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Appendix 1: Guidelines for Project Grading

Approved by Faculty on May 5, 1994

Background

Pronounced grade inflation for MQP, IQP, and Sufficiency activity is evident over the last twenty years. This has, in turn, resulted in a steady increase of the percentage of students graduating with honors. Furthermore, data 'indicate that project grading standards vary considerably from department to department. This not only creates an inequity with respect to honors, but may create barriers to student or faculty participation in multidisciplinary project activities.

Recommendations

Each term a student is registered for a project, the student receives a grade reflecting judgment of accomplishments for that term.

Upon completion of the project, students will receive an overall project grade. It is important to note that this grade reflects not only the final products of the project (e.g., results, reports, etc.), but also the process by which they were attained. No amount of last-minute effort should turn a mediocre project effort into an A.

The available grades and their interpretations are as follows:

• A: a grade denoting a consistently excellent effort which attains the stated project goals.
• B: a grade denoting a consistently good effort which attains the stated project goals.
• C: a grade denoting an acceptable effort which partially attains the stated project goals.
• SP: a grade denoting an effort sufficient for the granting of the credit for which the student is registered. This grade provides students with no feedback, and its use is discouraged, except for circumstances in which the faculty member is unable to judge the quality of the work (yet can still determine that the granting of credit is appropriate).
• NA: a grade denoting an effort unacceptable for the credit for which the student is registered. Note that this grade is entered into the student's transcript.
• NR: a grade denoting an effort insufficient for the credit for which the student is registered. This grade is appropriate when the project has not proceeded due to circumstances beyond the control of the student, or for project extensions which do not represent the full amount of credit for which the student is registered.

The results of a project should be such that an outside reviewer would reasonably deem the project as being worthy of the credit and grade given, based on evidence such as the project report.

In light of the above grading criteria, it is strongly suggested that a formal project proposal or contract be developed early in the project activity, so that all participants in the activity have a clear understanding of the project goals and advisor and student expectations. [It is worth noting that many faculty communicate their expectations to students in the following form: to qualify for an A a project must exceed established expectations, for a B a project must meet established expectations fully, and for a C a project must satisfy established expectations.]

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Last modified: October 19, 2006 12:14:04