In recent years, it has become a trend for college professors to award their students higher grades than what they would have gotten in the past. This shift in mentality in college grading policies is raising questions as to what could be the cause of the sudden rise in students getting A’s.
Key Takeaways
- There is a rising trend in colleges where students are being awarded higher grades than ever before.
- A primary cause of this increase in grading could be attributed to the competition among educators to attract high performing students to their courses.
- Some consequences of grade inflation may lead to underqualified individuals entering the workforce based on their overrated grades resulting in an erosion of trust in academic institutions.
- Policies like standardized grading scales, evaluation committees, and penalizing educators for excessive grade inflation have been attempted in the past to a varying degree of success.
- Some students may benefit from grade inflation, such as athletes or students with extenuating life circumstances, being rewarded for their efforts.
It’s not only the students benefiting from academic grade inflation, but some educators are also “winning” through the practice, primarily with funding support. So why is academic grade inflation such a common trend across many colleges across the US?
Causes of Grade Inflation
There are various reasons behind the increase in grades in college courses. One reason could be the intense competition among colleges to attract students who meet their criteria. As such, academic institutions believe that increasing the number of A’s awarded tends to attract high achievers to their institutes. Grade inflation is then promoted by the college as a demonstrated method of student’s success.
Moreover, there is an inherent pressure among professors to ensure that their students excel in their courses. Professors are therefore tempted to increase their students’ grades, even in cases where their students did not put in as much effort. This pressure is not limited to teaching staff but can also originate from the institution itself in some cases.
Consequences of Grade Inflation
Some consequences of grade inflation may lead to the mounting problem that students leaving college with good grades are perceived to be overqualified for their actual skillset in the job market. As a result, employers may begin to lose trust in the grading systems of academic institutions. In turn, this could lead to increased skepticism of degrees, and even erode the inherent value tied to earning a degree.
Solutions
Academia in the US must institute effective policies geared towards preventing grade inflation. Standardizing grading scales could minimize variations in grading and increase consistency in grading policies amongst academic institutions. Such policies should be coupled with increased penalization of institutions and teaching staff who may engage in the practice of grade inflation.
Ultimately, universities need to instill a sense of accountability among educators and institute policies that support levels of academic rigor to protect the credibility of the American higher education system.
FAQ
Q: Is grade inflation a common trend in colleges across the US today?
A: Yes, grade inflation is becoming increasingly common in many colleges across the US.
Q: What are some consequences of grade inflation?
A: Students leaving college with good grades are perceived to be overqualified for their actual skillset in the job market. In turn, this could lead to increased skepticism of degrees, and even erode the inherent value tied to earning a degree.
Q: Are there any solutions to grade inflation?
A: Standardizing grading scales could minimize variations in grading and increase consistency in grading policies amongst academic institutions. Such policies should be coupled with increased penalization of institutions and teaching staff who may engage in the practice of grade inflation.