MU faculty might be provided with a more flexible grading policy for undergraduate programs if the Faculty Council votes today to rewrite the statement in the Faculty Handbook about plus/minus grading.
Under the current policy, the faculty is “expected” to use plus/minus grading for undergraduate courses.
This was interpreted to mean the system was mandatory.
After council member Jenice Prather-Kinsey said faculty in the College of Business did not approve of a mandatory grading system, the council reconsidered the wording.
The proposed change states that the plus/minus system is the “norm, however, any grade reflects the instructor’s best academic judgment about the student’s level of performance.”
The council also will vote on changes to the Elections Task Force Report aimed at creating greater diversity on the council.
The primary change would move council elections to May instead of the summer so more members will be able to run for office.
At the meeting before spring break, council members raised questions about how the proposed changes would increase diversity.
Finally, the council will hear from MU Budget Director Tim Rooney.
Council chairman Gordon Christensen said Rooney was asked to speak about bonds and how they relate to campus activities.
Christensen said the intention was to correct false impressions council members had that the university had reached its bonding limit because of the cost of athletic facilities.
The council will also be presented with the academic calendar for the University of Missouri System as developed and agreed upon by the Intercampus Faculty Council.
The council meets at 3:30 p.m. today in room 203 of Memorial Union south.