New grading system could change UNC for the worse
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Letters to the Editor
TO THE EDITOR:
The Faculty Council is currently considering implementing a new philosophy and system of grading, the Achievement Index, in addition to the GPA.
Members of the executive branch - both the current Carson administration and the past Allred administration - have harbored strong doubts about AI. We had hoped to allow students to gather more information about the complex topic at an upcoming forum.
But we now feel the need to take an immediate public stance on the issue in the face of strong advocacy in favor of it by some members of the Educational Policy Committee. AI could radically change the Carolina experience for the worse, and would affect students long after graduation.
Please attend the forum, which will be held Friday at 3 p.m. in Toy Lounge on the top floor of Dey Hall, if you care about preserving the excellence of the Carolina experience and how your grades will be seen after college. To find out more about AI and our stance, visit www.unc.edu/studgov.
Eve Carson
Student Body President
Mike Radionchenko
Undergraduate Representative
Educational Policy Committee
The Faculty Council is currently considering implementing a new philosophy and system of grading, the Achievement Index, in addition to the GPA.
Members of the executive branch - both the current Carson administration and the past Allred administration - have harbored strong doubts about AI. We had hoped to allow students to gather more information about the complex topic at an upcoming forum.
But we now feel the need to take an immediate public stance on the issue in the face of strong advocacy in favor of it by some members of the Educational Policy Committee. AI could radically change the Carolina experience for the worse, and would affect students long after graduation.
Please attend the forum, which will be held Friday at 3 p.m. in Toy Lounge on the top floor of Dey Hall, if you care about preserving the excellence of the Carolina experience and how your grades will be seen after college. To find out more about AI and our stance, visit www.unc.edu/studgov.
Eve Carson
Student Body President
Mike Radionchenko
Undergraduate Representative
Educational Policy Committee
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
Sean
posted 4/12/07 @ 9:36 AM EST
I think the new grading system is ideal for the University. Grade inflation has become a huge problem in a majority of non-science majors and it must be dealt with in order for UNC to achieve grading equity. (Continued…)
Alex S
posted 4/12/07 @ 12:36 PM EST
AI, however, does not even address grade inflation. Students could still get undeserving As. What AI does, is change the concept of giving grades from rewarding someone for doing their best to ranking all students and giving them their grades by comparing them to other students. (Continued…)
Mike R
posted 4/12/07 @ 2:02 PM EST
I'm delighted to see everyone engaged in constructive dialogue regarding AI.
Alex S, thank you for mentioning studgov's wiki. Here's the link to it:
http://student-affairs00182. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 4/12/07 @ 3:56 PM EST
This system would take a huge burden off the registration system as pick-a-prof becomes a nullified. My education has become more about playing the system to better my GPA rather than choosing classes because I'm interested in them
what the argument is...
posted 4/12/07 @ 4:26 PM EST
I don't think people are critiquing this system b/c they are poor students. It has everything to do with not wanting to create a competitive atmosphere by comparing students to each other and forcing students to consider how they'll measure up to their peers. (Continued…)
From the Journal of Higher Education
posted 4/12/07 @ 5:59 PM EST
According to the American Chronicle on Higher Education, grade inflation IS a myth:
http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/gi.htm
Kevin
posted 4/12/07 @ 7:29 PM EST
Here is a link to a discussion talking about grade inflation here at UNC look here: http://www.unc.edu/faculty/faccoun/reports/2003-04/R04EDP1.htm
Also in my own personal opinion I think the AI is in principle a good idea. (Continued…)
nope.
posted 4/12/07 @ 8:18 PM EST
"Mr. Kohn doesn't even bother to refute the claim that grades have risen over time. His argument rests on a his assertion that rising grades aren't a bad thing and that rising grades are reflective increased competition for undergraduate admissions. (Continued…)
k
posted 4/12/07 @ 8:52 PM EST
My favorite part of AI is that you must guess how other students will fare before signing up for a class if you want a high class rank.
completely convoluted
posted 4/12/07 @ 9:24 PM EST
what you are saying doesn't even make sense! when you apply to a job, it is usually related to your course of study. for example, biology majors and anthropology majors usually do not apply for the same sorts of jobs. (Continued…)
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