BATON ROUGE – Don Chance, the James C. Flores Endowed Chair of MBA Studies and a professor in the LSU Department of Finance, has proposed a new LSU grading system that is currently under review by the LSU Faculty Senate.

The new grading scale, which would award students “plus and minus” letter grades in classes, was tabled last Thursday. Concerns about the lack of time to discuss the change prior to the vote and other criticisms regarding its cost to the university during state budget cuts swayed the Faculty Senate’s decision to further review the new system.

On a 4.0 grade-point average scale, an “A–” would mean a 3.7 and a “B+” would result in a 3.3 in the proposed change.

A standard “A” or “B” grade would still correlate with a 4.0 or 3.0, respectively. Currently at LSU, a “B+” and a “B–” both result in a 3.0 score.

The grading scale suggested by Chance is the system in place at several other schools, including Tulane University and a majority of Southeastern Conference universities. 

According to a Nola.com article, LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said he planned to implement the new system in the fall if the Faculty Senate approved it, but it appears that the university may not be able to complete the change until 2013 if sanctioned. The article also included a statement from Chance, who said he was surprised at the pessimistic arguments toward the change.

“This system is not some excuse to lower grades,” Chance was quoted as saying, further explaining that most students would actually benefit with grading bump-ups when they are very close.  

More about the grading change can be read in the Advocate article “LSU eyes grading change,” which was published January 19, 2012. The article can be read in full at http://theadvocate.com/home/1836131-125/lsu-eyes-grading-change.html.