Director's Cut
Issue date: 5/19/06 Section: Ed-Op
The long wait is nearly over. Yes, soon Provost Stephen Director will notify the students of the University of his decision whether to implement plus-minus grading. Director told The Triangle his decision is nearly final. But he's not going to get around to telling us students until the end of the term.
Based on past remarks and his tone we believe that plus-minus grading is a done deal and will be implemented.
If our hunch is correct, we seriously question the reasoning behind the decision. From their few public remarks on the issue, it appears to us that Director and the Faculty Senate are making this decision only because other schools are doing it. Clearly, this logic is faulty. People jumping off a bridge comes to mind.
The proponents of plus-minus grading have argued that the new grading system will make students stronger candidates for graduate school by making Drexel a more competitive school. They fail to take the entire graduate admissions process into the picture, however. Although GPA is a factor in graduate school admissions, it is not the only one - nor is it even the most important one. Graduate schools also consider test scores, writing skills, maturity, job experience, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation. Graduate schools look at the complete student, not a single student.
Learning by doing is the Drexel way. But with plus-minus grading, students will shift focus from what really matters, like gaining the skills necessary to excel outside of the classroom, to what really doesn't, grades. With this misplaced emphasis, the incentive for students will be for calculating before every quiz and assignment the grade needed in order to keep their scholarship or stay on dean's list. Drexel is respected across the nation as a top-performing co-op school. Businesses love to work with Drexel co-ops. Doesn't this distinction already give Drexel graduates the competitive advantage they need?
If such logical arguments escape Director and his mind is already made up, then he should at least tell the students now instead of announcing the bad news when no one's listening, between spring and summer terms. If Director truly believes that he is doing the right thing, then he should have nothing to fear.
Provost Director, if you still are listening, put the thoughts and concerns of students first and reconsider. Do not let this grading system pass. Or at least own up to your decision and announce it now.
Based on past remarks and his tone we believe that plus-minus grading is a done deal and will be implemented.
If our hunch is correct, we seriously question the reasoning behind the decision. From their few public remarks on the issue, it appears to us that Director and the Faculty Senate are making this decision only because other schools are doing it. Clearly, this logic is faulty. People jumping off a bridge comes to mind.
The proponents of plus-minus grading have argued that the new grading system will make students stronger candidates for graduate school by making Drexel a more competitive school. They fail to take the entire graduate admissions process into the picture, however. Although GPA is a factor in graduate school admissions, it is not the only one - nor is it even the most important one. Graduate schools also consider test scores, writing skills, maturity, job experience, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation. Graduate schools look at the complete student, not a single student.
Learning by doing is the Drexel way. But with plus-minus grading, students will shift focus from what really matters, like gaining the skills necessary to excel outside of the classroom, to what really doesn't, grades. With this misplaced emphasis, the incentive for students will be for calculating before every quiz and assignment the grade needed in order to keep their scholarship or stay on dean's list. Drexel is respected across the nation as a top-performing co-op school. Businesses love to work with Drexel co-ops. Doesn't this distinction already give Drexel graduates the competitive advantage they need?
If such logical arguments escape Director and his mind is already made up, then he should at least tell the students now instead of announcing the bad news when no one's listening, between spring and summer terms. If Director truly believes that he is doing the right thing, then he should have nothing to fear.
Provost Director, if you still are listening, put the thoughts and concerns of students first and reconsider. Do not let this grading system pass. Or at least own up to your decision and announce it now.
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Anonymous
posted 5/19/06 @ 1:04 PM EST
amen.
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