Beyond Grade Inflation
Grading Problems in Higher Education
AEHE(Author)
Jossey-Bass (Publisher)
Published on 18. May 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-0-7879-8078-8 (ISBN)
Description
As calls for accountability of student learning intensify, colleges and universities need to reexamine their grading practices and restore public confidence in college grades. This report presents a conceptual framework that can aid in understanding the complexity of grading problems in higher education. It takes into account individual course-grading philosophy, students' choice of coursework, changes in composition of the faculty, and changes in the student population, among other factors. The conceptual framework helps professionals to understand that grading practices need to be examined at multiple levels, not just in the aggregate at the institutional and national levels. Practices and problems vary by discipline, institutional type, faculty rank, and other such conditions. The framework also provides advice about where policymakers and leaders can target efforts (state aid policy) and other areas where they can have little or no impact (student demographic shifts).
Capitalizing on the knowledge that senior faculty have related to grading, this monograph examines changing institutional practices, fluctuations in departmental and school norms, and various strategies for grading. It argues for the need for institutional policies related to grading and more discussion on campuses about standards and norms. The primary message of this monograph is that grading is a shared responsibility among members of the institution and external players such as accreditation bodies, state governments, and boards of trustees. Systematic work across these various groups is necessary to change the context that rewards lenient grading. This is Volume 30 Issue 6 of the "ASHE Higher Education Report" series, published by Jossey-Bass, An Imprint of Wiley.
Capitalizing on the knowledge that senior faculty have related to grading, this monograph examines changing institutional practices, fluctuations in departmental and school norms, and various strategies for grading. It argues for the need for institutional policies related to grading and more discussion on campuses about standards and norms. The primary message of this monograph is that grading is a shared responsibility among members of the institution and external players such as accreditation bodies, state governments, and boards of trustees. Systematic work across these various groups is necessary to change the context that rewards lenient grading. This is Volume 30 Issue 6 of the "ASHE Higher Education Report" series, published by Jossey-Bass, An Imprint of Wiley.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Illustrations, charts
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
191 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-8078-8 (9780787980788)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Executive Summary. Foreword. Acknowledgments. Grading Problems in Higher Education. Assessment of College Student Learning. Purpose. Overview and Scope. Correlates of College Grades. Students. Faculty. Courses. Discipline. Institution. Reframing the College Grading Problem. Guiding Conceptual Framework. Consequences of College Grading Problems. Reexamining the Empirical Evidence. Grade Increase. Grade Inflation. Grade Compression. Grading Disparity. Uncovering the Roots. Influences on Grade Change. Causes of Grading Disparity. Causes of Grade Inflation. Incentive Matters. Searching for Cures. Emerging Practices. Strategies and Innovations. A Shared Responsibility. Policy Instruments as a Guide for Policy Design. Conclusions and Implications. Implications for Research. Implications for Practice. Diagnostic Method for Grading Problems. Appendix: Grading Proposals at Princeton University. References. Name Index. Subject Index. About the Author.