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Felten analysis refutes grade inflation claims

Felten analysis refutes grade inflation claims

A new memo from computer science professor Edward Felten claims the ability of a University grade to differentiate student work has only decreased 11 percent over the last 30 years, contradicting one of the arguments used to justify the recently released grade inflation proposals.The memo should be released to the faculty today and was emailed to Dean of the College Nancy Weiss Malkiel on Thursday.Malkiel, one of the primary authors of the proposals, has supported the proposals partly on the grounds that grade inflation at the University has devalued grades and decreased their ability to show meaningful differences between students' academic performances.For the memo, Felten analyzed data from Malkiel's 2003 faculty memo, "Truth in Grading: Proposals and Questions.""This study is evidence against the claim that grade inflation has made a huge difference in the grading system," Felten said.

NEWS | 04/22/2004

Program offers course credit, full student status

Princeton offers its rich educational opportunities not only to students and faculty but also to University employees and qualified New Jersey residents through the Continuing Education Program.Established in 1973, the program serves those preparing for professional or graduate school, pursuing advanced training in their fields or simply seeking personal enrichment."The program is a wonderful benefit to both the University and community," said Pamela Hersh, director of the Office of Community and State Affairs.Continuing education students are fully integrated into their courses ? participating in classes, precepts, labs, workshops and studios and completing all course assignments. A unique experienceRita Saltz, senior policy adviser to OIT, enrolled in a course on contemporary drama through the program.Saltz took the class because of "a lifelong love of theater and interest in production," she said.As a University employee participating in the program, Saltz enjoyed lectures by Michael Cadden, a senior lecturer and director of the Program in Theater and Dance.

NEWS | 04/22/2004

Late-night study spaces

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NEWS | 04/22/2004

Public Safety confiscates Newman's Day shirts

Public Safety officers entered a 1901 Hall room on Friday and confiscated 400 Newman's Day shirts, University officials and students who were there said.Director of Public Safety Steven Healy said in an interview today that Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan instructed two Public Safety officers to enter the room around 3 p.m.

NEWS | 04/22/2004

For business or pleasure: residents sit in on classes

Jody Lanard missed Chinese 102 class last week. Her excuse? She was testifying before the U.S. Senate on the cover-up of lead content in D.C.-area drinking water.Lanard is a psychiatrist who, with her husband Peter Sandman '67, helped invent the field of risk communication.

NEWS | 04/22/2004

Scott '87 to lead Tiger hoops

The search for a new men's basketball head coach is over just a day after it began.The University hired Joe Scott '87, a former assistant coach for the Tigers, from the United States Air Force Academy on Wednesday to take the reigns of its basketball program.

NEWS | 04/21/2004

Writing seminars elicit mixed feelings

Three years after replacing the old University writing requirement, the Princeton Writing Program has elicited passionate responses ? both criticism and praise ? from the undergraduates who have braved its semester-long seminars.According to Kerry Walk, director of the writing program, "writing seminars have a common goal ? for students, through practice and guidance, to master essential strategies and techniques of intellectual inquiry and argument."While students generally acknowledge that their respective seminars fulfill this basic objective, some, like Megan Ryan '07, question the program's effectiveness."I just think there are a lot of better ways to teach people how to write," Ryan said.

NEWS | 04/21/2004

Nine undergrads win Spirit of Princeton award

The selection committee for the Spirit of Princeton Award, which honors students "for their positive contributions to campus life during their years at Princeton," has announced this year's winners.The nine recipients ? Jordan Amadio '05, Emily Henkelman '04, Rishi Jaitly '04, Kristopher Kersey '04, Daniel O'Brien '04, Taufiq Rahim '04, William Robinson '04, Antoinette Seaberry '05 and Robin Williams '04 ? were selected from a field of 50 nominees, said Thomas Dunne, associate dean of undergraduate students and a member of the selection committee.Committee member Adriana Diaz '06 said the process was especially competitive."We wanted to expand the number [of winners]," she said.

