Proposed
grading system has pluses, minuses for
students
By
Starr T. Balmer
Daily Forty-Niner
City Editor
The Associated Students Senate debated Wednesday about a new grading system
presented to Cal State Long Beach and said the system may affect students’ academics.
CSULB proposed changing the current standard grading system, A-F, to the plus
and minus system, which would allow professors to use grades such as A+, A,
A- and so on, to grade students.
Most senators disagreed with the proposal, saying it would not be beneficial
to CSULB students, because it can negatively affect students' grades.
Health and Human Services Sen. Heidi Chavez said she talked to other students
who are under the plus-minus system at another university who said their experiences
were not pleasant.
“Because of [the grading system], it messed up their GPA,” Chavez
said.
Sandra Olmedo, senator-at-large, talked to students at UCLA who have used the
system.
“It’s very difficult for them to get a passing score,” Olmedo
said. “Because of the plus-minus system, they could drop down from a B
to a C.”
The intention of implementing the plus-minus grading system was to add prestige
to CSULB degrees, but the Senate disagreed. Instead, the members presented
other solutions to adding higher value to the campus.
“Look at classes with the lowest GPA and [help them] boost their grades
instead of doing technical things,” said College of Business Administration
Sen. Mike Emenhiser. He said the percentages of the grading in the system could
dramatically change grades. “I don’t want 3 percent to change my
grade that much.”
Additionally, Health and Human Services Sen. Kory Witt questioned the professors’ role
in the plus-minus grading system. “How do we know professors will follow
the plus-minus scale?” he said.
Chavez added that professors should approach students and invite them to discuss
any academic issues, which may cause students not to feel intimidated and increase
their grades and performance in the classroom.
“Professors should approach students and ask them if they need help,” she
said.
Senator-at-Large Zion Redie added it would be more difficult for disqualified
students and those on academic probation to acquire better grades if the system
is adopted.
However, Senator-at-Large Ashley Stanton said the system could be an optimistic
outlook for those students in need of better grades. She explained that if,
for example, students are performing satisfactorily, the system could increase
their grades from a D to a C-.
In the end the Senate agreed the plus-minus may hurt a student’s overall
grades. They plan to deliberate and vote on the issue later in the school year. |
