At a meeting of the faculty of arts and sciences Monday afternoon, attendees discussed grade inflation, suggesting potential motivations behind the trend and solutions moving forward. College President Phil Hanlon addressed the 14 percent decline in the number of applicants to the Class of 2018, presented the annual budget and touched on sexual assault prevention and new residential projects.
During the meeting, the Committee on Instruction presented a report documenting a steady increase in students’ average GPAs and examining grading policies at the College. The report indicates that since the early 1970s, the average Dartmouth GPA has risen from around 3.05, or a B, to above 3.4, or a B+.
At the meeting, professors interpreted the trend in many different ways.
Some speculated that the increasingly competitive job market and students’ desire to attend selective graduate schools causes them to be more concerned about grades.
Psychology and brain sciences professor Jay Hull said changes in grading policy could have a considerable impact on student applications to graduate schools and jobs.
Other faculty members said that students tend to elect courses with high median grades, leading some departments to grade more lightly to attract students.
Religion professor Ronald Green said the problem does not affect all departments equally, pointing out that students who must take prerequisites or other required courses for their major continue to take courses with low median grades. The same students, he said, would not risk their grades to merely explore areas of academic interest.
“If we were to give B-minuses in our introductory course,” Green said, “I would say no students would take religion courses at Dartmouth.”
Biology professor Mark McPeek, however, said he thinks grade inflation affects all departments.
Hanlon, who taught a math course in the fall, said the median was a B+, higher than he was used to.
“I view this as a faculty matter, so I can speak as a faculty member,” Hanlon said. “But I don’t view this as a presidential matter. I think you all need to wrestle with this.”
Hull disagreed, saying that any change to grading policy should be made with presidential input.
Religion professor Kevin Reinhart said grade inflation is not confined to the College. The solution, he said, requires collaboration with presidents from different institutions.
Hanlon opened the meeting with a presentation on the College’s finances, including a proposal of the 2014-2015 budget, which will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval next month. The College will offer a five-part class on the College’s budget in the spring, he said, which will be open to all students, faculty and staff.
He spoke about the need for the College to slow cost increases and prepare for market fluctuations, noting plans to launch a capital campaign.
He then expressed concern about the drop in applicants to the Class of 2018, releasing the results of an admissions office survey for non-applicants who had initially expressed interest in the College. The survey sought to discover why students chose not to apply.
Survey results indicated that the top five deterrents were fear that applications would be rejected, the College’s cost and location, concerns about student life and uncertainty about Dartmouth being a good fit. Twelve percent of non-applicants indicated that the elimination of Advanced Placement credit recognition was a factor in their decision.
Attendees also discussed strategies for preventing sexual assault on campus.
Hanlon emphasized the importance of mobilizing the community and developing preventive measures to combat sexual assault, and faculty members suggested that the College invite outside experts to analyze issues related to sexual assault on campus.
Spanish professor José Manuel del Pino said sexual assault is not an issue that should be addressed hastily.
“After identifying the problem, if we need to take action, we need to take action after thinking, after pause, after reflection,” he said. “The College needs to act in an informed way and not just rush to assuage this sense of crisis when it’s not completely accepted by the whole Dartmouth community.”
Art history professor Allen Hockley said that it is important for the College to respond proactively when students raise issues regarding sexual assault.
The participants at the meeting urged the College to incorporate student and faculty input in sexual assault reports.
Hanlon also touched upon new residential life initiatives, including the neighborhoods proposal, which would create a system of residential colleges.
