#PassFailNation

#PassFailNation

Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash

The outbreak of COVID-19 has drastically changed the way material is being delivered this semester. Tarleton faculty and staff are working diligently to move courses online and adapt to the sudden changes, but moving courses online may only be half of the battle. Students are also battling increased stress, uncertainty, financial hardships, and familial concerns all while trying to balance a sudden shift in course delivery.

Numerous institutions are looking at the merits of changing to pass/fail option for this semester. David Perry wrote an opinion piece for CNN about the possible benefits of pass/fail.

Texas A&M University 

 According to an announcement  earlier this week from the TAMU President and Provost stated  "students will have the opportunity to choose Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading for any course in which they are enrolled in the spring semester 2020". The full announcement can be found here. 

Prairie View A&M University

PVAM also announced that it would be issuing temporary changes to their grading policy. Students will have the option to chose pass/fail but "does not reflect a change in expectations but an acknowledgement of the severe complications of this unusual moment". The full announcement can be found here. 

A more extensive list of schools offering pass/fail can be found here.

What does Pass/Fail entail?

Tarleton announced a plan to implement a pass/fail option, and faculty and leadership continue to discuss the best ways to support students through this situation. Students should consider the best option for their unique situations and goals. Before opting for pass/fail here are some factors to consider:

• Are you on track to make the grades you want?
• Are you currently making satisfactory academic progress? 
• Can or should you retake the course at a later date? Keep in mind there are limits on how many courses you can drop within your academic career.
• Are you on any academic based scholarships? Would they accept pass/fail grades?
• Are you looking to transfer programs, attend graduate school or taking any required pre-requisites? If so, will your classes and credit still transfer? 
• Have you talked to your professor about staying on track with the course?
• Have you talked with your academic adviser about the best options?

Having the option to chose pass/fail may take some of the stress off of students so they can focus on health, safety, childcare, and ensuring financial security. Students can continue to learn without the increased academic pressure.

Alternatively, some students may prefer and even excel with online courses. They may be too close to graduation to retake a course or need a certain grade letter to advance in their program. For those students receiving a letter grade may be preferable.

More information about Tarleton's pass/fail option can be found https://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/pass-fail-opt.html .

If you are struggling in classes, know you are not alone. This is an unprecedented situation. Please discuss your concerns with your professors.  Online tutoring is available. Call 254-968-9293 to set up an appointment. The library is also available for research and reference help. Email reference@tarleton.edu or call 254-968-9249.

Follow #PassFailNation to follow nationwide discussions. 

Four -Legged Coworkers

Many of us are now learning to work/ study from home. While this comes with many challenges, it does have some perks, like lovable, if not so helpful furry co-workers.  Share your pictures of your furry friends with #TarletonLibrariesPets


Her are some of the library's newest co-workers:

Paper & Material Reorganization Specialist 

Aldous Huxley -
He enjoys reading philosophy and napping on important work files.

Anti-Squirrel Access Services 

Moxie(left), Cooper(top), and Jasper(bottom). Moxie and Cooper may have experience, but Jasper just keeps sleeping on the job.

Administration Services:

Althea(top) Harvey (lower) -Given proper treats and belly rubs they may deem your work.....adequate. They make sure we stay focused here at the library.

Then there's these guys. To be honest, we have no idea who let these goofballs in.

Pippin(left)- Gymnast and Aspiring Contortionist and Amara (right)- Reigning Tug of War Champion  

Show us your new co-workers!

What the library can do for you while on extended break

Photo by Danny on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/zjV8ptYgcEo

Libraries from a distance 

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this time. Even though you can't visit the library in person, we are still available to help. For those unfamiliar with the libraries distance learning services, here is a brief overview. 

COVID 19 Updates 

There are several ways you can stay up to date on how Tarleton is handling COVID 19. 

• Make sure your signed up for Code Purple 
• Check out the COVID update page
• Look for #TarletonUpdates on all social media platforms 

Renew Materials Online 

The last thing we want you to have to worry about is late fees.  Tarleton Libraries is working on ways to address this and help people avoid fines, but in the meantime, you can renew your items online here.

Online Library Resources 

You can still search library resources from home. You will need to log in with your NETID and password, but we have numerous eBooks and online resources that you can still access. More information about remote access and password help can be found here.

Streaming Media and E books

Tarleton has several platform for streaming educational or recreational music and videos. Learn more here. Tarleton has numerous online books to chose from. Everything from new popular books on Overdrive to literature and classics, all which can be accessed online.

Research Help

While in-person classes may be temporarily on hold, you probably still have research projects to work on. The library is here to help. Learn more about research strategies here. 

Other Questions?

Tarleton Library staff will be gone Monday, March 16th, but we will be back on the 17th. Feel free to email or call if you have additional questions.

• Email Stephenville: reference@tarleton.edu
• Email Fort Worth:  ftwlibrary@tarleton.edu
• Phone Stephenville:  254-968-9249
• Phone Fort Worth:  817-717-3315
• Chat available Monday- Friday 8am- 5pm.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy!

Concerned about Coronavirus?

The news about Coronavirus is changing daily, and it can be difficult to stay calm, let alone separate fact from fiction.

Below are two resources you may want to look into so that you can stay informed.

1.  The Centers for Disease Control, also known as the CDC. This is a reliable government website that has accurate information.  The Coronavirus or COVID-19 page is updated daily so that you can keep track of the latest developments.

Screenshot of the homepage for the Centers for Disease Control.

2. The World Health Organization (WHO).  This website is also highly reliable and can give you a global overview of the disease. Be advised that there are some people out there who are pretending that they are from this organization and taking advantage of the panic about the Coronavirus 2019, also known as COVID-19. Find out how to avoid these scams on this page.

                      

Screenshot of the homepage for the World Health Organization.

           

A third source can be reliable newspapers. However, be aware that some stories will have misleading (and scary) headlines in order to get more clicks for their advertisers.  More clicks means that advertisers pay more money to the newspaper. Recommended news sites include BBC.com and The Guardian.  Both of these are from the United Kingdom (UK).

For tips on prevention and treatment, visit this CDC page.

Don't forget, you can also ask a librarian for help with finding sources. We are available by phone (254) 968-9249 during library hours, by chat, and by email.