Sophomore Enabling

Sophomore enabling is a review, conducted near the end of the sophomore year, of the student’s learning during the two years spent at the college. Tutors judge whether it is in the best interest of the student and the college for the student to continue into the junior and senior years. Although the grade record is considered, grades alone do not determine the enabling decision. Passing grades, or even grades that are better than merely passing, do not guarantee enabling.

The sophomore seminar essay is especially important in the enabling procedure, since it is an indication of the student’s ability to write a satisfactory essay in the senior year. No student who has not written a satisfactory sophomore seminar essay may enter the junior year.

Mathematical and language skills are considered in the enabling decision, as is the ability and willingness to contribute significantly to class discussions. Some factors that can contribute to a negative decision on enabling are these: absence from classes, lack of participation, getting in the way of the learning of others, not submitting written work, and submitting written work that is sloppy or thin. Someone may not be enabled because the tutors judge that he or she won’t make the effort to do what’s required to be a student here — or because, despite eagerness, and great effort, the tutors judge that there is not the right fit between the student, with his or her particular strengths and weaknesses and style of learning, and the distinctive program of the college, with its particular ends and ways of doing things.

The enabling decision is a purely internal matter: The transcript of a student who has not been enabled bears no indication of that fact. Students who are not enabled but whose grades are satisfactory or better can usually transfer without difficulty to another college and get credit for work done here.

The enabling decision is made by the Dean and Instruction Committee, with the advice of the don rag committee and of the whole faculty. For the Instruction Committee to reconsider a negative enabling decision, the Dean must receive from the student, by the opening of business on the Monday morning after the enabling meeting, a letter of appeal giving reasons why the decision should be reversed or proposing conditions for enabling. Should a student decide to apply for readmission in some later year following a negative enabling decision, a written letter addressed to the Dean should accompany the request for readmission giving reasons for overturning the bar to entering the junior year. The Dean may consult with others in these cases, after which the Registrar will reply to the student. Parents of dependent students may be notified of the results of the enabling decision.

Senior Essay and Oral Examination

Seniors are required to present to the faculty an essay related to some aspect of their four years’ work and to pass an hour-long public examination on it. The essay is submitted on the fourth Saturday of the second semester and assigned to an examining committee of three tutors. If the examining committee considers an essay to be acceptable, that is, if it can be given a satisfactory grade, it will be examined by that committee as submitted; no further revision is permitted.

A senior who does not submit an essay by the specified due date, or who does not submit a bona fide essay, does not qualify for graduation with the current class. Bona fide means in “good faith,” that is, written with the intention of its being accepted. An essay is likely to be judged not bona fide if it falls far short of the expected minimum length, if any part of it takes the form of an outline or consists in quotations without interpretation or explanation. If an essay is found to be not bona fide, the student will be notified by the dean.

If the committee considers the essay to be unacceptable (yet still bona fide), the chairman of the committee will notify the senior that it is rejected, and the senior may submit either a revision or a new essay by noon of the first Tuesday after spring vacation. This new essay will be examined by the same committee or, rarely, by a newly chosen one. If acceptable, this new essay cannot be considered for a prize. If the resubmitted essay is also considered to be unsatisfactory, the senior does not qualify for graduation with the current class. The senior may participate in commencement to the extent specified below under “Participation in Commencement Ceremony.”

Regarding the grading of senior essays:

1. In cases where a senior does not submit an essay by the February deadline, or submits an essay that is deemed not bona fide, the student will receive an Incomplete, or a grade of “I”, for the essay and oral class. A new essay may be submitted any time after commencement of the current year, but within one year of this date. If a new essay is not received after one year, the grade of “I” will revert to “F”.
2. In cases where a student submits a senior essay that is deemed Unsatisfactory, the essay is revised, and the revised essay is still deemed Unsatisfactory, a final grade of “F” is assigned to both the essay and oral. A new essay may be submitted any time after commencement of the current year, but within one year of this date. The student must first inform the Dean’s Office of the proposed essay topic.

In cases in which no satisfactory essay was submitted (either no essay submitted, or the essay was found not bona fide, or the essay was found unacceptable even after revision), and in which a year has lapsed from the original date of commencement, a student may still submit a new senior essay. The student must first inform the Dean’s Office of the proposed essay topic. The student must apply for readmission, deposit, and reenroll for the essay and the oral classes for the expected term of completion. The student is not eligible for on-campus residence or financial aid. After the essay is received, a committee will be formed to evaluate the essay. If the essay is deemed satisfactory, an oral examination will be scheduled. Should the student pass his or her oral examination, a degree will be awarded at the next commencement ceremony.

No degree is awarded unless both the essay and oral examinations are satisfactory. The date on the degree will be the date of the Commencement ceremony following when all degree requirements are met.

Participation in Commencement Ceremony

A senior enrolled full-time for both semesters of the senior year but who has not completed degree requirements may choose from the options outlined below with regard to participation in a commencement ceremony. A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony and be listed in only one commencement program. Option B requires the prior approval of the Dean and the President. Questions regarding participation in a commencement ceremony should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar.

Options:

1. Delay participation until all requirements have been completed. If this option is chosen, the senior’s name will not be listed on the current commencement program. When degree requirements have been met, the senior will be included on the program and may participate in the May commencement ceremony following the date the degree requirements were met.
2. Participate in the current ceremony with the senior class of which the senior is a member. If this option is chosen, the senior’s name will be listed on the commencement program with an asterisk (*) denoting that the degree will be awarded “upon completion of requirements.” The senior can process and recess with the other seniors; the senior’s name will be read by the Dean along with the qualification “upon completion of requirements”; the senior will not walk across the stage to receive a hood or diploma. The date on the diploma will be the date of the May commencement following the date the degree requirements were satisfied.