Policies & Practices in Grading

1. Policies & Practices in Grading Jon Comer, Professor, Geography GTA Conference on Teaching August 14, 2013

2. Session Overview • Important OSU policies relating to grading • Tips for effective grading practices • Questions and discussion

3. Grading Policies • Importance of the Syllabus: • Distribution of points for course • Grading scale and expectations (A, B, etc.) • Rules regarding deadlines/late assignments • Schedule of due dates, esp. projects & exams • Attendance Policy: • Default Attendance Policy: No penalty will be assessed for class absences unless the instructor provides a written attendance policy to the student within the first three lectures of a semester.

4. Grading Policies • Grounds for grade appeals: • Not distributing/following the syllabus • Changing syllabus without adequate notice • Unequal extra credit opportunities • Reasonable but subjective criteria for grading not made clear • Unreasonable (non-academic) criteria used • Grade calculation error occurred.

5. Grading Policies • NOT grounds for grade appeals: • Challenging instructor’s scoring of graded work • Questioning soundness of instructor’s teaching methods or grading system • Considerations of “good” or “bad” teaching • Graduate oral or qualifying examinations are not covered under the policy.

6. Grading Policies • Special grading situations: • 6-week grades in all lower division courses • 10-week grade checks for student-athletes • Automatic W through 12th week for withdrawals • Instructor assigns W or F in 13th, 14th weeks • Withdrawal by petition only after 14th week • Incomplete grades (IB, IC, ID, or IF) • Pre-Finals week policy (5% rule) • Grade changes.

7. Grading Policies • Detecting cheating (Academic Integrity): • Seek faculty assistance and follow policy • Carry on with further work in course without prejudice • Types of sanctions: • Level 1 – 0 or F on assignment (lesser infractions) • Level 2 – F! for course (major infractions) • Level 3 – Dismissal from graduate programs.

8. Grading Policies • Discussing grades with students: • DO NOT do it over the phone • Avoid doing it via email • Resist doing it with parents… • Hide behind FERPA rather than get sued (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act, Buckley Amendment). http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

9. Grading Policies • Retention of grade records/books: • 5 years if no complaints • 2 years after exhaustion of all legal remedies if a complaint was filed • What to do if (when) you leave OSU • Retain tests and papers until academic appeals period has expired, then destroy.

10. Grading Policies • Resources: • Academic Affairs Faculty & Staff Resources: http://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/faculty-a-staff • AA Policies and Procedures webpage: http://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/policies-a-procedures • Grade Appeals (P&P 2-0821) • Academic Integrity (P&P 2-0822) • Retention of Grade Records (P&P 2-0214) • Registrar’s Office: http://registrar.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&Itemid=399

11. Grading Policies • Resources:

12. Grading Practices • Strive for timely return of graded work: • More impactful for students • Better info for students vis-à-vis their grades • Why procrastinate?

13. Grading Practices • “Fair” grading and other tips: • Grade anonymously when possible • Strive for consistency across papers on subjective work (papers, essays, etc.) • Avoid grading “rut”, try not to do too many papers in one sitting.

14. Grading Practices • Using D2L to facilitate grading: • Use D2L to distribute, collect assignments • Maintain updated gradebook on D2L • Develop grading rubrics within D2L.

15. Grading Practices • Extra credit, bonus points, etc.: • Try to avoid it: • Why are you giving it? • What is it measuring/assessing? • What are students learning? • Make sure it is fair, available to all, reasonable • Keep it a very small % of course (1-2% max).

16. Questions?