Arguments For Plus/Minus Grading

1. Fairness.  It is unfair to reward students equally when there are large disparities in their accomplishments, particularly in the B range.  Under the current system both a student with an 89% and a student with an 80% in a class have a 3.0 GPA.  Under the Plus/Minus system, the former would have a 3.33 GPA and the latter would have a  2.67 GPA.  It is simply more fair to the students who work harder, and is a more accurate reflection of performance.

2.  Engagement.  The current system provides a disincentive to students to stay engaged during the last part of the semester.  Attendance lags in part because some students believe they cannot raise their final grades.  The energy level in the classroom suffers as a result.  A plus/minus system provides an incentive for students to maintain effort through finals to incrementally increase GPA, or at the very least, provides a disincentive to avoid a decrease in GPA.

3. Adding Value for Grad School Applications.  Though the evidence is mostly anecdotal, there is a perception that some graduate schools view a 4.0 in a Plus/Minus system more favorably than a 4.0 at a traditional ABCDF school.  

4.  Other Universities.  19 of the top 20 U.S. News & World Report schools use Plus/Minus.  Approximately 80% of “Carnegie-classified research universities” have it.  In the regents system, Emporia State and KU have it (although KU leaves it up to the colleges).

Arguments Against Plus/Minus Grading

1.  Impact on Overall GPA.  There is a perception that cumulative GPA will be significantly affected.  Some studies indicate the overall impact on GPA for the university is insignificant. 

2.  “A” Students.  Students with a high GPA will be concerned that the GPA will drop.  For students with a 4.0 that is likely.  But other students will find that the occasional B they now receive will sometimes be a B+, which will help offset the A-.

3.  Students May Fall into Academic Probation.  It is true that some students who now meet the minimum grade qualifications will go on probation (although logically, some of them will actually try harder to move to the higher threshold).  And what is wrong with providing a stronger incentive to do better?

Other Issues to Consider

Optional or Mandatory?  This is one of the most controversial, and most important, issues to consider.  The Executive Committee recommends that if Plus/Minus grading is adopted, that it be required across the university.

Graduate vs. Undergraduate

Which point system should be used? There are several variations on the actual point values, and some schools use D+ while others do not, and a few have an A+.  We recommend the following: 4.0 for A: 3.67 for A-: 3.33 for B+: 3.0 for B: 2.67 for B-: 2.33 for C+: 2.0 for C: 1.67 for D+.

How should this system be phased in?