the rocket A's dominate other grades by
Friday January 29, 2016 • Volume 99, Issue Number 13 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper
www.theonlinerocket.com
45 percent in fall semester By Haley Barnes News Editor
During the fall 2015 semester, Slippery Rock University students earned a grand total of 18,690 A's, which has been a common trend at the university for several years. There were a total of 41,238 grades awarded during the fall semester, where 45.32 percent of that total were A's. There was a total of 11,957 B's, 5,377 C's, 1,589 D's and 1,191 F's. The remaining 2,434 grades reflect incompletes, no credits, passes and withdraws. Eliott Baker, executive director of academic records and summer school, explained that the grade distribution reflects both undergraduate students and graduate students, as the office does not collect that data separately. He said that on average most graduate students are earning all A's and B's because those students already have a degree and are more serious, as well as the fact that they have to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to avoid academic probation. He explained that it is more accurate to look at the breakdown of cumulative QPAs between freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Baker said that after the fall semester, freshmen males averaged a cumulative QPA of 2.719 and freshmen females averaged a cumulative QPA of 3.007, with an average total of a 2.880 cumulative QPA between the genders. "The same students had supposedly a 3.4 high school grade point average, so you can say well 'grades are increasing', but if our average freshman had a 3.4 grade point average in high school and at the end of their first semester, they have a 2.88, you get a sense of perhaps, how more rigorous the grading in college is," he noted. "Now is there grade inflation in high school? I don't know." Sophomore males earned an average cumulative QPA of 2.880, while sophomore females earned an
Hoverboards raise safety concerns across campus By Chris Gordon Assistant News Editor
Slippery Rock students have been asked to refrain from gliding to class as the university reviews a safety policy regarding the use of newly popular hoverboards on campus. " Wh i l e t he s e d i s c u s s i ons continue and in the interest of safety, which is always a top priority, we are asking that staff, faculty and students refrain from either bringing a hoverboard to campus or using a hoverboard on campus," Robb King, the associate executive director of communication and public affairs at SRU, said. On Januar y 12, students received an email from SRU President Cheryl Norton issuing the advisory. "The university cabinet is currently reviewing a policy dealing with the use and storage of hoverboards on campus," the email read.
SEE UNIVERSITIES PAGE A-2
Academic records data shows that A's have been the highest earned grades by students for several years. GRAPHIC BY KARLEIGH SANTRY
This graphic demonstrates the 2015 fall semester grade distribution. A's account for 45.32 percent of the grades. Eliott Baker, executive director of academic records and summer school, explained that the grade distribution reflects the grades earned by both undergraduate and graduate students.
average cumulative QPA of 3.174, averaging a total of 3.041 between the genders. Baker explained that as a student continues their studies at SRU, academic records often sees that QPAs increase, as male juniors earned an average QPA of 2.968, female juniors earned an average
QPA of 3.244, male seniors earned an average QPA of 3.087 and female seniors earned an average QPA of 3.384. SEE PROFESSORS PAGE A-3
Health center offers database for students to communicate with nurses, obtain documents By Daniel DiFabio Rocket Contributor
Student Health Services introduced a new online web portal where students can complete their health histories, communicate with nurses and be reminded of scheduled appointments. Laura Hawkins, nurse supervisor, said access to the portal is easy and geared towards new students with access being sent out in admission letters although any SRU student can access the portal. “Incoming students are going to be able to get onto the computer, sign onto the portal using their SRU ID and password and can electronically send us their health information,” Hawkins said. SRU students can also use the portal to access their immunization records or talk to their healthcare provider. “When a healthcare provider wants to talk to the student we can send them a message in their SRU email that will give them the URL to get the provider’s message,” Hawkins said. Renee Bateman, health promotion coordinator, said the portal is nice because it makes it easier to find the information instead of having to carry hard paper. Students can also use the portal to see their lab results.
“Normally if you get lab results we call you to come pick them up and you need documentation but now a health care provider can send something through the portal and you won’t ever have to come to the health center to pick it up,” Bateman said. Student Health Services can see if a student hasn’t reviewed their lab results and can tell them they’re available. Students can also sign various forms from the portal, including a privacy form and a permission for treatment consent form. Hawkins said the portal has the potential to expand, so Student Health Services can offer the ability for students to self-schedule from the portal itself. Bateman said Student Health Services will continue to take feedback from students on how easy the portal is to access and what other updates they would like to see added. Students can give feedback in person or email either Bateman or Hawkins. Student feedback also helped solve a minor problem with the portal, with Student Health Services discovering that students could only access the portal on SRU Wi-Fi. This is a temporary thing and will be changed. “We’re willing to work with our students and willing to hear what else they want,” Bateman said. The portal has been successful, with most of the students actively using it right now being close patients. “There are a lot of students getting onto it and looking around, exploring and getting familiar with it,” Hawkins said.
No Diversity In Academy Awards
Senior Focused On PSAC Title
SRU Students Give Out Free Hugs
A Rocket staffer weighs in on the lack of nominations for black actors. Page B-2
Senior track and field jumper Ashley West continues to dominate the PSAC. Page C-1
SRU students go through Dance Floor Theory training to encourage campus involvement Page D-2