Columbia Law School in New York is offering an optional pass/fail grading scale as the university struggles to deal with Pro-Palestine student-run encampments on its campus.
Bloomberg reports
Students may elect a course to be graded on a full credit or fail basis up until an hour before taking the final exam for that course, according to a memo sent to the student body, which was obtained by Bloomberg Law. The optional grade shift was offered to students May 1. Final exams will resume remotely May 2.
“We know that the current final exam period has been challenging and unpredictable, and we appreciate your continued understanding and forbearance as we aim to implement adjustments that balance compassion, flexibility, and the integrity of the academic experience,” read the memo, attributed to the law school’s senior operations team.
The move comes as law students struggle to navigate final exams and Big Law recruitment amid the weeks-long Pro-Palestine encampments on the university’s West Lawn.
New York City police officers arrested over 100 people Tuesday as they broke up protests at the university. Student protesters are also facing expulsion for refusing to leave Hamilton Hall, a campus building.
Columbia’s final exams will also be held remotely, according to the email. The school moved its classes online April 21.
Grades play a big role in where law students are able to land prestigious judicial clerkships and coveted gigs at elite law firms.
Choosing pass/fail is a risky gamble for students, said Bryson Malcolm, founding recruiter at Mosaic Search Partners. Malcolm, a 2020 Columbia Law grad, is advising students on the current landscape.
Opting in may be construed by firms to indicate a political position, Malcolm said. But it could be a game-changer for students worried about a low grade point average—a key metric top law firms use to pick junior talent.
Elite colleges and universities are scrambling to address the rise in pro-Palestinian encampments. The University of Southern California scrapped all outside speakers from its upcoming commencement ceremonies, following backlash over an earlier decision to cancel a speech by the Class of 2024’s valedictorian. USC eventually canceled its May 10 main commencement, while the dozens of smaller ceremonies at individual schools are still set to host graduation celebrations.
Big Law firms such as Foley and Lardner and Davis Polk have rescinded job offers to incoming associates who made public comments on the Israel-Hamas war.
This isn’t the first time the law school has offered students this grade flexibility. Columbia Law gave students the same option during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing fairness.
