Faculty sift through AI issues
Hear concerns about grading system
By: Sergio Tovar, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: University
Faculty and students voiced their concerns Friday at a forum about a new grading system under consideration by the Faculty Council.
The council held the forum to discuss a resolution that would implement the Achievement Index as the way the University determines class ranking and distinctions.
The index is a grading system similar to a grade point average that takes into consideration a student's grade in a course, as well as their classmates' performance in that and other classes.
About 50 students, including Student Body President Eve Carson, who has been a strong opponent of the index, attended the forum. Carson and some members of her administration also gave speeches and asked questions.
About 30 faculty members also attended the forum.
Most attendees questioned the necessity and purpose of the index, though some faculty members showed support for it.
"If we're going to be the leading public university, we have to lead," said Frank Wilson, professor of orthopedics, adding that complex problems have complex solutions.
Faculty and students were allowed to ask questions about the index to a panel of members of the Faculty Council's educational policy subcommittee.
Joy Kasson, an American Studies professor, said she is worried about the transparency of the system because of the complicated calculations used to compute the average.
"AI seems like a little box that shoots out grades," she said.
University Registrar Alice Poehls addressed attendees about how expensive it would be to implement the plan.
She said the University would have to either modify its newly acquired computer system, which includes GPA calculation software, or add an additional system to run the index.
"We may be precluding modifications to the software that could help students," Poehls said.
Foster responded to Poehls by saying that officials should focus on the proposal and that implementation should be considered if approved.
If the council votes to pass the resolution at its next meeting on April 27, it will serve as an endorsement for the index. The index then would be evaluated further, and the University would be responsible for implementing the index.
Another major issue brought up at the forum was how the index would affect the campus environment.
"I have a feeling that this policy is going to create a lot of competition between students for grades," said Mike Radionchenko, the undergraduate student member of the educational policy subcommittee. "It has a lot of potential to change student climate here at North Carolina."
But Boone Turchi, economics professor, said implementing the index would be an effective way to deal with grade inflation.
"I think it's good for the integrity of the University. … It is the kind of thing that has long-run benefits for students."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
The council held the forum to discuss a resolution that would implement the Achievement Index as the way the University determines class ranking and distinctions.
The index is a grading system similar to a grade point average that takes into consideration a student's grade in a course, as well as their classmates' performance in that and other classes.
About 50 students, including Student Body President Eve Carson, who has been a strong opponent of the index, attended the forum. Carson and some members of her administration also gave speeches and asked questions.
About 30 faculty members also attended the forum.
Most attendees questioned the necessity and purpose of the index, though some faculty members showed support for it.
"If we're going to be the leading public university, we have to lead," said Frank Wilson, professor of orthopedics, adding that complex problems have complex solutions.
Faculty and students were allowed to ask questions about the index to a panel of members of the Faculty Council's educational policy subcommittee.
Joy Kasson, an American Studies professor, said she is worried about the transparency of the system because of the complicated calculations used to compute the average.
"AI seems like a little box that shoots out grades," she said.
University Registrar Alice Poehls addressed attendees about how expensive it would be to implement the plan.
She said the University would have to either modify its newly acquired computer system, which includes GPA calculation software, or add an additional system to run the index.
"We may be precluding modifications to the software that could help students," Poehls said.
Foster responded to Poehls by saying that officials should focus on the proposal and that implementation should be considered if approved.
If the council votes to pass the resolution at its next meeting on April 27, it will serve as an endorsement for the index. The index then would be evaluated further, and the University would be responsible for implementing the index.
Another major issue brought up at the forum was how the index would affect the campus environment.
"I have a feeling that this policy is going to create a lot of competition between students for grades," said Mike Radionchenko, the undergraduate student member of the educational policy subcommittee. "It has a lot of potential to change student climate here at North Carolina."
But Boone Turchi, economics professor, said implementing the index would be an effective way to deal with grade inflation.
"I think it's good for the integrity of the University. … It is the kind of thing that has long-run benefits for students."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
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