While the UNC Faculty Council should be lauded for deciding to not subject current UNC students to the two-week drop/add period, this should not thwart the fight against it for all future Tar Heels.
The decision by the UNC Faculty Council was made in response to the UNC-system Board of Governors’ demand last April that all system schools abide by a two-week drop/add period.
Although many might not agree with the UNC Faculty Council’s decision, it should be noted that the council has done a great deal to mitigate the negative consequences of the two-week drop/add period for students. In addition to excluding all current students from this policy, they have increased the hours a student can take pass/D /D/fail from 11 to 16.
However, the class of 2018 and all future classes of Tar Heels will still have to face this new draconian policy. Shortening the drop/add period could be especially detrimental to freshmen and transfer students, who may not be used to the differences that exist between their former schools and the courses offered at this University.
Students should have the freedom to take as many classes as possible without fearing negative consequences. A two-week drop/add policy prevents students from having flexibility and the opportunity to explore. These facts do not change just because current students do not have to face them.
That is why it is imperative for current juniors, sophomores and freshmen commit to educating future classes about this new drop/add policy and encourage them to petition the BOG for its removal.
Student government worked hard to not only educate the student body on this issue, but to also send a petition about it to the BOG. Their efforts, in addition to that of the Faculty Council, should not be for naught.
