Some undergraduate and graduate students might have been surprised last semester when there were two new grades on their report cards. Although the two grades are for the same student inaction, the penalties are quite different, creating an unnecessary double standard between graduate and undergraduate students.

The first grade, a WF, is applied to undergraduate students who stop going to class without officially withdrawing. The penalty for this action is a failing grade with a risk of losing financial aid status. The second, the WU, for graduate students is almost exactly the same as the WF except a WU does not affect the students’ GPA. The obvious difference between the grades leaves a question as to why graduate students are being given such treatment. No one group should be given special treatment when it comes to grading.

Students should know if they stop going to class and do not withdraw from the course they will fail. Therefore, the WF grade makes sense. So far the only significant complaints about the WF grade has been its effect on a student’s financial aid status and health insurance.

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Financial aid is based on the number of hours that students are enrolled, if students drop a causing their enrolled hours to drop then it should be expected that the students’ financial aid status will change also. In order for an undergraduate student to avoid these types of problems, an effort has to be made by the student to maintain certain requirements and standards. These include enrolling at a certain time, applying for financial aid at a certain time and withdrawing from a course at a certain time.

If these are the standards an undergraduate has to follow, why is there exceptions given to the same situation as it pertains to graduate students? The only difference between the WF and the WU is the WU does not affect the GPA. The reason for this is defended by John McKillip, associate dean of the graduate school. He said the requirements placed on graduate students are steeper than undergraduates graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA but as experienced students, those in the graduate school should have a firm knowledge in the workings of a university. Those students made the decision to continue their education and should know the commitment necessary to fulfill the requirements.

The existence of a WU grade for graduate students in not needed. Mckillip has said that this grade will affect about five out of 3,800 students. If that is the case it seems that time was wasted on developing this grade.

Special treatment should not be given to any one group of students concerning an issue like withdrawing from a class. As college students it is our responsibility to be informed about what standards need to be met within the University. If a student stops attending class without withdrawing how can they be surprised that they fail?