Modify the +/- grading system or get rid of it all together.
The +/- grading system in its current state (93-100 for an A) is unfair. The idea behind the plus/minus system is to reward students in the plus range while penalizing students at the lower end of the minus range. However, there is no reward for earning an A+, but there is a penalty for earning an A-. This isn't fair. Either go back to the old grading system or modify the current one (like Statics does) so that a 90-100 is an A and then everything else follows the plus/minus scale.
Anonymous
shared this idea
UPDATE: We took the concern to faculty senate. Overall, the plus minus system has brought up average GPA. However, we do see how the A- might hurt the students who normally get A’s. Faculty senate has asked us to poll the students to get more information on the issue, so that will be going out in an email soon.
UPDATE
Right now it’s up to the teacher’s discretion whether or not their class has a +/- grading system. When we polled the student body there was not enough interest in making this change. Thank you for your time and if you still have concerns you can try to speak with your professor about it.
Sincerely,
USG
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Brandon
commented
I have never had a class with an A+ option. That is the basis for calling this an unfair policy. anything above the A- cutoff is a 4.0
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Raul
commented
Can you detail the exact points that each +/- grade is worth at mines? If the mines +/- scale is different from this (http://www.collegeboard.com/html/academicTracker-howtoconvert.html) then I think it can only hurt GPA's, not raise them. For instance, at some schools, an A+ is a 4.33. At Mines is this true, or is it a 4.0?