We, the undersigned members of the student body of Auburn University, are advocating for an adaptation to Auburn’s grading policy in light of the significant disruption that COVID-19 has caused to our academic year.

COVID-19 has placed each student into a different environment. The Auburn family is an incredibly diverse group of people. While COVID-19 has touched the lives of every single Auburn student, it is undeniable that it has touched some students in different ways than others. Some students who are parents have had to resume full time child care. Some students who are low-income may not have a stable housing situation or learning environment away from Auburn. Some students are disadvantaged by the time zones they have returned to. Some students have had to return to homes where their families do not accept them, taking a unique emotional toll that they did not anticipate. Some students are now the caretakers for their parents, siblings, or other family members. Some students may no longer receive appropriate accommodations for their disabilities now that they are away from campus. Given the current rate of community spread, it is inevitable that some students or their loved ones will contract COVID-19. It is impossible to list all the individual variations in circumstances that COVID-19 has cast upon our student body. A grade relief option is necessary for Auburn to stand in solidarity with every student who has been affected by COVID-19.

This global health crisis deserves an emergency response. Many of Auburn’s peer institutions have implemented the grade relief that we are seeking. We demand Auburn University prioritize our students’ mental and physical health and safety by offering an emergency Pass/Fail grading option for every course this semester.