Plus-minus system needs technology
Current system could not handle changes
Lauren Grimm
Intern
January 30, 2003
NT is waiting on new technology to implement a plus-minus grading system.
The university's systems are not up-to-date, so officials are installing new technology, which they plan to have completed in spring 2004.
The installation of the system will cost about $1 million and first year support for the technology will cost $931,762.
Without the update, the proposed grading system cannot be feasibly implemented.
The new student information system will be applied in stages, Dr. David Kesterson, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said.
"We are very, very busy bringing up this new system that could possibly support plus-minus grading if that's what's decided," Dr. Jonelle Harris, associate vice president of student development, said.
The current student information system does not provide the technology necessary for the new grading system.
The student information system includes student records, accounting and financial aid units.
"Our current system is a system we purchased in the 1980s and it's a matter of needing new technology," Harris said.
"We can do more, over time and with new technology, specifically for students."
Once the new student information system is complete, discussion of a possible new plus-minus grading system for students will resume.
The Student Government Association requested the change for the grading system on April 5, 2000 with the intention to help distinguish more clearly the differences in students' academic efforts.
The NT Faculty Senate approved the implementation of the grading system on March 28, 2001 on the grounds that discussions will occur again after the new student information system is put into place.
The provost and the president must again review the possible grading system change at that time. Faculty, staff and students are divided on the issue of a plus-minus grading system, he said.
"I think there are different opinions for the plus-minus system," Harris said.
"I think there is a large group of people that think it reflects student performances better because it's more granular."
NT will be one of the few universities in Texas to use the system if implemented. The majority of Texas universities use a letter grade system, however, but a B+ and a B-, for example, are both recorded as a B and both count as a 3.0.
"Most schools don't use the plus-minus system," said Ben Dearman, assistant registrar.
"However, the plus-minus system is more symbolic of students' performances."
Dearman said University of Texas at Dallas and Texas Tech are two Texas schools currently using a plus-minus system.
*edited to add, the FACULTY SENATE approved the new system..
*also.. isn't ONE MILLION bucks a big price tag?!?!
... Lucky (or unlucky!) for me, my undergrad program within Human Kinetics had (and still has) an average of 82%!! Ouch! Definitely affected my class standing with such a high average in such a small class(read: about 25 or so grads/year). My standing ~ we just won't go there! 
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