SectionsOur View: New grading system shouldn't lead to student meltdown over symbols
The Standard Editorial Board
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: Opinion
There is some excessive worry about grades this year.
With the implementation of the plus/minus grading system, a new debate - or complaint, rather - has developed.
From what we can tell, few C students are stewing over the recent changes to grading options. It's the A students who seem to take issue.
Let us be clear, grades are a legitimate concern. Whether you are padding a resume or trying to get into grad school, one eye on your grades is a good idea.
But, maybe, the other eye should be looking elsewhere. The quality of education ought to be paramount.
The fixation on making the grade is creating some petty arguments.
Many in the grade-obsessed community argue that the plus/minus system hurts A students because there is no A+ and it introduces the possibility of the slightly less valuable A-.
We would argue that it would accurately reflect A students while putting A- students on Front Street.
This isn't a bad thing necessarily. Excelling isn't supposed to be easy. People who truly excel rise above the competition regardless of circumstance and for those who have merely skated along, the ride may be over.
Roughly 60 percent of colleges use the plus/minus grading system so you can't say the university is making things extra tough for A students.
For those students who truly do take on the challenge, plus/minus grading makes earning the A that more valuable.
Besides, in terms of the future, does anyone really pay attention to that little symbol after the grade?
We commend Student Government Association for making an argument with a modicum of merit. They oppose plus/minus because it would "create inconsistencies for GPAs since different professors and different sections would be allowed to implement the system differently."
The rest of their objection, though, is a little wonky. They state the plus/minus system would "grievously affect the comparison of students' efforts."
Take it easy. The sky isn't falling. It isn't even sprinkling.
SGA also said students might be more likely to take classes by an instructor that does not use the plus-minus system, causing a drop in attendance for the instructors who utilize it.
The Office of the Provost has plans to re-evaluate the plus-minus grading system in two years, we will be interested to see what they find.
With the implementation of the plus/minus grading system, a new debate - or complaint, rather - has developed.
From what we can tell, few C students are stewing over the recent changes to grading options. It's the A students who seem to take issue.
Let us be clear, grades are a legitimate concern. Whether you are padding a resume or trying to get into grad school, one eye on your grades is a good idea.
But, maybe, the other eye should be looking elsewhere. The quality of education ought to be paramount.
The fixation on making the grade is creating some petty arguments.
Many in the grade-obsessed community argue that the plus/minus system hurts A students because there is no A+ and it introduces the possibility of the slightly less valuable A-.
We would argue that it would accurately reflect A students while putting A- students on Front Street.
This isn't a bad thing necessarily. Excelling isn't supposed to be easy. People who truly excel rise above the competition regardless of circumstance and for those who have merely skated along, the ride may be over.
Roughly 60 percent of colleges use the plus/minus grading system so you can't say the university is making things extra tough for A students.
For those students who truly do take on the challenge, plus/minus grading makes earning the A that more valuable.
Besides, in terms of the future, does anyone really pay attention to that little symbol after the grade?
We commend Student Government Association for making an argument with a modicum of merit. They oppose plus/minus because it would "create inconsistencies for GPAs since different professors and different sections would be allowed to implement the system differently."
The rest of their objection, though, is a little wonky. They state the plus/minus system would "grievously affect the comparison of students' efforts."
Take it easy. The sky isn't falling. It isn't even sprinkling.
SGA also said students might be more likely to take classes by an instructor that does not use the plus-minus system, causing a drop in attendance for the instructors who utilize it.
The Office of the Provost has plans to re-evaluate the plus-minus grading system in two years, we will be interested to see what they find.
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