USG reexamines grade deflation

In his e-mail, Dorison asked students to share their personal job-hunting experiences — whether successful or not — to help the USG to study the effects of GPA cutoffs on student employment.

Last year, the USG worked with the Office of Career Services and Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel to produce a letter explaining the University’s grading policy. Upon requests from students, Career Services now sends the letter to employers or graduate schools.

When a USG Senate member asked about communication with Malkiel on the new initiative, Dorison said that she “originally didn’t love the idea” but understood that it was a student-led initiative to examine a student issue.

“Dean Malkiel’s concern was that this wouldn’t be a scientific study and could have a selection bias on who completes the form,” Dorison said in an interview. “I told her that I agreed with this concern but still believe that it is important to collect responses from students.”

Dorison explained that in order to make “meaningful recommendations” to the University, the USG would solicit input from undergraduates across multiple departments who were interested in various employment opportunities. He said that more than 140 students have responded via the online form and through individual e-mails.

“Responses have not been just one-sided rants that are useless,” he explained. “People are being very concrete.”

One student reported that a recruiter was skeptical of his GPA, Dorison told the Senate, while another described a two-part application that restricted access to the second half unless the applicant had a certain GPA. Some students have reported having no such problems, he noted, adding that it would be biased to presuppose the results of the initiative, since the student body has never previously been asked about the topic.

The initiative is a result of continuing student concern about grade deflation, as expressed in the recent USG priorities survey, Dorison said. He added that students seemed appreciative that the USG was asking for student input.

The USG expects to publish results from the initiative this semester.

Dorison noted during the Senate meeting that after reviewing student responses, the USG will consider whether the University’s current approach to explaining its grading policy should be modified.