Always strive to learn something useful. --Sophocles

I'm not sure what I think about this. My university, NMSU, is considering the following change:

"These changes, if approved, would incorporate a grading system that factors pluses and minuses in GPA calculations, thus increasing or lowering a student’s GPA if the student receives a “+” or a “-“ with his or her course grade.

Under the proposed system, an “A-“ would count as a 3.7, rather than a 4.0 on students’ transcripts. Obviously many students should be concerned about this, considering that an “A-“ is an admirable achievement. On the other hand, students who receive a “B+” would get credit for scoring a few percentage points higher, perhaps motivating us to exert extra effort in our coursework. The new system would count a “B+” as 3.3 points, instead of 3.0 points under the current system. It is important to note that the changes would not go into effect until summer of 2012, and would not affect previously issued grades."

So a B+ is 3.3 instead of 3.0 and an A- is 3.7 instead of 4.0, but they don't explain it fully so I don't know if a B- is downgraded to a 2.7 instead of a 3.0. I currently have a GPA greater than 3.6, I don't know exactly what it is off-hand, and I have so many hours right now that it wouldn't greatly affect me, but I don't think I like it.

Here's the bit that I really like: "This Thursday [tonight] at 6 p.m. the ASNMSU Senate will vote on a similar resolution. The meeting will take place in the Senate Chambers, located on the 3rd floor of Corbett Center Student Union. Students wanting to express their concerns directly to the ASNMSU Senate may do so by signing up for Open Forum by 5 p.m. on Thursday." The email was time stamped 4:53pm and I didn't see it until after I got out of class at 6:45pm.

Of the comments posted on the student senate web site, I have yet to see one in favor of it. A couple of good points came out. First, it would put NMSU students at a competitive disadvantage against students from schools who don't factor in a + or -. Second, students who rely on financial aid could really be screwed. But I really liked this comment:

"...I wouldn't worry. The only way it can be changed is by a vote of the Board of Regents. They won't vote on anything that doesn't involve throwing massive amounts of money at the football team, so I think we're safe."