Malkiel details implementation of grade plan

Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel issued updates on the implementation of the anti-grade inflation policy — passed by the faculty last April — at this year's first meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC).

The meeting, open to all members of the University, also covered Greek life issues and the first annual Pre-Rade.

Students began the discussion by asking whether the new grading principle would hurt their chances at employment or admission to graduate school.

"I expect to send out thousands of letters to graduate institutions and employers showing how Princeton grades are real grades, unlike the inflated grades of our peer institutions," Malkiel said.

In the report, Malkiel laid out her schematic for practically enforcing the new grade inflation policy.

Beginning next academic year, she said, the percentage of A's awarded by each department and certificate program will be made available to both the University and the public at large.

USG president Matt Margolin '05 said he assumed the University had a plan to counter the potential loss in student interest in departments publicized as awarding too many A grades.

Malkiel said that, in addition to devising the peer review system, she met with each of the departmental chairs. She explained to them that "the expectation is on them to coordinate their faculty" toward the goal of no more than 35 percent A grades.

At the behest of the USG, the University plans to hold a town hall meeting Oct. 4 for students to pose questions about the grade inflation policy.

When asked whether other universities were following suit in combating grade inflation, as the University suggested last year, Malkiel said: "Our peers indicated they would 'do something similar if Princeton actually made its proposal work,' that is, reduced the number of A's."

Also on the CPUC agenda was a report by Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan on improving the freshman experience on campus.

Deignan explained the University was more explicit in its position that it does not recognize or sanction Greek organizations.

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"The fact that rush takes place early in the first semester works at odds with the University's mission of promoting inclusiveness during the early weeks of school," Deignan said.

The administration mailed a letter articulating the University's stance on sororities and fraternities to all admitted freshmen prior to their matriculation.

A summary of the first annual USG sponsored Pre-Rade — which took place during freshman orientation — also came out of Deignan's report. The goal of the Pre-Rade, as stated by U-Councilor Brandon Parry '06 and USG vice president Shaun Callaghan '06, "was to revitalize University traditions from the past."

One such tradition was the procession of the freshman class through FitzRandolph gate.

"We thought this was a nice juxtaposition to the senior class using the gate after Commencement to exit into the wider community," Parry said.

Margolin explained that he hopes to turn the Pre-Rade into an annual event which would be funded and sponsored by the University.

"This year [the USG] used much of its funds designated for pilot or experimental projects to fund the Pre-Rade. It wouldn't be consistent with our mission to earmark those dollars every year for this event," he said.