Though the implementation of the plus/minus grading system might give a more accurate representation of students’ grades, the lack of consistency in mandating it could create problems for students and administrators. The plus/minus system was put into effect this fall for all incoming students, but the decision to use plus and minus grades is left up to the professors.

The system allows a professor to give a wider grade range, such as a C-plus, a C or a C-minus. Because a student must make a C to pass a class, a C-minus – though still in the C-range – does not count for credit under the new system.

Because of the optional implementation by professors, if two students are taking the same class with different professors and they both make a C-minus, one will pass the class with a C and the other will make an unsatisfactory grade with a C-minus.

Another discrepancy is that there is no set numerical grade range that corresponds to the letter grades. Each professor must outline his or her own grade range in his or her syllabus, for example, stating that a B-minus is the equivalent of an 80 to an 82.

This means that if two professors teaching the same class have different grade evaluations, even if both professors use the plus/minus system, students in their classes who make the same grade will receive different grade points.

When given the option to take a course with a professor who uses the plus/minus system or with one who doesn’t, it seems that most would choose the professor who doesn’t use the new system.

This also creates a distinctive and inconsistent gap between passing and failing. In a class where the professor doesn’t use plus/minus, a grade of a 69 is almost passing. In a class where the professor does use the plus/minus system, a 69 is almost a C-minus, which is still unsatisfactory. It seems that professors who might bump a 69 to a passing grade will be less likely to do so when they have to increase the grade by more than one point.

In essence, giving professors the ability to choose to use the new grading system creates unfair balance that will ultimately cause more problems than it solves.

News editor Bailey Shiffler for the editorial board.