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NEWS
| SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
Student Governance
SC turns down grading system
Even though a task force approved
the proposed system, SC finds it unfair.
By Megan
Magaña
The Shorthorn staff
Student Congress members adopted a resolution Tuesday evening, saying
they were not in favor of a Plus Minus Grading system.
Last November, Provost Dana Dunn formed a task force to investigate
adopting a system that would recognize students who work harder
than others to receive the same grade after the Graduate Assembly
voted to request the provost’s office consider using the grading
system.
According to its final report, the task force voted to recommend
putting the system into effect for all students.
Associate Provost Michael Moore explained the idea to SC members
and said the philosophy is to allow faculty more accuracy when assigning
grades.
“Plus Minus Grading system provides incentive for students
to remain engaged,” he said.
Moore said that every semester he feels bad for the student who
worked hard for an 89, only to receive the same grade as a student
who skimmed by with an 81.
He said that if passed, the earliest the system would start is fall
2006 and that it would be done uniformly.
“I think good students would like this,” he said.
SC amended its resolution, which doesn’t have to go through
committees for research before passing, saying that if the system
goes into place, it would recommend an “A” still be
considered 90 and above.
SC Secretary David Schnautz said the system leaves “A+”
off the grading system and actually punishes “A” students
since there is no higher GPA than a 4.0.
“Student Congress is strongly against this move,” he
said.
SC Vice President Zac Sanders said he also opposes the idea.
“I want UTA to be under the same grading system as Texas A&M,
[UT-Austin], Texas Tech and Texas State,” he said. “Those
are the students that I’m going to be competing for jobs against.”
The task force report cited that Plus Minus Grading holds students
more accountable and provides different levels of student achievement.
The report also states that improved academic standards are a rationale
for change.
However, it sees potential drawbacks as a possible increase in grade
grievances and complaints. Also, it creates a cutoff for students
needing to maintain a certain GPA for scholarship purposes.
The Undergraduate Assembly will consider the issue when it convenes
in November.
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