Grade Inflation 'Not Substantial~ Here
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Grade Inflation 'Not Substantial~ Here atmosphere where it is difficult lower marks to combat grade Carolina at Chapel Hill, be more selective about the observed that there is now a A "real dilemma" results, By KEVIN QUINLEY In English literature courses, :or teachers to impart academic inflation. "By and large the Wake requirements for Phi Beta Kappa students accepted, resulting in greater emphasis on essay Mullen said, "since we can't tell Staff Writer for example, Mullen believes that skills and for students to acquire Forest faculty belit>Vt>!! that the will probably be raised for the higher caliber students and exams. · the faculty to raise their marks." students are now expected not them, he said. traditional A-to·F grading second time in four years, since only to read the assigned higher grades. Yet if present trends continue, First in a series. •'While they are more difficult "For those who do go to system is meaningful and fair," more students qualify with the material, but also to understand university students may be college, there is noyv an increased he said. necessary 3.5 average. the· readings, engage in Mullen also cited a stronger to write, essay exams are also placed at a competitive Grade inflation, the academic sense of career consciousness more difficult to grade ·with commitment to academic reflection, make judgments and disadvantage in seeking jobs and phenomenon that . has sent today than existed in the early precision," he said. national grade averages soaring, At Duke University last Though grades at Wake Forest produce well-written essays. graduate education, he said. success. The efficiency ratio semeflter, about 79 per cent of the have also risen, Mullen 1960s as a cause of rising grades. between aptitude scores and is not a substantial problem at The difference between the Wake Forest, according to Dean undergraduate grades. were A's maintains ''the effect has been Another factor moderating At a time when grade averages academic achievement may "There is a greater conviction grade situation at the university perhaps be greater now," Mullen of the College Thomas Mullen. orB's. less here than on any national grade ~flation at th!' ·. 'liversity, are rising, mean SAT scores for today among students that they and the nation-wide trend worries college-bound students are said. Significantly, 200 fewer basis. accordmg to Mullen, is the fact Mullen. One serious problem, he A third of the eligible student that Wake Jo'orest has not grown need _to have a good academic falling. students--1,100-made the 3.0 "The quality of. work at Wake base in order to fmd a suitable said, is that the "outside world" dean's list this past semester body at N.C. State now makes the nearly so rapidly a~ has the "I don't thinl- the change in Forest has improved since I've career," he said. of g·raduate srllools and than the previous fall. dean's list, compared to 14 per typical American college and Mullen suggested that the grades at Wake Forest is just cP.nt in 1966. About 58 per cent of been here," Mullen said, adding university. What growth has employers might nut realize that lower SAT scores may be due to from teachers giving higher It is not true, however, Mullen that "the faculty by and large New exam fonnats may also other schools have been more increased tension in public high all grades there are A's or. B's. occurred bas been gradual. account for some of the higher grades," Mullen said. "There is said, that -the administration has sets higher standards now and is Mullen said this slower growth subject to grade inflation tt..an schools. Racial problems and simply more academic acted to "crack down" and give At the l!niversity of North more demanding." rate has allowed the university to QPR's, according to Mullen. He has Wak~ .l<'orest. busing disputes often create an achievement at Wake Forest." .• TODAY INSIDE TODAY EDITORIALLY * SOCIETY RUSH * ALCOHOl.. DINNER THEATRE * APPEALS BOARD REVIEW * Vol. LIX Wake ~orest University, Wlnaton-Salem, North CaroliDa, Friday, March 19, 1976 No. 23 To lmpro\Te Due Process / ·.. : / ' / '-:··. '~- ~- ·. Appeals Board Clarified .... By CHARLES JOHNSON The faculty by-laws state that student judicial system. The case referral proposal Managing Editor the SGB can request a review of The plan, which has been provides for a three-member court proceedings by a three submitted to Scales, attempts to panel to consider all reports of University officials declined fourths vote, and it can take distinguish social misconduct violations and decide if conunent on the judicial appeals jurisdiction over the case by a from room contract violations prosecution. is warranted, he board approved by President three-fourths vote of its total