petition to the fordham law school curriculum committee by students concerned for fordham

Petition to the Fordham Law School Curriculum Committee by Students Concerned for Fordham We, the undersigned Fordham law students, write to express our concern with the impending decision to implement a mandatory grading curve on all upper level classes. I. Fordham law students should receive the grades they earn. This is not to say that all students are entitled to any particular grade. Still, grades should be based on demonstrated mastery of subject matter and not strict adherence to artificial grading quotas. II. Imposing a curve on small seminars and clinics will undermine collaboration among students, as the collegial and intimate nature of these classes will soon be replaced by a culture of competitiveness. Curves, by their very nature, discourage cooperation and teamwork. This culture shift will not cast Fordham in a positive light and will have a negative impact on future applicants and the perception of the school in the larger legal and academic communities. III. Imposing a curve on all upper level classes will reduce Fordham law students’ ability to compete in a depressed job market. IV. The proposed policy change would particularly disadvantage rising 2Ls and 3Ls who would not get the “benefit” of the new 1L curve but would feel the impact of the new and harsher curve imposed in their second and third years. Therefore, we urge the Curriculum Committee not to implement the proposed grading changes. NAME CLASS YEAR EMAIL ADDRESS

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We, the undersigned Fordham law students, write to express our concern with the impending decision to implement a mandatory grading curve on all upper level classes.I. Fordham law students should receive the grades they earn. This is not to say that all students are entitled to any particular grade. Still, grades should be based on demonstrated mastery of subject matter and not strict adherence to artificial grading quotas. II. Imposing a curve on small seminars and clinics will undermine collaboration among students, as the collegial and intimate nature of these classes will soon be replaced by a culture of competitiveness. Curves, by their very nature, discourage cooperation and teamwork. This culture shift will not cast Fordham in a positive light and will have a negative impact on future applicants and the perception of the school in the larger legal and academic communities.III. Imposing a curve on all upper level classes will reduce Fordham law students’ ability to compete in a depressed job market. IV. The proposed policy change would particularly disadvantage rising 2Ls and 3Ls who would not get the “benefit” of the new 1L curve but would feel the impact of the new and harsher curve imposed in their second and third years.Therefore, we urge the Curriculum Committee not to implement the proposed grading changes.

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Petition to the Fordham Law School Curriculum Committee by Students Concerned for Fordham

We, the undersigned Fordham law students, write to express our concern with the impending decision to implement a mandatory grading curve on all upper level classes.

I. Fordham law students should receive the grades they earn. This is not to say that all students are entitled to any particular grade. Still, grades should be based on demonstrated mastery of subject matter and not strict adherence to artificial grading quotas.

II. Imposing a curve on small seminars and clinics will undermine collaboration among students, as the collegial and intimate nature of these classes will soon be replaced by a culture of competitiveness. Curves, by their very nature, discourage cooperation and teamwork. This culture shift will not cast Fordham in a positive light and will have a negative impact on future applicants and the perception of the school in the larger legal and academic communities.

III. Imposing a curve on all upper level classes will reduce Fordham law students’ ability to compete in a depressed job market.

IV. The proposed policy change would particularly disadvantage rising 2Ls and 3Ls who would not get the “benefit” of the new 1L curve but would feel the impact of the new and harsher curve imposed in their second and third years.

Therefore, we urge the Curriculum Committee not to implement the proposed grading changes.

NAME CLASS YEAR

EMAIL ADDRESS