Purdue News

Senate approves plus/minus grading system

The University Senate approved the new policy on voice vote April 28.

The measure was debated for more than an hour total during the most recent meeting and the March 24 meeting, when the proposal was introduced. A number of senators indicated they had polled colleagues or at least discussed the matter with other faculty during departmental meetings.

Two points raised during the most recent debate focused on whether the system would be voluntary and whether an A+ should be worth more points than an A.

Although a report accompanying the proposal stated the plus/minus system "allows faculty to append a plus or a minus to letter grades," the actual proposal appears to require the use of plus/minus grading.

The measure alters University Regulations. The portion of the regulations that addresses semester grades reads: "The following grades shall be assigned ..."

In the measure as proposed, that passage was not to be changed. But several senators said the wording indicated that the list of grades - whether with or without pluses and minuses - had to be used in all classes.

Senators approved an amendment to the proposal to change the wording to: "The following grades shall be available to be assigned ..."

Another amendment was offered and defeated that would have made an A+ worth 4.3 points and an A 4.0 - but capped the cumulative index at 4.0.

The measure as proposed and passed makes both worth 4.0 points.

As a compromise, William Ray, professor of biological sciences and chair of the Educational Policy Committee, suggested that transcripts include a notation of the number of hours for which an A+ was given. The suggestion will be taken up by the Educational Policy Committee next year.

Computer reprogramming and other changes associated with the new system will delay its use until the 1999-2000 academic year at the earliest.

In other Senate news:

• The first University Senate meeting of fall semester will be Sept. 8. In years past, the first meeting of the fall term didn't occur until late September or early October. The new meeting time reflects a move by the Senate to begin work earlier so more can be accomplished during the semester.

Chairs appointed for standing committees
The chairs of University Senate standing committees for 1997-98 were announced at the April 28 meeting. They are:

• Steering Committee - Andrew Weiner, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
  
• Educational Policy Committee - A.G. Rud, associate professor of educational foundations and administration.
  
• Faculty Affairs Committee - Lee Weith, professor of biochemistry.
  
• Nominating Committee - Martha Chiscon, associate professor of biological sciences.
  
• Student Affairs Committee - Ralph Webb, professor of communication.
  
• University Resources Policy Committee - Stuart Offenbach, professor of psychological sciences.

Committee chairs preside in committee meetings; introduce proposals passed out of committees; and serve on the Advisory Committee, which is made up of Senate leadership and is designated to speak on behalf of the faculty in communicating with the administration and the Board of Trustees.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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