ESU faculty urges plus/minus choice

Special to The Capital-Journal

EMPORIA -- The Emporia State University faculty senate on April 6 unanimously approved altering the plus/minus grading system effective in the spring of 2000.

The result will be a "kinder, gentler version of the plus/minus system," said several members of the faculty senate. The change, if accepted by ESU President Kay Schallenkamp, will allow faculty the choice of using either the plus/minus system or the standard ABCDF system. "We don't feel it's appropriate to tell (faculty) they have to use the (plus/minus) system," said Gary Wyatt, second vice president of faculty senate and a bill originator. Justin Holstin, president of Associated Student Government, expressed a concern that in making the plus/minus system optional, students will "shop around for classes" and choose classes on the basis of whether the professors use the plus/minus system. "Students already shop for classes," Wyatt said, citing time of day, day of week and reputation of class difficulty. Other proposed changes submitted to the president would eliminate the C-, D+ and D-, creating a system equal in the number of pluses and minuses. Schallenkamp declined comment because she hasn't reviewed the new faculty senate legislation. John Schwenn, vice president of academic affairs, wasn't available for comment.

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