+/- to be Implemented in Fall
The Academic Senate approved the grading switch to include +/-, which was also approved by Provost Jeremy Haefner for implementation in the fall of 2010. There are three guiding principles in making the switch: It is up to the faculty to choose if they want to include +/-; implementation must have a minimal impact to financial aid and retention; and, the system must be fair and consistent.
Classes with multiple sections and teachers will have to meet to determine a policy for consistency. For the first year, transcripts will maintain the whole letter GPA but also include the +/- in the list of classes and grades. For example, if someone gets straight B+’s, the GPA will still be a 3.0, but the list of classes will show all of the B+’s on the transcript.
For classes that have prerequisites, a C- will be considered as a C for a minimum grade to move onto the next course. Grades will be studied and reviewed again in spring 2011 to decide on full implementation of +/- system.
Teachers Oppose Copyright Legislation
The RIT executive board and Chief Legal Officer Bobby Colon proposed a revision of the unclear legislation on copyright issues regarding what professors can and can’t use inside their classroom. A “fair use analysis checklist” form, which would require a summary of the copyrighted material and an explanation of why the material is being used, was discussed.
Carl Lundgren, representative from CAST said, “This week alone I would have had to fill out about 15 of these [forms]… Eventually we just might stop filing our these papers, but due to this ‘shall’ and ‘must’ clause, this bill could be re-crafted as a tool to adjust staffing.”
Colon replied, “Well, pitfalls can happen when you don’t have a copyright policy…It’s a lot easier to get permission than you think, just send a quick email.”
Unfortunately, the senate was not satisfied, and Liz Lawley, a GCCIS representative, proposed that the vote be postponed until more information could be gathered about the issue and volunteered to gather this information herself.
