Marshall changes grading policy, raises target GPA
view is the change in the quality of
Business program deans say setting the average GPA higher for certain courses reflects growing competition in classes.
By VICTOR FARFAN and LAUREN PEREZ
Daily Trojan
Undergraduate business students returned from break to find that the Marshall School of Business changed its grading policy in between semesters to reflect the increase in both the students’ grades and the competition for graduate school.
The target GPA rose from 2.85 to 3.0 for core courses and 3.3 for elective courses.
Though many business students consider this a change in Marshall's grading curve, Valeric Folkes, vice dean of academic programs at Marshall, said it’s ‘not technically a grading curve, but a target grading average that we set for our classes "
Thomas Gilligan, dean of Marshall. sent a letter to business students to inform them of the change
The decision to raise the target
GPA was "based on the academic qualifications of today’s students and the increasing propensity of our alumni to attend graduate schools,” according to Gilligan's letter.
Folkes said the suggestion to modify the grading policy was first brought to her attention in August by two Marshall department chairs.
A proposal then went through an undergraduate curriculum committee and a department chair meeting
All groups involved in the decision. including Gilligan. voted unanimously to change the policy
Folkes said this is not the first time the target GPA has been reevaluated. The GPA was first set 10 years ago and then raised five years later, she said
Though it is unusual for a grading policy to change mid year, Gilligan said the timing was simpiv a quick response to the committee's analysis intended to increase fairness in grading for current students.
"Once the committee completed its analysis, which said what wc had was the wrong standard, it would have been unconscionable to wait longer to implement it,"
Gilligan wrote in an e-mail.
Hannah Bayer, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said she is pleased with the change.
“I think it’s really beneficial for the students in Marshall ... things get vicious," she said. “The B-aver-age is a little more realistic.”
One student, however, said he is upset the change took place midsemester because students who took a given class last semester might have gotten a higher grade had they taken it this semester due to the change.
"The people who took (classes) last semester arc getting a crappy deal." said Ronak Gala, a freshman majoring in accounting.
“They already had to go through the harder standard I’m just nervous.”
In response to negative feedback about changing polices in the middle of the academic year, Folkes said, "students who took the class five wars ago have even lower GPAs. but we have to change ”
The influx of an increasingly competitive student population forced Marshall to reassess its system of evaluating students. Folkes said
‘The real key that drove the re-
the students who are here," Gilli-gan wrote in an e-mail.
“It’s improved radically in the last 10 years, but the policy didn’t reflect that.”
Folkes echoed this sentiment.
| see GPA cage 3 I
QUICK FACTS
❖	The target GPA for Marshall major courses rose from 2.85 to 3.0.
❖	The target GPA for elective courses is now 3.3.
❖	The undergraduate business program is ranked ninth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
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Meal plans to get makeover
TrojanHospitality accepts some recommendations from URSC and USG. Changes to plans, venue hours to take effect Feb. 1.
By BLESSING WAUNG
Daily Troian
TrojanHospitality committed to revamping meal 'plans to appease a decade's worth of student grievances, Thursday.
The changes* will expand venue options for students who purchase the Cardinal Meal Plan, which consists of 10 meals per week and $510 dining dollars. Changes to the Trojan Meal Plan, which consists of $2,862 dining dollars, are pending further discussion.
TrojanHospitality is also extending hours of operation for Tutor Hall, Main Street grocery store, Seattle’s Best Coffee and the Starbucks and Jamba Juice at Cafe 84.
Effective Feb. 1, all Cardinal Meal Plan participants will be able to use
their 10 meals per week to dine in EVK and Parkside Restaurant during all meal periods.
"It’s a big advantage ... I didn't want to pay $10 just to go to Park-side at night. Now I can go without a problem,” said Joshua Pasch, a freshman majoring in business administration.
Cardinal and Gold Meal Plan holders' unused meals will also "'roll over” from week to week, and both plans will include five guest meals per semester, with no time restriction. Additionally, residential advisers may upgrade to any meal plan available, provided they pay the difference.
“Some weeks I use three meals ... and then the next week, I need more meals,” said Jacquelyn Crinnion, a freshman majoring in theater who has the Cardinal Meal Plan. “This will be fabulous.”
The changes were taken from recommendations pitched by Undergraduate Student Government and the University Residential Student Community.
I see MEAL PLAN page 111
Stuffed | Chef Joseph Brown serves up an array of lunch options at Parkside Restaurant Sunday, TrojanHospitality announced changes aimed at "equalizing” the dining experience at campus venues.
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USC avoids a possible letdown by beating Arizona State, 58-49 at the Galen Center Saturday.