THE ■ITIS1[7241, October 11, 1983
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 82, No. 13
A' most assigned grade on campus By MaryGaye Franklin
Vista photo by Don Jaeger
Two future grid stars start their own game of football Sunday afternoon while Storting young intramural action goes on around them. —
Senate box elicits limited response By Terri Carpenter Staff Writer
The response from the student senate suggestion boxes placed around campus hasn't been very good this semester, according to Helen McNulty, student senate housing committee chairman. Last year, about 10 suggestions per week from each box were collected and the senate was very pleased with the response they received, according to McNulty. McNulty blames the lack of response this year on new students not knowing that the boxes exist and what they are for. The suggestion boxes were "very effective last year" and the student senate found out what the students needed and what they wanted changed, said McNulty. Simon Okonjo, the student senator who introduced the idea of the suggestion boxes in the 1982 fall semester, said that a committee hasn't been formed
this semester that deals primarily with the suggestion boxes. Former Student Senate President Tim Reese appointed a public relations task force in the fall of last year to look into the possibility of creating the suggestion boxes. Okonjo was the cochairman of this task force. "In the fall semester when Tim Reese appointed me co-chairman of the task force, our focus was on how to create the boxes," said Okonjo. In the spring of 1983, $100 was obtained through a special motion to create the boxes, according to Okonjo. At this time, Student Senate President Joe McCourry appointed a public relations subcommittee whose primary concern was the relationship between the student body and the senate through the suggestion boxes. The central idea behind the suggestion box is that the student
In this issue. .
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Students operate 'classical alternative'...page 4 Sounds of construction disturbing...page 5 Hayes on the way to big season...page 7 Bronchos tame the Tigers...page 8 I
senate has a limited idea about what students want, said Okjonjo. The suggestion box gives all students a chance to voice their ideas and opinions about issues or changes on campus. The suggestion boxes are located in the Business, Liberal Arts, Science and Old North buildings and in the library.
The "A" was the most commonly assigned grade during the spring semester, according the up-dated faculty senate grade inflation study. The study also revealed that the "A" accounted for more than 30 percent of all credit-bearing grades assigned. Faculty senator Anne Lynch says these statistics show an extention of a trend at CSU toward grade inflation. "We have had a long term grade inflation problem here at CSU that we have documented in a study using facts that go back as far as 1968," said Anne Lynch, an assistant professor of history. Grade inflation is the trend of teachers to assigning high grades, "A" or "B", to students for the same or less work then would have previously earned them a "C" or "D". "Universities in this country have experienced a decline in the level of preparation of entering students over the past two decades," said Lynch. "There are also a great number of students who try to work and go to school too many hours a week to allow adequate time for homework. "Given these facts, how do we explain that our students earned 'A's in only 18 percent of their course work in 1968 but in 30 percent of their course work in 1983?" said Lynch. The faculty senate report on grade inflation shows a university-wide grade average for undergraduates was 2.75 in the spring compared with 2.43 in 1968. "A" and "B" together accounted for over 60 percent of all grades given, making "B" the average grade given at CSU. "In the spring of 1982 we showed some progress toward grade deflation but the statistics show that last spring's grades were once again significantly inflated over the previous year," said Lynch. According to Lynch, "A" has become an increasingly popular grade and "C" has become a minor grade. "The interpretive chart on the reverse side of the CSU transcript still describes a 'C' as denoting average work, it is nothing to be ashamed of. 13' is suppose to mean that you are doing better than most. While `A' signifies talent and excellence in a student," she said. "Obviously this is not the way grades are being assigned. Some people may think that the reason for the rise in the grade of 'A' is because the number of 'F's assigned is going down and the rise is relative. So I just compared the A,B,C,D grades and came up with the same results." Lynch said permissiveness has been a contributor to grade inflation. "There was a feeling that if you made a child feel successful that he would be successful. That if we give them an 'A' they would perform like 'A' students. If we gave them an 'F' they would decide they are a failure and earn 'F's. "It was meant as a part of a more generous understanding approach to handling children and in this case students. But, I don't think that rationale works in most cases. If I give a student an 'A' they think they have done well and keep on doing the same level of work. This leads to an inactive student who does not accomplish as much. "Teachers need to re-evaluate their grading and testing methods. Any kind of grading is like being a judge and jury at a trial, there is an error factor. Some teachers have raised their students grades to cover their own errors. Better a little high than low, that type of attitude. See GRADE INFLATION, page 3
Perry outlines decentralization funds that have been allocated should be used. The other is that the amount should be used and a list Vice President of Academic Affairs Jim Perry ad- should be made of other projects that could have been accomplished if more money was available. dressed the faculty senate at their regular monthly "We cannot allow any of those funds to go unussession Thursday. Perry, who is also a senator, ed," said Perry. discussed the improvements that have been made this Perry also announced that computer workshops semester in the area of academic affairs. "We have moved academic advisement, the inter- for faculty will be offered "repeatedly." He calls this national student advisement and the counseling "an investment in faculty development in computer literacy." center under the jurisdiction of academic affairs," Another major item Perry announced is that CSU said Perry. "These moves were needed and long President Dr. Bill Lillard has decided to establish a over-due." The academic affairs office has continued with permanant position of lecturer starting this spring. In the past, were the manner in which part-time or adtheir philosphy of decentralizing administration to junct faculty hired "involved a tremendous the school level, Perry indicated, and he reemphasized the importance of the block grants con- paper chase" that has caused the class schedule to be printed months in advance which has more "staff" cept of increasing research, whereand up is to approved $5,000 is designations than it has names, according to Perry. available to the individual schools What this means to the student is that there will by the dean alone. only be a few classes that just list "staff" in the inHeofasked the senate assist himand in enforcing the structor column of the class schedule. Instead the inidea the block grantstoutilization urged them structor's name will be listed. "to go back to your schools and ask questions about Perry also discussed implementing the critical issue the block grants that have been assignc1/4: your survey that he developed for faculty to identify proschools, so that the word will get out about those blems in the university. grants, more than it has, and the funds will be used." He said this "will serve as a point of departure for There should only be two options in regard to the grants, said Perry. One is the exact amount of the building a comprehensive academic plan." By Terri Carpenter Staff Writer