Grade Inflation

1
Grade Inflation

• There is some evidence that grade inflation does
  exist. (see for example,www.gradeinflation.com)
• Several colleges have already formulated policies
  to combat what they perceive as a problem.
• On the other hand, there is evidence that grades
  have actually declined in the past several
  decades and that studies finding evidence for
  inflation are hampered by self-reports and
  self-selection bias. (see for example, Kohn 2002
  National Center for Educational Statistics 2000)
• In the absence of definitive proof, we recommend
  instituting a policy that allows for
  contexualizing individual grades in relation to
  the rest of the class.

2
Teachers Autonomy Must Be Preserved

• The right to assign grades is part of academic
  freedom.
• Lovelace vs South Eastern Mass U, 1989, based on
  Parate and Isabore 1989
• Teachers right to assign grades are symbolic
  speech and are protected by the first amendment
  

3
Policy

• Faculty will submit mean grades to provide a
  contextual element for each individual grade.
• Transcripts will be revised in the following way
• Course Grade Mean Grade Number Enrolled
• Comm306 A A- 6
• Biol122 A C- 81

4
Stakeholders Responses

• Department chair Good idea, but I would like to
  see records kept of past grades in the course, to
  give the teacher a sense of how difficult this
  course was in comparison to past offerings, other
  sections or other courses in the department
• Employer This would be a benefit to me if I am
  ranking applicants. I can see how this employee
  ranks compared to other students that took the
  same course. If the grade range is small this
  will give the potential employee the chance to
  explain the circumstances.
• Student Would allow me to understand my grade in
  reference to other students and help my parents
  to understand my performance in the actual class
  rather than in the abstract sense.
• Parent Putting the grades in context might make
  my childs grade look bad if everyone gets the
  same grade. It might jeopardize her future
  education.
• Faculty union rep This policy provides
  additional information but does not yet curtail
  academic freedom. I am concerned about the
  possible future uses of this information,