For the past several years, a rumor has been spreading that LSU is switching their grading system to a plus/minus grading system. Those rumors are true.
The LSU Faculty Senate passed a resolution that would change the current grading system to a plus/minus system.
This means that if a student gets a 90 in a class that uses a 10 point system, then they will receive an “A” minus which is worth 3.7 quality points factored into their GPA. With the current grading system, that same student would receive 4.0 quality points factored into their GPA.
Gil Reeve, Vice Provost for Academic Programs Planning and Review, explains that the proposed plus/minus grading system would, “Identify students who are doing very well, but made a ‘B,’ give them the ‘B’ plus, instead of those who just barely scraped by, give them a ‘B’ minus.”
Reeve states that the Faculty Senate proposed this system as a way to distinguish between different levels of performance within a letter grade.
Despite the lengthy approval system that has spanned for over a year, LSU Sophomore John Holeman says many students don’t understand what this new grading system means.
Holeman contends that if the administration is going to make this change then students should be made aware.
“Everyone should know about it, at least, and they [the administration] should get feedback first before they try to implement anything like that.”
The Student Senate has spoken up by passing a resolution that does not support the change.
This grading system is set to go into practice in Fall 2015.
But Reeve clarified in an interview on Monday that it has not been approved yet. He further explains that they are in the process of seeking approval from Chancellor F. King Alexander.
Despite this claim by Reeve, faculty members have received emails stating that the new plus/minus grading system is mandatory and will be implemented in the Fall of 2015. Students like Holeman are not happy with the prospect of the new system.
“It just makes it more difficult to keep your GPA up and I think an ‘A’ generally requires quite a bit of work in a class,” Holeman said.
Reeve encourages students to remain calm about the change and reminds them that it can positively affect your GPA by recognizing exceptional work with an extra percentage in quality points.
This system will not apply to prior semesters in which the grades have already been reported. If students want to voice their opinions and concerns before the final approval, which is expected to happen next semester, they can contact the Student Senate or Chancellor King’s office.

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Kira Schuette

Grading with a Plus...and a Minus?