Students at Charles Sturt who score as low as 40 per cent in a subject will be given a second chance to pass in a strategy to stop students from dropping out. Academics, however, fear it will compromise standards.
However, several academics have raised concerns that the university is lowering standards to keep fee-paying students. In an email to Totman, one questioned whether universities were still places of learning and teaching or had become businesses chasing money. “When I fail a student I actually mean it. It is not an easy thing to do. The pressure to pass students who don’t deserve it has passed endurance.”
Andrew Norton, a professor in the practice of higher education at the Australian National University, said students were often given the benefit of the doubt if they just missed the 50 per cent threshold for a pass, but extending it to 40, which was a “serious fail … seems likely an overly soft policy.
JordsBaker Maybe some of the students weren't cut out for university & should of done a well funded, very available TAFE course in an area that will get them a job, say an apprenticeship etc
JordsBaker Education can only be understood if the students are willing to dedicate themselves to the task of learning. Learning takes time, persistance & understanding. The ones who want to be at uni will improve in time. Maybe a model of half yearly improvement grading would suit instead.