NEWS | 04/21/2004

Pre-frosh visits increase by 50 percent

"Without a doubt," "decidedly so," "outlook good" ? the '8-ball' posters, tacked up around campus to attract student hosts, echo what the admissions office hopes to hear from admitted students after this year's pre-frosh weekend.The admission office has stepped up efforts to recruit volunteer hosts, as the number of pre-frosh scheduled to stay on campus this weekend represents an almost 50 percent increase compared to previous years.According to Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye, most years draw 180 to 250 visiting pre-frosh.

NEWS | 04/21/2004

USG approves letter voicing student opinions

After almost a week of discussion and debate, the USG approved a letter Tuesday night expressing a number of student concerns with the recent grade inflation proposals.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

University will accept Common App for Class of 2009

Beginning next year students will be able to apply to Princeton using the same application accepted by Harvard, Yale and over 200 other colleges across the United States: The University is adopting the Common Application, the most widely used set of forms for applying to college."Going to the common application is a really constructive, logical next step for Princeton," Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said in an interview Tuesday morning.The admission office is embracing the Common App not because of flaws in Princeton's current application, but because it allows the University to attract a broader range of candidates, Rapelye said."There's nothing wrong with the current application but we need to reach more students from more backgrounds and we need to be more accessible," she said.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

Herkness '79 makes her debut as romance novelist

When the Class of 2004 graduates later this spring, many will go on to careers in investment banking, law and medicine.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

Thompson takes Georgetown job

Men's head basketball coach John Thompson '88 said on Tuesday he'd leave Princeton to lead Georgetown University's squad.Thompson's decision sends the athletics department into a scramble to find a candidate who can try to match his success, with two trips to the NCAA tournament in four years as head coach.All eyes point to Air Force head coach Joe Scott '87 as the top replacement.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

Hitz '61 to take year-long sabbatical at University of Virginia

Frederick Hitz '61, former inspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency, is wrapping up his six-year lecturer's term at the University with a rather surprising twist.Hitz had said he intended to spend his time at Princeton ? to which he will return after a year's sabbatical ? writing a book which analyzed the changes in intelligence agencies after the end of Cold War, when the intelligence community was preparing to face new, non-Soviet threats.Instead, the book Hitz wrote focuses not only on the gathering of secret information, as some might have assumed given his experience, but also touches on another topic of which he is a longtime devotee ? the spy novel.Hitz said he felt that "yet another book on intelligence reform would not be as original" as what he ultimately wrote.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

Theological seminary names Torrance president

Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University have common histories. Presbyterian ministers founded both institutions.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

OIT safeguards online databases

As technology develops, so does the desire to exploit it. University computers, as well as networks around the world, must brave increasingly crafty and frequent attacks.

NEWS | 04/20/2004

Website presents 'after dark' events

The students asked for it, and on April 17, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, the Office of Communications and the Social Opportunities Committee gave it to them.

NEWS | 04/19/2004

Art museum holds unexpected treasures in stored collection

As I stepped inside the Princeton University Art Museum, I was confronted with an array of closed doors ? entryways even the all-powerful prox card does not open.

NEWS | 04/19/2004

Slaughter says Kennedy School rumors untrue

Denying speculation at both Princeton and Harvard universities, Wilson School dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 said over the weekend that she would not leave the University to become dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government."I've never talked to anybody about being a candidate for the Kennedy School," Slaughter said.

NEWS | 04/19/2004

Lights planned at intersection

After a handful of accidents involving pedestrians on Washington Road in recent years, students will be able to cross this busy street more safely in the next academic year.Plans have already been made to install lights at the crossing between Thomas Laboratory and Fine and McDonnell halls over the summer."These lights will be similar to ones at the crosswalk by McCarter Theatre and University Place, which notify oncoming vehicles of pedestrian crossing by blinking," Jon Hlafter, director of physical planning, said. Preventing accidentsPublic Safety Officer James Lanzi, who chairs the Pedestrian Safety Committee, said the focus on improving roadways is part of a "general university trend to improve crosswalks and public safety," and not a response to previous accidents at the crossing.Hlafter, however, believes the project was spurred by past accidents.

NEWS | 04/19/2004

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