News Release

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April 19, 2006

Boise State to Implement Plus/Minus Grading System

To more accurately reflect the actual performance of its students in the classroom, Boise State University announced that its grading system will be modified to incorporate plus and minus (+/-) grading beginning with the spring 2007 semester.

According to university officials, the +/- grading system will better distinguish a student’s work. Under the current system, a student with a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in a course and a student with a 2.9 GPA in the same course would both earn a C grade. The +/- grading system would better identify the superior work of the student with the higher GPA and award him or her with 2.3 quality points per credit hour and a C+ while the other student would receive 1.7 quality points and a C-.

The +/- grading system will also give Boise State instructors more discrete calculations, allowing them to better justify, for example, why a student on the borderline between a C and a B should or should not receive a B- (and 2.7 quality points per credit hour) rather than a C+ (2.3 quality points). The +/- grading system, officials said, provides a more equitable procedure to allow deserving students to move up to the next grade level and prevent less-deserving students from doing so.

“This system allows Boise State faculty to reward our most diligent students with a grade with a plus attached, and the increased quality points associated with it,” said David Saunders, associate professor of music and president of the BSU Faculty Senate. “Students whose work is on the borderline between say, an A and a B, would qualify for the B+ and may in some cases have an opportunity to earn an A-. These are better rewards for good work than the B. This system can also help solve the grade-inflation issue that faculty have been asked to recognize.”

Boise State will continue to use a 4.0 grading scale to determine a student’s GPA. Beginning in spring 2007 letter grades will range from A+ and A (4.0 quality points per credit hour) to D- (0.7) quality points and F (0 quality points) to calculate a student’s GPA. Grades of B, C and D will continue to count for 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0 quality points, respectively.

A cumulative 2.0 GPA will continue to be the minimum requirement for graduation and a C- grade will be accepted to satisfy prerequisites and core requirements. All grades from courses taken prior to the implementation of the +/- grading system, as well as grades from other postsecondary institutions not using the system, will still be used in a student’s GPA calculation.

Provost Sona Andrews acknowledged that the new grading system will be a change for students. “Change is sometimes difficult, but I am confident that once we begin using this new system that students will see its benefits,” she said. “There was widespread support for this change by the Boise State University faculty who see the +/- grading system as a positive step forward. It will be important for all instructors to make certain students are aware of how grades will be calculated in their class and for this to be clearly stated in the course syllabus.”

Following is the grading scale that Boise State will use beginning in spring 2007. Grades between A+ and F will be used to calculate a student’s GPA. A “pass,” “withdraw” or “incomplete” will not be used to calculate a student’s GPA.

Letter grade                     Quality points per credit hour
A+                                       4.0
A                                         4.0
A-                                        3.7
B+                                       3.3
B                                         3.0
B-                                        2.7
C+                                       2.3
C                                         2.0
C-                                        1.7
D+                                       1.3
D                                         1.0
D-                                        0.7
F                                          0.0

Contact: Sona Andrews, Provost, (208) 426-1202, SonaAndrews@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Bob Evancho, University Communications, (208) 426-1643, bevanch@boisestate.edu

Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and public service.
 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007