the nus s/u saga~~

Basic Introduction:

• s/u option = satisfactory/unsatisfactory option is equivalent to a pass/fail option that nus students exercise for any modules that are not related to their course of study (non-core modules) so instead of getting As, Bs or Cs, students get a Pass

• a handy option – when you suspect that you’re going to screw up the module…just s/u it!

  of course there are people who just s/u the module, pack up and disappear from tutorial groups forever…you’re down on your luck if you get people like these for your project mates…
  

• the catch is that you have to s/u a module some time in the middle of the term and not after you get your results.
  
  because you can’t really predict how you are going to perform; people sometimes s/u modules that could have brought them As…the more hopeful ones didn’t s/u sucky modules and get Cs

  all these will have some effect on their overall CAP score

• each student can only use this option 3 times (max) in their course of study…

Now we all understand each other, let’s get to the interesting part…

The problem:

Recently, the board revised the S/U option policy to allow students admitted from AY2007/08 onwards to exercise their S/U option only after the results are announced.

This is as opposed to what it is for students admitted prior to AY2007/08 where they exercise their S/U option between Week 6 and the end of the Recess Week.

The NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) Executive Committee would like to find out the views of students admitted prior to AY2007/08 on the revised policy.

A few reasons cited by the Board for the implementation of this policy for the AY2007/08 cohort include:

• Current students losing interest in the module once they exercise their S/U option on it
• Students having trouble in predicting the grade of modules they have S/U-ed
• Some freshmen having problems adjusting to university education and this new policy being able aid them in buffering their CAP

The main reason why the Board felt that this policy should not extend to the senior students was because the Board felt that senior students who have already expended their S/U options may be at a disadvantage when compared to a student from the same cohort who may still have a chance to exercise his/her S/U.

The obligation thus lies on the NUSSU EXCO to determine whether that group of students will object if the new S/U ruling is applied to all student

Effect:
Opps, the forum caught fire~~

A hilariously hilarious excerpt from Ms Xie that made me LOL even though i’m one of those unhappy and “disadvantaged” seniors…

not sure if i should quote her full name…

but here it is…well written – with a healthy dose of sarcasm…

“The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option is intended to encourage students to pursue their intellectual interests, without undue concern that exploring a new subject area may affect adversely their CAP.”

That is supposed to be the real agenda for introducing the S/U option. In the first place, 6 weeks is barely enough for a logical intelligent student to even judge for himself/herself if he/she should place an S/U option for a certain module.

Now that this obviously differential (duh!) treatment is put in place, how is this same student supposed to “pursue their intellectual interests, without undue concern that exploring a new subject area may affect adversely their CAP”?

Even before S/U-ing a module, we look desperately everywhere for little signs that we will do well or badly on the module to enable us to make a good decision on the S/U option.

When we finally decide to S/U, we worry that we might do exceptionally well in that module, and hence making the S/U option unnecessary. When we finally decide not to S/U, we worry that we might get a C or D on the same module.

In case the high and mighty Board of Directors do not realise, students have never been able to pursue their intellectual interests without worrying about it affecting the CAP. Students choose to take modules that are easy to score, and not according to their interests.

Oh then one fine day, you come up with this wonderful decision of allowing students to place an S/U option only AFTER the results are announced.

Fantastic, we all think. We can now truly pursue our intellectual interests by taking modules that we really love, and not modules that we think are easy to score.

But NOOOO! you interrupted hastily:

That rule only applies to the Year 1s, and not to you, my poor little Year 2s, and 3s, and 4s.

Of course, you are studying at the same so-called first class University, and of course the Year 1s pay the same amount of school fees as you. How silly of you, how could the Year 1s be paying more school fees to deserve such good treatment!

But I’m sooooooo sorry, you’re just born too early you see. People who are born earlier of course do not deserve the right to pursue their intellectual interests.

AND!!!! you added in that oh-so-mighty voice of yours:

It’s a decision made in this academic semester, it’ll be so much easier to just apply it to the incoming Year 1s, and not the seniors.

Oh no no, applying it to EVERYONE in the University will create too much hassle.

SO THEN, MAY I ASK THIS SAME BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHY IS THE SCHOOL FEE HIKE APPLIED TO EVERYONE? WHY IS IT NOT, WHEN THE DECISION WAS PASSED DOWN, APPLIED ONLY TO THE INCOMING YEAR 1S THEN?

But oh no, that concerns money. Of course, the more the merrier.

When has the school actually been concerned about the students’ welfare and interests? When was the last time the Board of Directors passed down a decision, and actually RETRACT it eventually because the student body is unhappy with the decision?

I rest my case

****

ok that’s all for today…
this is prolly reflects badly on the school or students…or whatever…

…

i want the new s/u options pluueese…
*whine*

~ by Yan on September 2, 2007.