Stanford, Dartmouth Crack Down on Grades

Stanford University's Faculty Senate recently approved a plan to implement a "no pass" grade, beginning in 1995-96. That will put an end to a period when students could withdraw from a class the day of the final and not have the grade appear on the transcript--much like cancelling an airplane reservation the day of the flight and not having to pay a cent for it.

The new policy is intended to make faculty more responsible for the grades they give, said Margaret Delacruz, Stanford's registration supervisor.

Dartmouth College transcripts now include the mean grade for each class next to the student's grade, beginning with the class of 1998.

"It's just to provide more information on the transcript and also try to make it clear," said Thomas F. Bickel, Dartmouth registrar. He said he hopes it will also stem grade inflation.

Dean K. Whitla, director of Harvard's Office of Instructional Research and Evaluation, said Dartmouth's program will be interesting to watch.

"It's a great chance to see how it work there," Whitla said. "Possibly, even before we decide to do something, we'll have some more information to consider."