New Programs for Preps Now Implemented

Fall pass/fail grades for preps and a new “preps only” study hall at Elm Street are two new measures underway for the Class of 2017. Last spring, the Curriculum Committee proposed the changes with the aim of easing preps’ transitions to Exeter.Despite passing with only partial approval by faculty—the measure totaling to 76 faculty members in favor, 51 against, and 16 abstentions— the decision to change prep fall grades to pass/fail has received strong support from the new class.“Pass/fail grades take away a lot of stress, because we have just arrived and have no idea what we’re doing,” prep Nada Zohayr said. “Most of us were expecting to freak out because we wouldn’t know how to do anything.”While some see this change as an excuse to slack off during the first term on campus, Zohayr feels that this will not be a problem at Exeter. “Having prep fall be pass/fail really makes us focus more on learning everything than whether or not we’re passing or failing or getting the marks we wanted. I don’t think that people will be less motivated; most people are here because they want to be here. We are here to work hard.”In the spring of 2010, the Curriculum Committee, on behalf of Principal Hassan, examined the entire prep experience beginning with a survey of the entire prep class, as well as four-year seniors. “The questions we asked focused on all aspects of life on campus, ranging from health issues, social issues, academics, sports, etc.,” Director of Studies Laura Marshall said. “We also met with many people on campus who work closely with preps.  After two years of work, the committee made recommendations that were discussed and voted on by the full faculty.”One of the recommendations resulting from the study was to have the first 10 weeks of a prep’s academic work not appear on the official transcript sent to colleges. In hopes of aiding preps’ transitions into life at Exeter, without having the additional pressure of official grades, the members of the Curriculum Committee took action to turn the suggestion into a new policy, following suit after other schools including Andover, Lawrenceville and MIT.Students will still receive grades to let them know how they are doing in class and where they must focus more attention. “When you have pass/fail you can settle in, but you still get to see your GPA so you know whether you’re doing well or not,” prep Tyler Hou said, in favor of the new policy. “I feel like if you can see your GPA, you’ll see whether you need to improve or not and you’ll be motivated to work harder.”However, despite the overall approval by preps, many faculty members are still on the fence regarding the topic. “I spoke against the pass/fail prep proposal because it prevents the school from recording a full and honest record of the academic work done by preps in their first term,” science instructor Townley Chisholm said. “When these preps are seniors, cum laude and other honors will be assigned based on their cumulative GPAs. Setting that first term aside as ungraded seems a heavy price to pay in transparency and fairness for the possible benefit, based only on anecdote and conjecture, of protecting the self-esteem of students who are less prepared for Exeter than some of their peers.”Chisholm questioned the necessity of the measure and also commented on the lack of data observation. “We don't even know how many such students there might be; the grade data shows no lower GPA for preps in the fall than in winter or spring, and only very few preps with GPA's below a B-. The Curriculum Committee didn't look at the grade data before making the proposal nor did the faculty see the grade data before voting pass/fail through,” Chisholm said. “What problem are we addressing here and how will we know if we have resolved that problem?”The new study hall system was a concern that also arose during the study on preps. The prep study hall has been instituted as a distraction-free area for preps to study on campus. It will be held in the Seabrooke Room in Elm St. Dining Hall Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:15 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.“It seems like a good idea but I don’t think I’m going to because I can pretty much always find a quiet place to study,” Hou said. “I don’t necessarily need to go to a study hall to do it. I also don’t like the fact that if you sign out for study, you can’t come back to your dorm until ten.”Prep Jonathan Lee reflected on the idea of study hall as a beneficial supplement to life as a prep. “I think study hall is another great addition for students who need to form better study habits. The dorm environment can be distracting at times and the study hall is good if you need a space free of noise,” he said.  “I probably won't use the study hall unless I get very distracted, but I know many students who plan to take advantage of this opportunity. The combination of the pass fail system and study hall fosters a scholarly environment in which students can achieve the most and make a smooth transition to Exeter life.”