In the midst of rapid change in higher education, traditional grading approaches are being questioned in terms of their potential impacts on equity, motivation, and meaningful learning. This faculty panel brings instructors together from diverse disciplinary cultures and traditions to discuss alternative approaches to assessment and grading-such as ungrading, specifications grading, and portfolio-based evaluation-that prioritize student engagement and accessibility. At a time when students and faculty alike are navigating unprecedented challenges, including mental health concerns and shifting expectations since the beginning of the pandemic, alternative approaches to assessment offer the potential to foster deep learning, reduce anxiety, and create more inclusive classrooms.

Throughout this session, participants will have the opportunity to do the following: 1) learn how colleagues are implementing strategies in their unique contexts; 2) explore the benefits and challenges faculty have encountered with alt assessment, and 3) identify practical steps to reimagine assessment in their own classrooms.