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GRADE GRADE DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION
FALL 2003 FALL 2003 SEMESTERSEMESTER
Information ReportInformation ReportTo TheTo The
WV Higher Education Policy CommissionWV Higher Education Policy Commission
April 23, 2004April 23, 2004
4/23/04 2Grade Analysis
GRADE DISTRIBUTION GRADE DISTRIBUTION ANALYSISANALYSIS
Initiated in response to review of D and F Initiated in response to review of D and F grade forgiveness policy and related grade forgiveness policy and related questionsquestions
Grade inflation has been an issue on Grade inflation has been an issue on campuses for many years but has received campuses for many years but has received regional and national media attention in the regional and national media attention in the last two yearslast two years
Highlights the need for additional tools to Highlights the need for additional tools to measure student learning and value added by measure student learning and value added by higher education experiencehigher education experience
Profile reports will be added to HEPC annual Profile reports will be added to HEPC annual publication schedulepublication schedule
4/23/04 3Grade Analysis
RECENT ARTICLESRECENT ARTICLES Washington Post and USA Today articles Washington Post and USA Today articles
highlighted the grading practices at highlighted the grading practices at Princeton, Harvard, Duke and others.Princeton, Harvard, Duke and others.
USA Today USA Today Fewer than 20% of all college students receive Fewer than 20% of all college students receive
grades below a B-minus (American Academy grades below a B-minus (American Academy of Arts & Sciences). That hardly seems of Arts & Sciences). That hardly seems justified at a time when a third of all college justified at a time when a third of all college students arrive on campus so unprepared that students arrive on campus so unprepared that they need to take at least one remedial course.they need to take at least one remedial course.
Princeton has proposed a cap of 35 percent Princeton has proposed a cap of 35 percent for A and A- grades by department and for A and A- grades by department and college.college.
4/23/04 4Grade Analysis
RECENT ARTICLESRECENT ARTICLES
The Virginian-Pilot reported thatThe Virginian-Pilot reported that A and A-minus grades represented 43% of A and A-minus grades represented 43% of
all grades at William and Mary, 41% at the all grades at William and Mary, 41% at the University of Virginia, 33% at Old Dominion University of Virginia, 33% at Old Dominion University, and 26% at Norfolk State University, and 26% at Norfolk State UniversityUniversity
The highest grades were assigned in classes The highest grades were assigned in classes in ROTC or Military Science, Music and in ROTC or Military Science, Music and EducationEducation
The lowest grades were assigned in Math, The lowest grades were assigned in Math, Economics, and the SciencesEconomics, and the Sciences
4/23/04 5Grade Analysis
OBSERVATIONSOBSERVATIONS This has been an issue for more than 40 yearsThis has been an issue for more than 40 years Historical trends have been documented in many Historical trends have been documented in many
studiesstudies Inconsistency in performance of high school Inconsistency in performance of high school
students, collegiate placement in remedial courses, students, collegiate placement in remedial courses, and grades assignedand grades assigned
Appears to be less of a problem in WV than in many Appears to be less of a problem in WV than in many other states and institutionsother states and institutions
Discipline grading practices are very similar to those Discipline grading practices are very similar to those reported in Virginiareported in Virginia
Overall, WV institutions would not have problem Overall, WV institutions would not have problem meeting the proposed policy at Princeton University: meeting the proposed policy at Princeton University: maximum of 35 percent of grades can be A or A+ maximum of 35 percent of grades can be A or A+
4/23/04 6Grade Analysis
UNDERGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE GRADESGRADES
Fall 2003 All InstitutionsFall 2003 All Institutions
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Foundation Career-Tech Lower Upper Total
A B C D F P/F WD Prog
4/23/04 7Grade Analysis
UNDERGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE GRADESGRADES
Fall 2003 Four-Year Fall 2003 Four-Year CampusesCampuses
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
BS
C
CU
FS
U
GS
C
MU
SU
WL
SC
WV
SU
WV
U
WV
U-P
WV
U-T
A B C D F P/F Inc WD
4/23/04 8Grade Analysis
UNDERGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE GRADESGRADES
Fall 2003 Two-Year Fall 2003 Two-Year CampusesCampuses
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
NR
CT
C o
f BS
C
FS
CT
C
MU
CT
C
CT
C o
f Sh
eph
erd
WV
SC
TC
Po
tom
ac State
WV
U-P
WV
U-T
CT
C
No
rthern
So
uth
ern
Eastern
A B C D F P/F Prog Inc WD
4/23/04 9Grade Analysis
GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL COURSES COURSES
FALL 2003 ALL INSTITUTIONSFALL 2003 ALL INSTITUTIONS
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
A B C D F PASS/FAIL WITHDRAW PROGRESS
4/23/04 10Grade Analysis
HIGH “A” PERCENTAGE HIGH “A” PERCENTAGE DISCIPLINESDISCIPLINES
Military Science/ROTCMilitary Science/ROTC 7575
Leisure & RecreationLeisure & Recreation 6464
Liberal & General ScienceLiberal & General Science 6464
EducationEducation 5757
Parks & RecreationParks & Recreation 5656
Library ScienceLibrary Science 5555
Visual & Performing ArtsVisual & Performing Arts 4848
AgricultureAgriculture 4747
Health & RelatedHealth & Related 4545
Area StudiesArea Studies 4444
Public AdministrationPublic Administration 4444
EngineeringEngineering 4040
4/23/04 11Grade Analysis
LOW “A” PERCENTAGE LOW “A” PERCENTAGE DISCIPLINESDISCIPLINES
MathematicsMathematics 1919
Biological ScienceBiological Science 2222
HistoryHistory 2222
ArchitectureArchitecture 2424
Physical SciencePhysical Science 2525
Protective ServicesProtective Services 2525
Social ScienceSocial Science 2525
Natural ResourcesNatural Resources 2727
Philosophy & ReligionPhilosophy & Religion 2727
PsychologyPsychology 2828
Computer & Info ScienceComputer & Info Science 2929
Engineering TechnologyEngineering Technology 2929
GRADE GRADE DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION
FALL 2003 FALL 2003 SEMESTERSEMESTER
WV Higher Education Policy CommissionWV Higher Education Policy CommissionApril 2004April 2004
