RSS FeedJust keep showing up?
As I learned last night in the course of a really interesting discussion, Woody Allen once said that 80% of life is just showing up…at least that the way I heard it. Apparently, Benedict College has taken this to heart, as freshmen are guaranteed passing grades just for…showing up.
From Fox News:
It’s possible for freshmen at Benedict College to pass their classes, even if they fail every written exam.That’s because 60 percent of their final grade is just showing up and participating in class. The other 40 percent of their grade is earned through traditional test-taking and academic performance during their freshman year.
According to the SEE grading policy � which stands for Success Equals Effort (search) � the balance shifts as the student advances in school. In the sophomore year, effort is counted 40 percent while achievement is 60 percent. Then, in the final two years, a student is evaluated on achievement alone.
Some students say the policy is even more challenging than standard grading systems. A representative from the college wouldn’t speak on camera but on the school’s Web site, college President David Swinton defended the SEE policy, saying, “the emphasis on effort will result in an improvement of education outcomes for our students.”
FOXNews.com - U.S. & World - S.C. College’s Grading Policy Makes Waves
As my students know, I’m far from a harsh grader. In fact, that consensus seems to be that I’m “easy.” As a practical matter, the way I structure my courses, most students who show up, do the work, and demonstrate some knowledge of the core concepts get at least a B. My most recent survey class, where I teach intro to US history to underclassmen, had this breakdown:
A: 23, B: 10, C:3, D:3, F:5.
Most of the students who flunked attended only sporadically, and on the other end of the spectrum I stand by every A I gave out. Those students worked hard and earned their grades.
By giving me the freedom to structure my course and my evaluations, the university let me do a good job, I think, of teaching history. I think that it’s absurd for any university to issue mandates on how to grade–it should be left to the professor. If she/he knows what they are doing, no problem. If not, they shouldn’t be teaching anyway.
Posted in haphazard world
November 16th, 2004 at 3:31 pm
Sounds lovely! I could make it to class, take a nice nap, have breakfast during the second, do some pleasure reading during the third, then get out of my final class and start my day! Wow, does this place have a nice climate? Sign me up!
Seriously though, folks…what is the number one philosophically-transmitted disease among today’s college students? Postmodernism! Ouch, signing off, watch for vacas and minivans…KT
November 17th, 2004 at 1:14 am
Take my professor…
please.
He threatens his students with insolvency and ill health, and he never sleeps. He would be right at home at Free Ride University, where he could dole out all the passing grades his heart desires.
What would a diploma from Benedict College be worth? Not even as much as a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada!
Promoting students through college regardless of their intellectual output is totally ludicrous. Imagine this…
♣ Employer: "I see here you graduated from Benedict College with a 3.69 GPA."
♣ Applicant: "Yeah, and I slept through the first two years. It was great–I didn’t have to listen to the professors or even bother to know their names."
♣ Employer: "Well, that is just the type of hard work and dedication we are looking for. You’re hired. Would a starting salary of $2,345 semi-monthly be acceptable?"
♥ EZ
November 17th, 2004 at 1:17 am
Postmodernism: The gift that keeps on giving.
♥ EZ