Although the process for withdrawing from the university will now be much easier, students may face an unexpected failing grade with the change in grading policy.

The Faculty Senate voted unanimously Monday to make a change that would automatically assign a grade of W for all classes to a student who withdraws from the university after the drop/add period of a semester. However, instructors will still be able to change the W to an E after a student withdraws.

Before the change, students had to go to all their instructors and notify them of the withdrawal. At that time, the instructor recorded a grade of a W or an E, Associate Dean of Students Alexis Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he proposed the change in grading policy after he looked at the withdrawals and found that, while instructors had the option of giving either a W or E, about 99.5 percent of the grades assigned to students who withdrew were W's.

In spring 1994, of the 1,192 university withdrawal grades posted after the fourth week of the semester, four were E's.

In fall 1994, of the 1,160 university withdrawal grades posted, six were E's.

Although Hernandez said he suggested the change because such a small number of grades given are E's, some senators wanted the policy to retain the instructor's option to assign an E. The Senate approved an amendment to the proposal, which added a clause giving instructors that option, 20-9.

Faculty Sen. Fredrick Hill, electrical and computer engineering professor and chairman of the Undergraduate Council, said he predicts very few professors will actually change the W's to E's.

But, he said, "We're trying to avoid giving students complete control."

Faculty Sen. Richard Hallick, biochemistry professor, supported the amendment, saying some students withdraw to avoid consequences of their performance.

Hill said, "The students must be responsible for their academic performance and this (policy) will ensure that."

But Associated Students President Ben Driggs opposed the amendment.

"Most students withdraw for serious reasons, giving a failing grade is not the right message we want to send," Driggs said.

Faculty Sen. Jacqueline Sharkey, journalism professor, was also against the amendment and talked about how she once had to convince another professor not to give a student, who was hospitalized for one month, a failing grade.

Hernandez said students who withdraw for medical reasons are not guaranteed a W.

Under the new policy, students need only notify the university of their withdrawal and file paperwork through the Registrar's Office, Hernandez said.