In transitioning from fall to spring semester, the Bursar's office is responsible for compiling information concerning grade distributions and grade point averages. Despite slight decreases in comparison to the 2010 spring semester, during the 2010 fall semester 25 percent of all grades awarded were A’s while 12.8 percent were B’s, bringing the standard grade point average to 3.17.
In past years, the numbers concerning the amount of A’s and B’s given to students has continued t o rise and has therefore influenced the increase in the average GPA as well. As students affected by administration decisions concerning this issue, it is important we understand the questions being discussed. Are grades inflating because students are becoming smarter, or are higher letter grades being distributed too easily by faculty?
Check out this week’s issue of The Pendulum (1/19) to see what Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Peter Felten, assistant provost and director of the center for the advancement of teaching and learning, Glenda Crawford, director of teaching fellows and Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler, director of the honors program, have to say about this topic.
-Sam Parker, Senior Reporter