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NEWS
| NOVEMBER 11, 2005
Plus Minus Grading System
Assembly addresses concerns over proposed
grading system
Now that student voice is stated,
focus shifts to survey construction.
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| The Shorthorn: Scott Russell |
| Graduate Assembly members
discussed various topics, including the Plus Minus grading
system and the print quota Thursday afternoon in the University
Center San Saba Room. The group was updated on what was
discussed in the Undergraduate Assembly and voiced its
opinion for a meeting with Provost Dana Dunn on a later
date. |
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By Megan
Magaña
The Shorthorn staff
The proposed Plus Minus grading system was discussed at the Graduate
Assembly meeting Thursday.
Biology associate professor James Grover, also the Graduate Assembly
chair, addressed the assembly with student concerns from the Undergraduate
Meeting held on Nov. 1.
Dr. Grover said students discussed how Plus Minus grading is not
widely used among Texas universities.
“Students have a perception that, in the regional job market,
Plus Minus grading is a rarity,” he said describing students’
concerns. “There’s a worry that the Plus Minus grading
might somehow handicap our students.”
Grover said other concerns students voice was the effect of “A”
grades on GPAs, since there is no “A+” in the proposed
system.
Architecture Associate Dean David Jones said he was concerned with
the discussion of grades.
“I think we ought to talk about learning,” he said.
“I feel like the preoccupation with grades misses the point
of what we do here.”
He said he thought the survey of faculty by the Office of the Provost
would reveal that people will have differing opinions on the issue.
“I think there is not going to be a consensus,” he said.
Provost Dana Dunn did not attend the meeting but said the survey
is still being constructed. She expects to have a final copy for
faculty input by the end of the semester.
“Right now we’re still crafting it,” she said.
Dr. Dunn stated earlier this week that the survey’s target
audience will be tenure and tenure-track faculty. It will allow
them to give their feedback on the proposed implementation of a
Plus Minus grading system. After the data from the surveys is collected,
it, along with other input, will be analyzed by Dunn and President
James Spaniolo before they make a decision on whether to implement
the system.
Graduate School Dean Philip Cohen said the survey will go through
several drafts before distribution to faculty.
“The better you construct a survey, the better the data will
be that you get back,” he said.
CORRECTION
This story should have stated that biology associate
professor James Grover, also the Graduate Assembly chair, addressed
the assembly with student concerns from the Undergraduate Assembly
meeting held on Nov. 1.
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