Volume CXXXIII, Number 13 January 25, 2002 f

Forum will address plus-minus controversy
JASON HAFLER
CONTRIBUTOR

Long a contentious issue on the Bowdoin campus, the institution of a plus/minus grading system has recently assumed top priority on the Recording Committee's agenda. As a result, Student Government and the Recording Committee will sponsor an open forum on Bowdoin's grading policy at Ladd House at 8:00 p.m. on January 28.

The forum will be held to discuss the issues related to possibility of changing Bowdoin's grading system and will aim to inform the College community as a whole.

In an attempt to survey the entire student body, the College will also post an online survey. The faculty also completed an online survey about these issues.
Professor Stephen Naculich, the chair of the Recording Committee said, "We think this is an important issue and are interested in student input."

Here is a brief history of the pattern of our grading system at Bowdoin.

-Prior to 1954 Bowdoin used a system without pluses or minuses.
-In 1954 Bowdoin adopted a +/- system.
-In 1967 Bowdoin adopted a High Honors, Honors, Pass, or Fail system. This coincided with Bowdoin initiative to not calculate GPAs partially due to the era of the Vietnam War and students being more eligible for the draft.
-In 1991 Bowdoin adopted an ABCDF system.

What should we do now in 2002?

Proponents of the change say that the new system would provide a more accurate means of assessing student performance, as well as aid students in competing for spots at professional schools against students from other institutions with pluses and minuses on their transcripts. Opponents say that these possible benefits are not enough to balance out the competition that a plus/minus system might inspire. Many question the fundamental value an institution such as Bowdoin should place on grades.

The college Recording Committee wishes to solicit student opinion concerning the possible move to a plus / minus system, and urges students to attend the forum Monday. The survey will run from Monday, January 28, to Friday, February 1, and can be accessed at http://doubletop.bowdoin.edu/vote/.