Students give ESU grading low marks

By RYAN D. WILSON

Special to The Capital-Journal

EMPORIA --- Some Emporia State University students are giving failing marks to the school's new grading system. The plus/minus system introduced this fall is causing problems, they say, because it is both optional and confusing.

Each professor can decide whether to use the new system or standard scale. The standard scale values an A grade as 4.0, B as 3.0, C as 2.0 and D as 1.0. The plus/minus system recognizes gradations between marks and attaches corresponding values, for example, an A- is valued at 3.7, B+ is 3.4, a B- is 2.7 and so on.

Although professors are required to say what system they will use in the course syllabi, multiple-section courses present a problem because more than one professor might be teaching. The Office of Academic Affairs has set a policy that college divisions must decide how professors will use plus/minus system in multiple section courses.

According to deans of the colleges and chairs of the divisions, there is a general policy for use of the plus/minus system. However, faculty aren't necessarily discouraged from departing from the policy.

This has confused some students, especially new students and those enrolled in the multiple-section general education courses, because there seems to be no consistency in using the system. In addition, some professors say they will use plus and minus in class, but not on report cards.

"If they're going to do it, they should do it consistently. It shouldn't differ from class to class," said Katie Grammer, sophomore elementary education major from Baldwin City. "Even the numbers aren't the same --- some professors have 90 percent as an A, some bump it up to 94 percent."

One student said making the plus/minus system optional makes little sense because it affects a student's grade point average, and one can't tell how many professors have or haven't used the system by looking at a GPA.

"I think the grading system should be consistent in all classes, just because it counts toward grade point averages," said Kat Sommerfeld, a junior English major from Marquette. "No matter what, (ESU) should be consistent in grading."

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