The newest batch of freshmen are being allowed to S/U their modules after their final examinations.

The S/U option, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory option, allows undergraduates to exclude modules in the computation of their grade point average.

This lets them venture outside their comfort zone to explore other fields of study without compromising their final grades.

Before this intake, the S/U option had to be declared a third of the way into the academic year. Since the S/U option can only be used for a maximum of three modules, an undergraduate would have to effectively predict how well he would do later in a course.

If exercised in the wrong way, a student may compromise his or her grade point average, which may ultimately affect his or her graduation.

The new undergraduates are allowed to exercise their S/U options well after their final examinations. The benefits of this are obvious. The student is less stressed about trying to decide how he is doing in a course. Instead, he can work hard for his grades and then exercise the S/U option.

But the change only affects the freshmen cohort.

Senior students have said that they, too, would like the opportunity to exercise the S/U option after their exams.

This has prompted the NUS Student's Union to start an online forum for students to express their opinions and to survey the response.

I strongly urge my fellow students to participate in the ongoing debate about the issue.

At the same time, I would like to applaud the NUSSU for taking steps to ensure that NUS students are given outlets to voice their personal concerns and comments on the matter.

Ang Carrick