President Michael Crow's addition of an A-plus (4.33) to the Academic Senate's grading proposal was "within his power as chief executive," said Nancy Tribbensee, an ASU deputy general counsel.
- RELATED STORIES
- President Crow defends decision, plus/minus (8/5/2003)
- Plus/Minus grading system approved (7/29/2003)
- Adding to education (6/10/2003)
- Plus/minus may be amended (4/29/2003)
- Plus/minus is Crow's decision (3/25/2003)
- Detailed timeline of ASU's plus/minus saga (3/25/2003)
- New grade plan to be presented (3/24/2003)
- Schools around the country wrestle with plus/minus issue (3/24/2003)
- Plus/minus system passed (2/25/2003)
- Plus/minus gets thumbs down (1/28/2003)
- Plus/minus grade system postponed (12/5/2002)
- ASU following plus-minus grade system trend (3/8/2002)
- Plus-minus grading forum draws criticism, alternatives (2/27/2002)
- Students disapprove of plus-minus system (2/19/2002)
- ASU starting plus-minus grading system in 2003 (2/15/2002)
- Grading plan prompts protest (2/28/2003)
Crow approved last month a plus/minus grading system suggested by the Senate, but modified the proposal, adding an A-plus option.
"As president of the university, it is my job to make and implement decisions in the best interest of the entire university," he said. "In the case of the plus/minus grading system, my final decision followed several discussions and careful review of recommendations from the Academic Senate, [the Associated Students of ASU] and the Office of the Provost."
The Senate specifically rejected a grading system with an A-plus at meeting last May. The Senate's office, ASU administration and the general counsel's office were in contact last week to determine whether Crow went over senators' heads.
Tribeensee said because the Senate only forwarded a recommendation to the president, Crow had the "inherent" authority to modify or implement any grading model he wanted.
Crow received grading recommendations from ASU West and the Associated Students of ASU along with the ASU Main Senate. The ASU West proposal asked for the same grading system as the Academic Senate [plus/minus designations from A (4.00) to C-plus (2.33)]. ASASU requested that plus/minus grades be awarded from A-plus (4.33) to C-minus (1.67).
Nearly 4,000 students signed a petition opposing the Senate-recommended grading scale.
"With that unprecedented level of response from students, I felt it only fair to take their concerns into careful consideration as I studied the plus/minus issue," Crow said. "The students made a very strong argument that they would be disadvantaged, compared to students attending other state schools, without the addition of the A-plus option."
Having an A-plus makes the new grading system a more accurate portrayal of student performance, said Brandon Goad, Associated Student of ASU president.
"The students came to [Crow] with a proposal and the Senate came to him with a proposal," Goad said. "He took the two and came up with a compromise."
Goad said Crow made a wise decision by not ignoring the wishes of students.
"I think the A-plus is a win for students," Goad said. "Dr. Crow showed that he is willing to listen to students and adopt their ideas. Both faculty and students are important to the University and he didn't ignore any branch."
David Burstein, Academic Senate parliamentarian, said Crow will be invited to the first Senate meeting of the fall to explain his position to faculty.
"We want to have a good working relationship with the president," Burstein said. "This situation requires open communication on both ends."
Academic Senate President Tony Garcia said a team with representatives from administration, the registrar's office and the Senate will be assembled to determine how to implement the new grading system.
"The president took into consideration the Senate recommendation and student recommendations," Garcia said. "But a review process may ultimately be the best test of how good the decision was."
Garcia said it is time to move forward and not to focus too much on grades.
"I strongly believe grades are a reflection of academic excellence and should not the object of excellence," he said. "Too much attention on just grades distracts from what we really should be going after, which is academic achievement."
Reach the reporter at lynh.bui@asu.edu.