and to establish a three-member said. Dean of Men Mark Reece James Ralph Scales until the membership. case referral panel. now handles case referrals matter receives 'faculty himself, added White. attention, but they indicated the The plan has no effect on ·the "I'm naturally concemed that plan makes strides to improve Under the plan, social procedures of lower courts said misconduct violations, "which some action be taken on this due process in an· campus Weigl. ' policy now that the appeals board judicial procedures. naturally includes visitation," are submitted to a complete has been established," said Hale said the reforms were student judicial process, White White. He suggested next The appeals board, which will necessary both to guarantee said, while room contract month's Student Judicial Board replace the present Student students and university violations will be handled elections as a deadline for official Governance Board, will try to personnel the right to due process through the Housing Office. ·action. bring all judicial procedures "into and to "ensure that the a clear light,· according to Dr. institution's internal judicial Peter Weigl, chainnan of the procedures were above .SGB" and a member of· the reproach." committee which reviewed Luffman Youth···-Dies judicial procedures on campus. ' "The intent of this had a lot to 'I . do with the legal precedents Another committee mf!Dber, which . occur outside the Assistant Dean of the College university," said Weigl. Eleven-year-old Christopher $16.6 million law suit that the Toby Hale, said the appeals Tracy Luffman, the boy who was · boy's parents have filed against board grew out of an Knox 'White, who has been seriously injured in a swimming the university, Athletic Director investigation of due process on involved in university judicial accident here in the summer of Gene Hooks, Basketball Coach campus to ensure that the rights policy investigations, said 1974, died last week. Vice Carl Tacy and others involved in of all persons would be protected. "Overall, it's a good plan. It President for Development the summer camp program. Wake Forest debaters served as coaches in the preUmfnary competition involves interested high school debaters. Semi-finals'~ will Scales appointed the committee provides a good framework for William Straughan said that the The·suit has been in court since competition for Rebuttal '76 bere tbis week. Sponsored by the Radio be broadcast on the radio Monday morning, with the final rounds to be after the Board of Trustees and reforming the entire judicial boy's death will not affect the it was filed in January, 1975. and TV Council of Winston-salem and the university, the televised Tuesday morning. Photo by Yandle Board of Visitors recommended structure." reforms, he said. White said the Board of "It should be an improvement Trustees and the Board of for everyone concerned," said Visitors labeled the judicial Weigl of the plan which he hopes system a "must priority" for Unsolved refonn, "And if you're going to Still to present to the faculty next Alcohol Policy week. reform it, you've got to start at responsibility to help create a here who have never drunk at the top," he said. Theta Chi and Sigma Chi administration on an equal want these lounges to become By MARK white elephants." good climate for them. all before they came to school. LEUCHTENBERGER fraternities. Both Dean of Men footing. He said no, that the The question is whether we He said the SGB is. the only The board will include Mark Reece and Dean of Women students were not equal to the In regard to the alcohol policy group to examine the plan so far, Assistant Editor itself, Monaco said, "We feel that "We are not in an era where should put these students into a administration, faculty and Lu Leake attended the meeting. deans, and that the deans were climate where they'll be exposed and he wants to consult the not equal to the president, and so the policy that's presently social drinking is looked upon as student representatives, A second meeting last "Dean Reece said to the frat immoral," · said Leake. to a lot of alcohol usage," she faculty and student leaders according to White. They will members that he did not lmow on. He explained it in tenns of a enforced in the other lounges before the complete proposal is Thursday between should apply here." "However, there are a lot of kids said. review cases of all student administrators and men students why they were there, since the hierarchy." released. "Their criticism could courts, but they will not be able to lounges were to be for Monaco said that he walked out He said that both Reece and affect it," he added. concerning the alcohol policy for Leake were opposed to this reverse a de~ision, he said. the new Taylor and Davis House independents," said Monaco.