Contextualized grading in focus groups

Faculty and student government-led focus groups will continue the contextualized transcript debate this fall.

Student Body Vice President Rachel Gogal said student government has a two-fold plan to address the issues surrounding contextualized grade reports on transcripts. 

“Contextualized transcripts would not only impact students while they’re here, but they would also play a role in students getting jobs and internships,” Gogal said.

For the first step of the plan, the focus groups are looking to invite different student groups to evaluate examples of contextualized transcripts. They’re especially interested in freshmen.

Last semester ended with talks of a proposed test period for the transcripts, during which students would have access to their unofficial contextualized reports. 

The new transcripts were expected to appear as early as fall 2012, but continued student and faculty concerns, along with technical issues, have led to delays in implementing the contextualized grade reports. 

Gogal said the second step includes continuing to work closely with faculty members who have helped collect and analyze research dealing with contextualized grading.

“We want to speak with graduate schools that tend to accept a higher number of Carolina students because this is where students could be affected most,” Gogal said

Jennifer Coble, a lecturer in the biology department and the chairwoman of the Educational Policy Committee, said the trial period would allow the Office of the University Registrar to troubleshoot any potential errors. 

Coble said in an email that since three members of the committee changed recently, the committee decided to continue discussion of the contextualized grading report before determining when the proposed test period should start.

Gogal said Chris Derickson, assistant provost and University registrar, has worked hard to identify technical issues that may occur with the new transcripts. 

The new transcripts would include median class grades, percentile rankings and a schedule point average to contextualize grades. A schedule point average would represent the GPA of the average student taking the same classes.

Meghan Eisenhardt, a junior communication studies major, said she thinks the transcripts would provide very helpful feedback and put more difficult classes into perspective. However, she said contextualized reports could come with consequences. 

“This could be discouraging for students wanting to challenge themselves by exploring classes they’re unfamiliar with,” Eisenhardt said.

Eisenhardt said the reports could deter students who are looking for classes they hope will be an easy A.

“When it comes for the University to make a decision, we want to assure that every voice has been heard and every concern has been addressed,” Gogal said.

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