I was listening to CBC radio last night and I heard a very interesting story.Simon Fraser University in B.C. has implemented a NEW grade that goes beyond a simple "fail" or "F". The new grade is "FD" and it will apply to the transcript of any student who fails a course because of academic dishonesty.
The "FD" grade will remain present until 2 years after the student graduates, thereby "flagging" him or her to prospective employers and grad schools. After two years it will become an "F" so as to not brand the student as a cheater his/her whole life.
Initially I said to myself "right on, you go get those cheaters;" there's a number of students in grade twelve who certainly deserve an "FD" at our school. After a bit of thought though, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean, didn't the policy used to be that academic dishonesty led to at least academic probation and possible expulsion? So is this big bad "FD" just another temporary measure, a slap on the wrist, for students who are increasingly coddled in an education system that's really a business?
I don't really know how to feel about this one. I am anxiously awaiting the Ministry's new assessment document that comes out this Fall that supposedly deals with late marks in secondary schools and giving some authority back to teachers. I won't hold my breath though. Documents and policies are rarely useful or practical.
Links to the articles: http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/news/story_04300904.shtml
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/05/04/simon-fraser-to-flag-academic-dishonesty-on-transcripts/
1 comment:
I know it's oldish, but have you ever checked out this page?: http://degradingmcgill.ca/
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