UNC’s attempt at transparency through disclosing a grade index on student transcripts is the wrong weapon to use when fighting grade inflation.
Contextual grade reporting would mean including features such as class size and median class grade on transcripts. The proposed changes could be put into effect by fall 2012.
These new features are being pushed so transcripts can eventually reflect a student’s raw academic performance. Some might see this as an innovative way to address the plaguing problem of grade inflation. But it’s addressing the symptom and not the problem.
If UNC wants to counter grade inflation, it must hold professors accountable for their teaching practices and standards, not undermine their students.
Sociology professor Andrew Perrin stated that the contextual grade reporting would improve transparency.
But it also sacrifices concision on transcripts. With students taking 120 credit hours to graduate, transcripts are already filled with information. Adding grade indexes fills a cluttered page even more.
UNC should not be the only school fighting grade inflation with contextual grade reporting. If UNC were to implement contextual grade reporting without many other schools joining the action, it could potentially undermine UNC students’ achievements compared to other schools.
It is imperative that solving grade inflation be a collaborative effort so students across the nation are held to comparable academic standards.
Contextual grade reporting also dilutes UNC’s definition of grades.
