Over the last few years, the District Senate has been deliberating the implementation of plus/minus grading in for final grades in the student's official transcripts. Over the course of many discussions, involving faculty, students and staff, it was determined that we should complete a comprehensive study to evaluate the effect of a change to plus/minus grading on student GPA's.
During the fall of 2008, the three college Senate's read and considered the results from the Foothill DeAnza Plus/Minus Grading Pilot Study http://research.fhda.edu/researchreports/file_library/Plus%20Minus%20Grading%20Pilot%20Results%20Final%202-1-06.pdf which indicated that there was no statistically significant adverse impact on their students’ GPA’s. Senate leaders determined that a similar study, in the San Mateo Community College District, would give the faculty the information that they need to come to agreement on the best path to take for our students. Here is the formal recommendation that was approved the SMCCCD Board of Trustees:
"It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve a pilot to study the effects of the adoption of plus/minus grading on the grade point averages (GPA’s) of the students in the District. This pilot study will begin at the start of the 2009 fall term and terminate at the end of fall 2010 so that cumulative data on the set of students can be analyzed. Students and faculty will be consulted on the design of the pilot and will be surveyed about their opinion on the potential effects of implementation after data from the fall 2009 semester is compiled and analyzed. Results, including the impact on students, will be shared with all, and incorporated into the final recommendation to the Trustees."
PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT STUDY IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY FOR FACULTY - Yet it is our goal that many faculty members will participate so that we will have sufficient data collected to provide valid results by the end of Fall 2010. Since you have not begun submitting grades, it is not too late to participate. I have attached two documents from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges that will help to place our discussions within the context of an ongoing state-wide conversation. I have also attached a list of FAQ's that you should review before making your decision to participate. During last Spring semester, our Faculty Senate Presidents spoke with each Student Senate and the students participated in the Trustee's discussion regarding the pilot. We then met with CSM Student Senate President Megan Claire as we developed the modifications to WebSMART. Megan presented a number of concerns on behalf of the three Student Senate's, and she stated that she felt those concerns were fully addressed at the end of the meeting.
SMCCD Plus/Minus Grading Pilot FAQ's
SMCCCD Board of Trustees Plus/Minus Grading Pilot Resolution
Academic Senate for California Community College Study on Plus/Minus Grading
Patty Dilko, Professor, Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Cañada College
SMCCCD Academic Senate President
dilko@smccd.edu
After extensive discussions, and an electronic survey administered by the AFT, the District
Academic Senate Governing Council agreed that there was sufficient support from the faculty
at all three colleges to renew an investigation into the opportunites and costs of revising the
academic calendar to what is commonly known as the 15-5-15-5-5 model. This model would
modify our current calendar so that classes would be completed in a fewer number of days
while maintaining the same number of contact hours. One of the benefits to this model is that
it would allow faculty the opportunity to develop "short courses" during a winter session which
would be similar to our summer sessions.
The Task Force will be comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, and IT staff who are
knowledgeable about specific aspects of scheduling and facilty usage. Faculty and staff from
all three colleges will be asked to participate in focus group discussions and respond to data
that is collected by the Task Force, and models that are created by Task Force members.
The process will be extensive and collaborative, and is expected to bridge several semesters.
Ultimately, the Task Force will make a recommendation to the Calendar Committee, who will
proceed to negotiate any changes with the AFT as is required by our collective bargaining
agreement. Stay tuned for more information as the Task Force begins their work. If you have
questions or would like to participate please contact your college Senate President or the District
Senate President.
Patty Dilko, Professor, Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Cañada College
SMCCCD Academic Senate President
dilko@smccd.edu
