In response to concerns raised by students, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) has issued a cautionary statement to professors and faculty members who were reportedly planning to withhold students' final grades as a form of protest against the university's disciplinary action. The action was taken against students involved in anti-Israel demonstrations that disrupted campus activities.

The university administration, led by Provost Chris Clemens and Graduate School Dean Beth Mayer-Davis, sent a joint letter to deans and department chairs addressing the planned protest. The letter emphasized the importance of timely grade submission, as students rely on their grades for graduation, job opportunities, and athletic eligibility. It stated that it is the duty of all faculty and graduate teaching assistants to meet the registrar's deadlines for grade submission.

The concern arose after students were notified that some professors, along with other faculty members, teaching assistants, fellows, and graders, planned to withhold the reporting of final grades to the Registrar's Office. The message, shared on the school portal, explained that if the administration had not reinstated the suspended students by May 13, a "Not Reported" (NR) grade would appear on transcripts. However, the NR grade would not affect students' GPA and could be changed once the administration met the protest's demands.

The university's response to the planned protest warned professors that they could face "sanctions" for improperly withholding grades. Representative Richard Hudson, R-NC, went a step further, stating that professors participating in the grade withholding should be terminated from their positions immediately. Hudson argued that professors should focus on protecting students who are targets of antisemitism and violence, rather than supporting the alleged suspensions.

To resolve the situation amicably and prioritize the needs of students, the university urged deans and department chairs to work with their faculty and graduate students. While acknowledging the right to freedom of expression, the statement emphasized the importance of not harming the students and abiding by the contractual responsibilities the university has with the people of North Carolina.

UNC-Chapel Hill recently faced a four-day encampment protest, which resulted in damages to the campus and was deemed a safety hazard. Despite this, the university has declared its intent to proceed with its scheduled commencement ceremony on May 11.

As the situation continues to evolve, the university's focus remains on maintaining excellence in education and research while also addressing the concerns of both faculty members and students. The hope is that a resolution can be achieved that upholds the university's commitment to its students while allowing for constructive dialogue and the safeguarding of different perspectives on campus.