| Username |
Post |
| Kali Prasad |
Posted
on 25-Nov-01 10:18 PM
Harvard Releases Report on Grade Inflation, Promises to Take Action
By DANA MULHAUSER
Almost half of all undergraduate grades at Harvard University are A's or A-'s, according to a report released Tuesday by the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The report details 16 years of grade inflation, a trend for which the university has been heavily criticized both by the media and by members of its own faculty.
Since 1985-86, mean undergraduate grades have risen by 8.5 percent, with the steepest increases coming in the humanities. In 2000-1, less than 12 percent of grades were B-'s or lower.
"[G]rade inflation has become a serious problem," and "steps should be taken to combat it," Susan G. Pedersen, Harvard's dean of undergraduate education, said in a letter introducing the report. The report offers no immediate remedies, but Ms. Pedersen promises concrete action in the spring.
Mean grades for students in the humanities were almost 6 percent higher than those of students in the natural sciences and 4 percent higher than those of students in the social sciences. The proportion of students who got A's and A-'s was 53.7 percent for the humanities, 47.8 percent in the natural sciences, and 43.2 percent in the social sciences.
The study also found that mean grades for students in small classes -- 24 students or fewer -- were almost 10 percent higher than those of students in large classes -- 75 students or more.
"We rely on grades not only to distinguish among our students but also to motivate them, and the [university's Education Policy Committee] worries that, by narrowing the grade differential between superior and routine work, grade inflation works against the pedagogical mission of the faculty," Ms. Pedersen said.
She is asking faculty members to review the report and participate in departmental discussions on grading policy. The university is also asking each department to create grading guidelines by February 1. Last month, Harvard for the first time asked professors to justify their grading policies in writing.
Harvey C. Mansfield, a Harvard professor of government, has been one of the harshest critics of the university's grade inflation. Mr. Mansfield suggests that solutions could include showing the average grade for a class alongside the student's own grade on a transcript. Another option, he says, would be for the university to offer fewer honors. Currently, 91 percent of Harvard students receive universitywide honors, according to The Boston Globe.
Asked whether he thinks that grading trends will change, Mr. Mansfield says, "We'll see."
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| _BP |
Posted
on 26-Nov-01 04:45 AM
But everybody in here deserves an A!
But seriously, c'mon. Like grades really matter at Harvard. It is purely an experience validating the industrious.
"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theatre."
-Gail Godwin
"I never let schooling interfere with my education."
-Mark Twain
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| ashu |
Posted
on 26-Nov-01 05:00 AM
At Harvard, there is no such grade as A-plus.
(Only the Law School gives out, if it gives out at all, A-pluses).
Since everyone's formidably smart, everyone gets pretty much
the same grade: A
And 'A' here stands for Average. :-)
And to be an Average at Harvard is quite OK. :-)
oohi
ashu
ktm, nepal
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| Student |
Posted
on 26-Nov-01 09:16 PM
Harvard,
I know Harvard has only A and A plus Grade.
Probably Ashu, knows it, he has been many experiences of Harvard??? I have i have a good friend he always got A plus, she is so w*** , they got a plus
wonderful School
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| krishna |
Posted
on 29-Nov-01 04:45 PM
"Should I try to be a straight 'A' student?
If you are then you think too much."
Billy Joel, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
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| Kali Prasad |
Posted
on 29-Nov-01 08:09 PM
The source of my posting is the most prestigious college/university reporting newspaper in the US - the chronicle of higher education < www.chronicle.com>. I would be really surprised if the report is wrong. It may be the situation that some of you who went to Harvard was after they change the grading system to other than the mentioned on in this article.
I have seen many harvard educators who are as dumb as a rock. On the other hand, as you and I have seen there are many harvard educators who are the leaders of this and other countries in the world. Therefore, it is up to you what you want to be. If you have determination, you can be a great person even by attending TU.
On the other note, in my posting long time ago, I emphasized a need for nepalese people to attend Harvard or other top tier schools in the US. I also emphasized the need for nepalese people to get faculty positions in those top tier schools so that they can help fellow hard working nepalese people. Ashu vehemently denied such need then. I am quite surprised to see him supporting the same view now (Reference: His recent thread about Harvard). Am I missing some thing Ashu?
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| ashu |
Posted
on 29-Nov-01 11:08 PM
>On the other note, in my posting long time
>ago, I emphasized a need for nepalese people
>to attend Harvard or other top tier schools
>in the US. I also emphasized the need for
>nepalese people to get faculty positions in
>those top tier schools so that they can help
>fellow hard working nepalese people. Ashu
>vehemently denied such need then. I am
>quite surprised to see him supporting the
>same view now (Reference: His recent thread
>about Harvard). Am I missing some thing
>Ashu?
Kali Prasad,
Yes.
You are right.
My views HAVE changed from what I wrote then.
Welcome back to gbnc.org, and please continue to post
relevant Chronicle and other articles. I have always
enjoyed your postings.
oohi
goray prasad :-)
ashu
ktm,nepal
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