Students, USSU band together to challenge U of S in COVID-19 response

Its been just over three and a half weeks since the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) transitioned to remote classes, but students still have concerns with the institution’s response to COVID-19.

With the future uncertain amid the global pandemic, the University of Saskatchewan Students Union (USSU) sent out an open letter to the U of S Saturday looking for five changes from the institution.

The changes include no tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, allowing students to choose a pass/fail option, reimbursing students for forced withdrawals, waiving of late payment fees for spring, summer and fall terms, along with an extension for tuition deadlines.

On Saturday, the @USSUExec published an open letter to @usask on their response to COVID-19.

Their asks include no tuition increase next year, a pass/fail option for all students and changes to tuition payments including waiving late fees. #yxe #usask pic.twitter.com/l7NiljzOtc

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) April 7, 2020

USSU President Regan Ratt-Misponas told 650 CKOM that students came to their executive with stories of lost jobs and income, struggles with remote delivery of classes and rent payments.

“We were listening, and we wanted to produce some sort of action (to get) the University and that government listening as well,” he said.

Ratt-Misponas said his executive supported the move to deliver remote, online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, he believes some students simply don’t have the means to participate or thrive as they would in normal, in-class delivery.

One student, Morgan Mutschler, echoes these concerns. He started a petition on the website change.org last week to attempt to push the U of S to make 2020 Winter term classes pass/fail.

Mutschler told 650 CKOM Monday that it originally surprised him the U of S hadn’t created that option with students learning remotely.

“It’s a little bit more difficult in some situations due to family interference or lack of access to vital components of learning,” he said. “Learning’s going to be more difficult, and grades are going to be affected by that.”

The pass/fail option is currently being offered at the University of Regina, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, Mutschler explained.

“I hope that (the U of S) understand that with the amount of support that this cause has gotten, that there is enough support that it should be, at least, considered as an option,” he said.

As of Monday evening, Mutschler’s petition had topped 3,000 signatures. He said the U of S administration is aware of his petition, but the request has fallen on deaf ears.

“They have made statements saying that they aren’t going to change their grading systems for the term, regardless of the amount of support that we’ve (received) in the petition, and what other Universities have done,” according to the first-year engineering student.

In an emailed statement, the U of S told 650 CKOM that there is no “one-size-fits-all approach for academic assessment.”

“Our top priority has been to do what is best for our students. Conversations about grading practices for Winter 2020 have been comprehensive, cutting across all colleges. After considering options, we decided that standard grading practices serves the best interests of students-both in terms of properly assessing learning, and safe-guarding degree progression. As such, Usask will maintain typical grading practices for the completion of the current term,” the statement from the U of S’ Vice-provost Patti McDougall reads.

Additionally, the statement points out that the College of Law had special consideration approved in the Juris Doctor program, where a “new model” for classes completed is currently being finalized.

A large concern for the U of S is cheating by students. The institution says they have taken steps to support instructors and students in building assessment design and completion. Some exams will be delivered in an open book format, or through an assignment.

As for Ratt-Misponas and his USSU executives’ ask, the U of S says it’s reviewing the open letter and will continue discussions with its student leaders.

With just 22 days left in his term as president of USSU, Ratt-Misponas says he is continuing to do his best to help students in this unprecedented time.

He wants to ensure that the recovery following COVID-19 doesn’t end up costing students, who in his mind has “only fallen more vulnerable due to the situation that” they’re in.

“(If you have concerns), come to the students union,” he said. “Even though we may not be present in our office space, we’re still working hard from home to ensure (that) students aren’t forgotten.

“We want to ensure that students are also able to afford and have access to post-secondary.”