Catherine Rampell of Washington Post notes the drivers behind
the ridiculous grade inflation prevalent at most American universities:
“As students are
forced to shell out more and more money for a degree, they feel more entitled
to high grades. They then pressure professors to weaken standards. Supporting
this thesis is the fact that GPA’s tend to be more inflated at private schools,
where tuition is higher, even after controlling for selectivity.
Sites like
RateMyProfessors.com may also play a role, as easier grading tends to encourage
better student feedback. Adjuncts in particular need favorable student
evaluations to get rehired, making them especially susceptible to inflationary
pressures.
Plus, academic
departments have learned that lenient grading can attract more majors, and
thereby earn them more faculty hiring slots.”
Related Posts: