While grade point averages and class rank are firmly entrenched in our educational system, they are not particularly reliable or valid indicators of student achievement. Introducing weighted grades creates additional problems. If schools were to eliminate this system, some motivation for grades and easy coursework would disappear. Includes four…

A questionnaire on academic dishonesty was administered to management information systems majors at an eastern state university in 1999 and 2004. The often-cited proposition that the level of student academic dishonesty among college and university students is increasing was unsupported. While the level of participation in one practice increased…

Describes a modified method for determining class rank that addresses many problems associated with weighted and unweighted grade-point average calculations. Under the Class Rank Index System, class rank is determined jointly by overall performance in a student's courses and by a measure of difficulty of the student's overall course load. CRI…

This paper presents an analysis of two common seminar formats: those based on learning- strategies interventions and those based on academic socialization interventions. The results of a natural experiment allowed a comparison of the retention impact of a strategy-based seminar and a socialization-focused seminar. For both more and less…

In this essay, Rebecca Zwick confronts the controversy surrounding the use of standardized tests in college admissions. She examines the degree to which the SAT and its lesser known cousin, the ACT, limit access to college, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities, and considers two alternative admissions policies that do not involve tests:…

Presents survey results of a study to determine if valedictorians differ from other superior students regarding background, homelife, hobbies, and future aspirations. Valedictorians surveyed were highly competitive and self-disciplined, driven by inner goals, participated in numerous hobbies and extracurricular activites, and had well-educated…

On March 28, 2003 the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a report titled "Race-Neutral Alternatives in Postsecondary Education: Innovative Approaches to Diversity." The purpose of this report is to describe a number of race-neutral approaches that postsecondary institutions across the United States are using. This staff assessment by the…

If colleges continue to insist that class rank is vital information and treat the rankings from the various schools as comparable data, then the professionals using that information have an obligation to present and use the concepts and the terminology accurately and uniformly. (Author)

Discusses how, criticized from the left and the right, class-rank admissions programs in three states (California, Texas, and Florida) seem to be having less of an impact than advertised, with elite campuses much less diverse than they were with affirmative action. (EV)

Studied the student pipeline at the University of Illinois at Chicago over a period of six years to pinpoint which attributes of entering students provide the best indicators of university success. Found that the best indicator is a modified high school percentile rank, designed specifically to take high school quality into account. (EV)

Three accounting teachers gave two tests and a comprehensive final to 417 undergraduates using one of three treatments: no comments written on test paper, comments at teacher's discretion, or standard comments. The type of comment did not affect subsequent test performance, but did significantly affect performance on final exam, especially for…

Asserts that college admission officers must take closer look at how they use high school rank in their deliberations. Contends that admission officers often give undue significance to rank. Describes statistical shortcomings of high school rank and notes personal cost to high school students. Proposes alternative weighted grade point average,…

Examines structural features of grade point averages (GPAs) and offers examples showing that GPAs cannot consistently determine class rank since class rank is sometimes permuted with arbitrary change of scale. Notes relativistic efforts to resolve inconsistencies are insufficient. Discusses the function of GPAs as predictors of academic…

The document is a summary of the conference proceedings for the 23rd Annual Farmingdale State College Teaching of Psychology Conference held on March 20-21, 2009 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, New York. The conference featured a keynote address by Dr. Jeffrey Nevid on Reaching and teaching the millennials: Helping today's students become…