2008 Woodie Awards
Lowering the Bar
Lower grade standards may short change students.
Chelsea Banks
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: Opinion
A C- grade may seem like a good idea to a student working toward an Associates Degree, but for a transfer student, it could be a nightmare.
Currently, there are no plus or minus grades in Valley's grading system, but that may change.
If the new C- policy is enacted, then it is projected that more students will pass their classes with a C-, instead of receiving a D and having to repeat the class.
The C- policy would be a god-send for some students, like those who need a passing grade in a math class to meet the general education requirements, but do not need a higher level class in math because they do not have a math or science based major.
The problem is that, while a C- will count as a passing grade by Valley standards and when transferring to Valley, UCs and CSUs don't share this policy.
Most CSUs make it clear in their admissions literature that a C- is not acceptable and must be repeated for a passing grade.
On the surface a C- seems like a genius idea, but when you consider that not only do CSUs and UCs not accept the policy, but most other community colleges don't accept it either, it sounds like a huge mistake.
Another argument is that teachers can let students know that they need to try a lot harder to succeed in the next level of classes, but still pass them.
However, this is not fair to the students who persevered all semester to get passing grades. To give a C- to a student that really deserves a D cheapens the efforts of hard-working students.
It also teaches the C- students that they don't have to strive very hard to succeed. Instead of working for a passing grade, they can work toward a high D, express to their teachers how much they want to achieve a passing grade, and be awarded the C-.
While it may be an easy slide for C- students, not only isn't it fair to their peers, it isn't fair to the people who will have to depend on the C- students later in life. Would you want a nurse who had been passed along with a C-?
When taking into consideration how unpopular the policy is, one has to doubt whether the policy should be adopted.
A C- is seen as below average, not meeting standards and low quality. In other words: it's just not good enough.
Any benefits to be attained from the C- policy are immediate and temporary. The only thing the C- grade will do is cause problems.
Currently, there are no plus or minus grades in Valley's grading system, but that may change.
If the new C- policy is enacted, then it is projected that more students will pass their classes with a C-, instead of receiving a D and having to repeat the class.
The C- policy would be a god-send for some students, like those who need a passing grade in a math class to meet the general education requirements, but do not need a higher level class in math because they do not have a math or science based major.
The problem is that, while a C- will count as a passing grade by Valley standards and when transferring to Valley, UCs and CSUs don't share this policy.
Most CSUs make it clear in their admissions literature that a C- is not acceptable and must be repeated for a passing grade.
On the surface a C- seems like a genius idea, but when you consider that not only do CSUs and UCs not accept the policy, but most other community colleges don't accept it either, it sounds like a huge mistake.
Another argument is that teachers can let students know that they need to try a lot harder to succeed in the next level of classes, but still pass them.
However, this is not fair to the students who persevered all semester to get passing grades. To give a C- to a student that really deserves a D cheapens the efforts of hard-working students.
It also teaches the C- students that they don't have to strive very hard to succeed. Instead of working for a passing grade, they can work toward a high D, express to their teachers how much they want to achieve a passing grade, and be awarded the C-.
While it may be an easy slide for C- students, not only isn't it fair to their peers, it isn't fair to the people who will have to depend on the C- students later in life. Would you want a nurse who had been passed along with a C-?
When taking into consideration how unpopular the policy is, one has to doubt whether the policy should be adopted.
A C- is seen as below average, not meeting standards and low quality. In other words: it's just not good enough.
Any benefits to be attained from the C- policy are immediate and temporary. The only thing the C- grade will do is cause problems.
