Plus/minus system awaits finalization
Amber Parcher
Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: News
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Because of student opposition, faculty and staff are unsure of when the proposed plus/minus grading system will go into effect, said a Faculty Senate member.
Andrew Fort, past chairman and member of the Faculty Senate's Executive Committee, said the issue has not been finalized because of the negative student reaction.
David Grant, a religion professor who first presented the proposal, said the system was supposed to go into effect next fall but will probably be implemented later on next year.
Grant said students have misconceptions about how much the grading system will affect them.
"There seems to be this impression that students will lose their scholarships, or that it will be more difficult to get into graduate school," Grant said. "But I don't think it's going to affect students as much as they think it will."
Grant said 80 percent of the top 120 schools as ranked by U.S. News and World Report use the plus/minus scale.
Suzy Lockwood, chair of the Faculty Senate and Executive Committee member, said the conflict is an opportunity for students and professors to work together.
"There are a variety of different things causing concern among students," Lockwood said. "It's not just this issue versus that issue."
Nowell Donovan, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said listening to students' opinions is the most important action professors can take now.
Donovan said professors are given the power to design their own curriculum and the plus/minus grading system would be an extension of that because professors would have the choice to grade on the plus/minus scale.
But Heather Santi, freshman communication and religion major, said she is not sure that would be a good idea.
"It could be a logistical nightmare if we have professors grading on different scales," Santi said.
Jace Thompson, newly elected president of the Student Government Association, said he agreed.
"Students don't understand how the plus/minus system will better represent them if faculty don't use it across the board," Thompson said.
Andrew Fort, past chairman and member of the Faculty Senate's Executive Committee, said the issue has not been finalized because of the negative student reaction.
David Grant, a religion professor who first presented the proposal, said the system was supposed to go into effect next fall but will probably be implemented later on next year.
Grant said students have misconceptions about how much the grading system will affect them.
"There seems to be this impression that students will lose their scholarships, or that it will be more difficult to get into graduate school," Grant said. "But I don't think it's going to affect students as much as they think it will."
Grant said 80 percent of the top 120 schools as ranked by U.S. News and World Report use the plus/minus scale.
Suzy Lockwood, chair of the Faculty Senate and Executive Committee member, said the conflict is an opportunity for students and professors to work together.
"There are a variety of different things causing concern among students," Lockwood said. "It's not just this issue versus that issue."
Nowell Donovan, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said listening to students' opinions is the most important action professors can take now.
Donovan said professors are given the power to design their own curriculum and the plus/minus grading system would be an extension of that because professors would have the choice to grade on the plus/minus scale.
But Heather Santi, freshman communication and religion major, said she is not sure that would be a good idea.
"It could be a logistical nightmare if we have professors grading on different scales," Santi said.
Jace Thompson, newly elected president of the Student Government Association, said he agreed.
"Students don't understand how the plus/minus system will better represent them if faculty don't use it across the board," Thompson said.
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