New Policy on Plus/Minus Grading: Implications and Implementation Presentation for the Council of Deans March 6, 2006

The New Policy for Plus/Minus Grading with Numerical Values Senate Resolution passed on December 12, 2005 stipulated that: 1.The new system be applied only to new students admitted after approval and that no “GPA blending” take place for current students. 2.New numerical values be assigned to letter grades for all undergraduate and graduate course work. 3.Narrative descriptions of grades remain unchanged – Policy III-6.20 (A) – “University of Maryland Grading Systems and Notations…”

New Numerical Values Letter Grades and Corresponding Quality Points:  A+ 4.3A 4.0A- 3.7  B+ 3.3B 3.0B- 2.7  C+ 2.3C 2.0C- 1.7  D+ 1.3D 1.0D- 0.7 F 0  Graduating GPAs capped at 4.0

The new policy takes effect in Fall 2006 for all new students  Undergraduates – freshmen and transfers  Graduate students – including advanced special students  All new students at branch and off-site locations  All new students in professional and executive programs  All new students in distance-learning and online programs  Non-degree seeking undergraduates and visiting graduate students

The Former Policy remains in effect for all students matriculated prior to Fall 2006  This Senate resolution also numbered was passed on April 14,  Plus/Minus grades were assigned, but the quality points for all variants of the letter grade were represented by the A(4.0), B(3.0), C(2.0), D (1.0), F (0) values.

Policy III-6.20(A) UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GRADING SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS USED ON ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS  "A+", "A", " A-"Denotes excellent mastery of the subject and outstanding scholarship  “B+", "B", "B-"Denotes good mastery of the subject and good scholarship  "C+", "C", "C-"Denotes acceptable mastery of the subject and the usual achievement expected  “D+", "D", "D-"Denotes borderline understanding of the subject matter, marginal performance, and does not represent satisfactory progress toward a degree  "F“ Denotes failure to understand the subject and unsatisfactory performance The 2005 Senate Resolution called for maintaining this policy with changes only to the associated numerical values or quality points.

Important Implications for Undergraduate Academic Policies and Programs  All relevant Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) are in effect and not impacted by the new policy.  All Graduation and Degree Requirements stipulated on pp of the Undergraduate Catalogue are in effect and not impacted by the new policy.  The following undergraduate policies are in effect and not impacted by the new policy: Withdrawal and Leave of Absence; Campus Repeat Policies; Academic Clemency Policy; Academic Probation and Dismissal.

Possible Impact Areas for Undergraduate Programs  CORE (Fundamental Studies English)  Limited Enrollment Program (gateway requirements)  College academic awards and recognitions  Departmental Honors-GPA guidelines  Special Programs-GPA guidelines

Impact of Policy III-6.20(A) on undergraduate courses and academic programs This 2005 Senate resolution incorporated the narrative descriptions of Policy III-6.20(A). This policy describes all variations of the C grade as: "C+", "C", "C-"Denotes acceptable mastery of the subject and the usual achievement expected. For undergraduate academic courses and programs this should mean that the C- is “acceptable mastery” even with the new associated numerical value of 1.7.

Undergraduate Academic Programs Recommendations The Plus/Minus Implementation Committee Recommends that:  Undergraduate programs with a requirement of a minimum of a “C” average be satisfied by a 2.0 GPA.  Undergraduate courses with a requirement of a minimum of a “C” be satisfied by earning a C- (1.7).  In other words, a minimum of C-(1.7) in each required course and an overall GPA of 2.0 in the academic program (major, certificate). All curriculum changes would have to be considered by the relevant department, college/school, and Senate/campus committees. In some cases, accreditation requirements may apply.

Important Implications for Graduate Programs The Graduate School and the Graduate Council and its committees will consider possible areas of impact on graduation and degree requirements. These areas include at least: 1. The transfer of Graduate Courses for inclusion in academic programs (B grades). 2. Policy on combined bachelors-masters programs (B grades). 3. Possible time restrictions for advanced special students to remain under the old policy. 4. How the new policy affects program specific course and GPA requirements. All curriculum changes would have to be considered by the relevant department, college/school, and Senate/campus committees.

Implementation Roll-Out  The Provost’s Office coordinates implementation  Implementation Committee met in January 2006; participants: P. Peres (convener), E. Scholnick (Malone), A. Levy, A. Wylie, D. Hamilton, D. Robb (Granger), J. Baeder, J. Doerr, B. Reynolds, M. Appel.  Meetings and discussions have been held with VPAC, PCC “representatives” from Colleges and Schools, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Athletics.  Presentation to Council of Deans

Roll-out continued…  Academic Units  Faculty  Advisors  Students

Website for Plus/Minus grading policies, resources and information This website will be updated on a regular basis: _Planning/PlusMinusGrading.htm This website will be updated on a regular basis: _Planning/PlusMinusGrading.htm