WHAT? PROBLEM? Or, WHAT PROBLEM?
The challenge is to identify the root cause. It is not likely that “we” (as a Department) would agree on any root cause. Some state that the students are just not motivated enough. Some state that we empower students to be procrastinators. Some state that our students have too many demands on their time; some further add that our students try to do too much. Some state that our students lack the academic skills needed for success.
We have usually striven to be a developmental program; in this approach, the courses balance the content needs with other needs of the student – to achieve improvements in both areas. This contrasts with a ‘remedial’ program, which is concerned almost exclusively with content … one could argue that the problem we are facing is that we have become a remedial program, and I think there is a great deal of truth in this claim.
If we believe that our students just can not “get this stuff” (master it), then we make mastery a ‘voluntary’ feature. If we want to continue the disadvantages faced by many students, then we allow them to “pass” the class by taking the tests on time – whether ready or not.
In case the message was not clear, I think the problem is us … we are ready to consider giving up features and benefits in a desperation move to avoid the continuation of bad data.