robification
11-13-2004, 01:19 PM
i saw this on the news last night.... this college had a 24% graduation rate and changed their grading policy in an attempt to get more to graduate....
2 professors were fired for not complying with this outrageous grading policy...
By Pamela Hamilton
The Associated Press
A Benedict College policy that guarantees freshmen a passing grade if they invest effort into classes is drawing criticism from higher education officials and has caused two professors to lose their jobs. But the college president says it gives disadvantaged students a chance at success.
Two years ago, the college implemented a unique policy that requires professors to award freshmen 60 percent of their grades based on how much effort they put into class. The Success Equals Effort policy assigns sophomores 50 percent of their grade based on effort but is dropped for juniors and seniors. Effort is defined by individual faculty members and can include measures such as, attendance and completion of assignments.
Higher education officials say the policy is unlike any other in the country, because it is campus wide and leaves little wiggle room for faculty, who traditionally are responsible for determining grade requirements.
At least two professors who refused to follow the policy have been fired and are considering legal action against the college. The American Association of University Professors has criticized the firings.
College president, David Swinton, says the policy gives incoming freshmen, who may not be equipped for college, a chance to succeed instead of turning them out of school. Some students who come to Benedict, a private, historically black college with open enrollment, are unprepared for the discipline and study that earning a college degree requires, Swinton said.
Many of those students are likely to drop out before earning a degree at Benedict, where Swinton said the graduation rate is about 30 percent.
"Unfortunately for African-American students graduating from S.C. public schools, they aren't doing very well in terms of preparation coming into college," Swinton said. "These are the kids you're working with, kids who have the 800s, the 829s" on the SAT college entrance exam."
"When they come to us with these deficits, we have to teach them how to study, teach them how to make efforts, teach them how to believe in themselves, believe that their work matters, they can make a difference in their own lives through their own efforts," Swinton said. "These policies are designed to do that."
Professors commonly award a portion of student grades based on factors other than academic performance, such as attendance or timely completion of assignments, said Clara Lovett, president of the American Association for Higher Education. But, she said, it's not such a large part of the grade.
http://www.dailygamecock.com/news/2004/09/10/News/Grading.Policy.Draws.Critics.Ire-715387.shtml
2 professors were fired for not complying with this outrageous grading policy...
By Pamela Hamilton
The Associated Press
A Benedict College policy that guarantees freshmen a passing grade if they invest effort into classes is drawing criticism from higher education officials and has caused two professors to lose their jobs. But the college president says it gives disadvantaged students a chance at success.
Two years ago, the college implemented a unique policy that requires professors to award freshmen 60 percent of their grades based on how much effort they put into class. The Success Equals Effort policy assigns sophomores 50 percent of their grade based on effort but is dropped for juniors and seniors. Effort is defined by individual faculty members and can include measures such as, attendance and completion of assignments.
Higher education officials say the policy is unlike any other in the country, because it is campus wide and leaves little wiggle room for faculty, who traditionally are responsible for determining grade requirements.
At least two professors who refused to follow the policy have been fired and are considering legal action against the college. The American Association of University Professors has criticized the firings.
College president, David Swinton, says the policy gives incoming freshmen, who may not be equipped for college, a chance to succeed instead of turning them out of school. Some students who come to Benedict, a private, historically black college with open enrollment, are unprepared for the discipline and study that earning a college degree requires, Swinton said.
Many of those students are likely to drop out before earning a degree at Benedict, where Swinton said the graduation rate is about 30 percent.
"Unfortunately for African-American students graduating from S.C. public schools, they aren't doing very well in terms of preparation coming into college," Swinton said. "These are the kids you're working with, kids who have the 800s, the 829s" on the SAT college entrance exam."
"When they come to us with these deficits, we have to teach them how to study, teach them how to make efforts, teach them how to believe in themselves, believe that their work matters, they can make a difference in their own lives through their own efforts," Swinton said. "These policies are designed to do that."
Professors commonly award a portion of student grades based on factors other than academic performance, such as attendance or timely completion of assignments, said Clara Lovett, president of the American Association for Higher Education. But, she said, it's not such a large part of the grade.
http://www.dailygamecock.com/news/2004/09/10/News/Grading.Policy.Draws.Critics.Ire-715387.shtml