Last spring, we expressed reserved support of the University's proposal to combat grade inflation. Eight months and one affirmative vote later, it is time for the issue to be raised again.
Recent developments and the distance that the passage of time permits, compel us to address the University's proposal more critically.
One of the biggest concerns that many students have with the war on grade inflation is that Princeton students will be punished since their grades may be lower than those of students at peer institutions. But the administration promised that Princeton's change in its grading policy was only the first step in what would become a national movement. Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel has noted that expecting a quick response from our peers is "unrealistic." She urged students to have "patience and a longer time horizon." Admitting that she had done little so far in concert with other universities to support national implementation of anti-grade inflation policies, she explained that she planned to address grading issues with other selective universities at the next Ivy Plus Group meeting.
Malkiel's plea for patience is a prudent one, but recent discussions among the Yale science faculty about raising grades in order to match those given by other disciplines are reason for concern. Malkiel's sole response that it "wouldn't be my idea of how an institution should [conduct] its business," does little to assuage the fears of Princeton students.
Her uncompromising stance that grades are "not a subject for negotiation between students and faculty" is also problematic. Perhaps if the University's administration and department heads had engaged the student in a genuine process of consultation, they would not have met such staunch opposition from the student body. While grading policy should ultimately be decided by the faculty, students already enrolled at Princeton were not able to take into account the effects of the new grading policy on their environment when originally choosing which school they would attend.
Only time will tell which paths Princeton and other academic institutions will take with respect to their grading policy. Until then, one thing is certain: Princeton students will be watching closely to see what happens.
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