ESC contemplates P/D/F, dean search

The Engineering Student Council's Monday night meeting addressed key issues for School of Engineering and Applied Science students, such as updates on the SEAS dean search and the pending option to uncover P/D/F grades.

ESC President Peter Valeiras, SEAS '09, said that the Council’s top two choices and two secondary choices for the new SEAS dean have been submitted to University President Lee Bollinger. Bollinger was slated to make a pick for dean by the week before spring break or the week after, but he still has yet to announce a selection.

Academic Affairs Representative Boris Mindzak, SEAS '09, recapitulated the events of a recent meeting with administrators about the P/D/F policy for SEAS students. Currently SEAS students are rarely allowed to P/D/F courses and are not allowed to do so for major requirements. Many SEAS students are clamoring for the option to uncover P/D/F grades—and to be allowed to P/D/F classes more liberally—in keeping with academic policies for CC students.

Mindzak added that the faculty is ambivalent about these amendments and foresees potential administrative complications with students’ credits and requirements for graduating. The administration would like for SEAS students to complete a survey to gauge interest in the option to uncover P/D/F before moving forward. ESC tentatively plans to attach an electronic survey of this kind to its election ballot for students to complete after voting for council members in April.