[mikecarlucci]

I don't think anyone is talking about creating "STEM-lite" grads but maybe there are qualified people who for one reason or another can't pick up calculus as fast as the school wants. Or didn't get a complete enough background in high school. Or is 18 years old and living away from home for the first time and just made a few bad decisions.

Failing a class first semester really puts pressure on changing majors. Students go into he program hearing that a lot of people will drop, do poorly, and are encouraged to drop. Someone earlier said schools should try and "weed in" students rather than weed out.

Departments need to take their fair share of blame in creating an environment that can be miserable for even the successful students. Not all the blame, but some.

[Apocryphon]

I have to wonder if STEM courses that have routinely have tests that set the curve at 40% is really a good thing or not.