I am writing in response to your editorial concerning the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese (“The Cost of Inflation,” 2/26/2009) in order to correct some inaccuracies in the piece.
We found that we had a disparity between the numerical grading scales used in Spanish 100-200 and 300-400 level courses. As Director of Undergraduate Studies in Spanish, I contacted the College Dean’s office and asked if there was a numerical scale used by the College of Arts and Sciences. I was informed that the College had no such scale and that each department is free to make up its own numerical grading scale.
At a departmental retreat in the fall of 2008, the Spanish faculty of the department examined the matter of the numerical grading scale and agreed to adopt a new grading scale, uniform for all Spanish courses. The new grading scale was not imposed on the faculty as your editorial implies; the faculty chose to adopt it after careful consideration.
In conclusion, the Spanish faculty consulted the Office of the Dean of Students, was given the go ahead and we met and agreed on a numerical grading scale for all our courses. We did not make a “unilateral decision” as you state in your editorial.
None of this affects the College scale that converts an “A” to 4 points, etc. That scale is University policy and appears in the Undergraduate Record, and our program, of course, abides by that scale.
We hope this clarification helps you better understand the deliberative process by which we arrived at the numerical grading scale that is now in force.
Read More
LETTER: The Jefferson Council understates faculty criticism of the presidential search
By Jeri Seidman | 2 hours agoThat is factually inaccurate. In fact, faculty did protest.
A statement by 211 concerned faculty on the presidential and provost search committees
By Concerned Faculty | October 4, 2025As members of the faculty, we remind the Board that, at the end of the day, an academic community is an exercise in shared governance for the good of the whole.
LETTER: Embrace medicinal herb gardens on Grounds
By Jane Mattimoe | October 2, 2025I do love the gardens around the Lawn, which feature small smatterings of herbs, but something more extensive and scientific would be of great benefit to Grounds.
