2008 Woodie Awards
Staff Editorial: Kirkwood refuses to recognize the A+
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Opinion
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For many students the academic year translates into nine long months of dedication to schoolwork. Students study, do the required homework and when the first term comes to a close, they realize that all their hard work paid off when they see an A on their record. Just an A.
After months of grueling work, their GPA is a above a 4.0 yet their record shows no indication of an A+. Kirkwood's current grading policy does not allow for any student, whether they surpass the 4.0 mark or not, to receive above an A average. For most students receiving this high of a mark is exceptional. To others however, these guidelines are completely unacceptable.
Some students feel that they shouldn't work so hard to get above a 4.0 when missing a few assignments here and there will guarantee them the same grade. For other students this policy is excellent, as it offers a bit of lenience.
Maybe a student just really didn't feel like getting out of bed one morning and missed a class or perhaps something came up that made it impossible to get that paper done. Life happens and not everyone can be expected to be the ideal student. But for those people who do come to class regularly, complete all the assignments and turn in all the extra credit work, it really leaves them with feelings of frustration.
These students are being cheated out of a flawless GPA. For these students, even completing extra credit won't help. In the end the student sitting next to them, who skipped three times, will still earn the same overall score. Kirkwood's grading policy is completely unreasonable in this sense and the big question is: Why doesn't KCC offer the A+?
Maybe this doesn't necessarily pertain to the majority of KCC students but shouldn't the school support the students who do the work?
A 4.12 GPA is higher than a 4.0 and it's time Kirkwood recognize that. The A+ should be offered at KCC because there are students who work diligently all year long and go above and beyond their academic call of duty.
After months of grueling work, their GPA is a above a 4.0 yet their record shows no indication of an A+. Kirkwood's current grading policy does not allow for any student, whether they surpass the 4.0 mark or not, to receive above an A average. For most students receiving this high of a mark is exceptional. To others however, these guidelines are completely unacceptable.
Some students feel that they shouldn't work so hard to get above a 4.0 when missing a few assignments here and there will guarantee them the same grade. For other students this policy is excellent, as it offers a bit of lenience.
Maybe a student just really didn't feel like getting out of bed one morning and missed a class or perhaps something came up that made it impossible to get that paper done. Life happens and not everyone can be expected to be the ideal student. But for those people who do come to class regularly, complete all the assignments and turn in all the extra credit work, it really leaves them with feelings of frustration.
These students are being cheated out of a flawless GPA. For these students, even completing extra credit won't help. In the end the student sitting next to them, who skipped three times, will still earn the same overall score. Kirkwood's grading policy is completely unreasonable in this sense and the big question is: Why doesn't KCC offer the A+?
Maybe this doesn't necessarily pertain to the majority of KCC students but shouldn't the school support the students who do the work?
A 4.12 GPA is higher than a 4.0 and it's time Kirkwood recognize that. The A+ should be offered at KCC because there are students who work diligently all year long and go above and beyond their academic call of duty.
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