to Improve Grades

AS-2718-05/AA - September 16, 2005

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) reaffirm and incorporate by reference those sections of Principles and Policies: Papers of the Academic Senate, The California State University, Volume II 1999, related to individual campus autonomy and faculty rights and responsibilities (“Campus Senate/Council Participation in Campus Governance,” pp. 26-27); and be it further

RESOLVED: That within the spirit of its principles and policies related to individual campus autonomy and faculty rights and responsibilities, the Academic Senate CSU urge campuses to adopt explicit policies that address the opportunity for students to repeat courses; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge campuses to consider policies which may address the maximum grade earned in the original course to qualify for grade forgiveness; the number of times an individual course can be repeated for grade forgiveness, total units or courses that can be repeated for grade forgiveness, or other issues appropriate to campus needs; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU recommend that campuses consider policies that address the number of times a student can repeat a course under state funded support; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU recommend that campuses consider policies that address enrollment priority for students who are not repeating a course; and be it further

RESOLVED: That although the Academic Senate CSU recognize that while there may be legitimate reasons for a student withdrawing from a course, such withdrawals do result in the potential of another student being denied a seat. Hence, the Senate urge that campuses consider addressing repetition of classes due to withdrawals.

RATIONALE: Principles and Policies: Papers of the Academic Senate, The California State University, Volume II, 1999, offers explicit guidance regarding individual campus autonomy and faculty rights and responsibilities related to curricular policies (“Campus Senate/Council Participation in Campus Governance, “ pp. 26-27). Through this resolution, the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU)offers recommendations to individual CSU campuses based upon these principles.

A compilation of campus repeat policies found in CSU bulletins shows that CSU campuses vary in the limits they impose on students repeating courses. Seven campuses seem to allow courses to be repeated no matter what grade a student achieved the first time, eight campuses appear to allow unlimited units or courses to be repeated, and nine campuses either have no statement or allow students to repeat a course an unlimited number of times. Many campuses have no clear statement on whether courses can be repeated if either the original course or the repeated course was taken at another campus, and several have no clear statement on “ordinary repeats,” e.g., when a student repeats the course but the repeat grade does not replace the original grade.

An efficient use of scarce resources, namely state supported student instruction, is of concern to the campuses of the CSU. Campus resources are impacted by course repetition and this potentially limits enrollment possibilities for students who would otherwise have been able to take the course. Policies on repetition of course work should be well defined on each campus and reflect the individual needs of particular disciplines. The development of policies which address repetition of courses should facilitate graduation and promote timely progress towards degree.