Volume XXIX No. 2
Methodist College, Fayetteville, N.C. 28311
October 11,1991
Students Flunk New Grading Policy
by Eric Kimbel
The new grading policy at Methodist
has produced anxiety in some students
and faculty. Small Talk interviewed vari
ous faculty and students to find out about
their views.
Professor Trevor Morris of the Polit
ical Science Department said that the
new scale will benefit both students and
staff. The new policy allows the profes
sor to make a more precise "qualitative
distinction" in the student’s performance.
He also said that the system gives stu
dents more control over their grades. The
new policy will provide more motivation
throughout the semester, according to
Morris.
When asked about any disadvantag
es to the new policy, Morris said that the
"adjustment" by the upperclassmen is the
only one he can foresee.
In the Department of Communica
tions, Professor Robert Bloodworth, said
that the advantages of the new policy out
weigh its problems. According to Blood-
worth, the students can now know "ex
actly where they stand" in the class. This
more accurate ranking of performance in
creases student motivation to get the
"B-t-" instead of just the "B." The one
problem that Bloodworth pointed out is
that the policy makes extra work. The
professors now have to be "more precise
with their averages." Bloodworth also
said, "I think the most important thing is'
just learning something, rather than get
ting the grade."
Professor Elaine Porter, Chairperson
of the Foreign Language Department,
said "that [the 12 point scale] will be
more fair in showing the difference be
tween a high 'B' and a low 'B,' or any
other letter." She explained that some
people "just barely get an 'B' and others
almost get an 'A."’ When questioned
about possible problems, she said "diat
until we've had a semester of it, who can
say?"
Professor Linda Graviu, Director of
the Evening College, agreed that the new
policy is more fair to the student. She
also said that the new policy is much bet
ter, because under the old system one stu
dent could get an "80" and another stu
dent could get an "89," and they would
both get a "B."
Gravitt said that each instructor has
the option of going to the new scale or
Slaying with the old system. Gravitt, who
reviews incoming transcripts for the Eve
ning College, said that in her experience
most other schools operate under the
twelve point scale. Gravitt pointed out
that many evening students, especially
seniors, disagree with the new grading
scale.
Dr. Suzan Cheek, Professor of Politi
cal Science, said that she thinks the "stu
dents will get a more accurate reading of
their performance." She pointed out the
"big disparity between the quality of
work at a 'BV level and a 'B-' level." She
also said that graduate schools will be
very interested in the new grading policy,
because transcripts will now be more pre
cise. It will also "encourage extra effort"
from the student, according to Cheek.
On the negative side, she said that
"fine tuning" of the grade to the new
scale will require more work from the in
structor.
Dr. Kline, Professor of Economics
and Business, said that the policy "allows
instructors to deal with the borderline
cases." He also said that "it allows a finer
discrimination of evaluation of perfor
mance." Kline pointed out that this type
of evaluation is a "nasty, difficult prob
lem" in the business world. "The diffi
cult points are it 'muddies the waters’ for
students coming in under different cata
logs,” Kline said, and that those people
are "caught in transition."
Kline said that nationwide "grade in
flation" is the cause for such policy
changes. Kline said that there is "evi
dence across the country" of grade infla
tion. He also said a former colleague of
his at another institution gave 90% "A's"
and "B's," to his classes.
Professor Parker Wilson of the His
tory Department, said that he supports
^ the decision. He said that there is a need
to be able to distinguish between a "B-"
and a "B+," because it does make a dif
ference in the quality points received.
When asked if there were any disad
vantages to the policy, Wilson said that
when viewing the transcript one may not
actually look at the ”-i-’s" and ”-’s," and
that it "may not really matter." Wilson
said that one would look mainly at the
G.P.A. when viewing a transcript.
Wilson also pointed out, that the
mid-term grades do not actually repre
sent one half of the student’s grade. He
said that "there was a time when mid
term grades were not turned in at all un
less the student made a 'D' or an 'F on
their first test."
After interviewing these instructors.
See GRADING Page 2
MC Begins Year With New Faces-Many Changes
by Diana Pressley
Methodist College began its 32nd
academic year with a 9% increase in en
rollment and a number of changes in its
academic programs. Methodist also be
gan many new programs aimed at student
retention.
A total of 1373 students enrolled this
year. There are 982 students in the day
program and 391 students in the Evening
College.
A significant number of these stu
dents are freshmen who also live on cam
pus. These students represent 32 states
and five foreign countries.
Alan Coheley, Director of Admis
sions explained "the popularity of Metho
dist is on the upswing." The admissions
counselors spend at least 10 weeks trav
eling throughout the east coast and re
cruiting students. The college recruits
heavily in Cumberland and other North
Carolina counties, but has also had great
success in bringing students from states
such as Maryland, New York, New Jer
sey, Florida and Virginia.
Methodist has also brought foreign
students to the campus. Coheley feels
that these students do well at a smaller
school like Methodist because they tend
to interact with a greater part of the stu
dent body. He feels that a well-rounded
education also involves more than just
what you learn in the classroom.
Coheley hopes to further increase
enrollment by bringing more prospective
students to the campus and placing them
with current students in an Ambassadors
program. This program would allow
prospective students to spend time on
campus with a currently enrolled student
and attend classes, have lunch in the caf
eteria, and perhaps stay in a dorm. This
allows prospective students to hear what
current students have to say about Meth
odist
The Admissions Office would also
prefer that more students become in
volved with the Tour-Guide Program.
This program uses currently enrolled stu
dents to show prospective students and
their parents around campus. This pro
gram also benefits the student guides in
that they learn skills such as sales and
public relations which may benefit them
in the future.
Methodist is also promoting Aca
demics. The new admissions brochure
proclaims Methodist College excellence
and "Education: the Greatest Achieve
ment." George Small, Assistant Director
of Admissions stated that "students are
serious about their future and realize the
importance of an education." With the
economy in its current state, job competi
tion is tough and the better prepared a
student, the better his or her chances of
finding a job.
The academic program has also seen
the addition of two new majors-
Intemational Relations and Criminal Jus
tice/Legal Studies. Other programs such
as the Education and Social Work pro
grams are preparing for accreditation by
their respective accrediting boards.
This semester Methodist has adopted
a new and controversial 12-point grading
scale. This will allow students to receive
letttr grades with pluses and minuses as
well as full letter grades.
Methodist is also implementing new
programs aimed at increasing student re
tention. Dr. Bitterbaum, Vice-President
for Academic Affairs, explained some of
the new programs which he is very excit
ed about.
These new programs are either early
intervention programs or drop-out-
prevention programs. The early inter
vention programs will provide assistance
to new and returning students in the are
as of registration advice, orientation, ca
reer counseling and study skills.
Departmental tutoring and peer tu
toring provide assistance for students
who are struggling with a subject The
See CHANGES Page 3