2008 Woodie Awards
ISU graduation honors system criticized as unjust
Steven Glenn
Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: News
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Last year, 'Chopper' Lloyd Joseph Whittacre approached then ASISU President Matt Hobson with a issue that he felt ought to be dealt with regarding the graduation honors system at ISU. After being rejected by the senators last year in the College of Arts and Sciences, Whittacre presented his research on the graduation honors system, and his proposal to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean John Kijinski, who told him to go before the ASISU Senate, which he did.
Whittacre took a class last semester, Community Action, from Prof. Sydney Crew, who based the class on taking on the system by working through the system to change injustices. The class was challenged to look at ISU and find some injustices.
After wondering if he was going to graduate with honors, Whittacre read the section in the ISU undergraduate catalog which states, "Students who secure a minimum grade point average of 3.33 and also are in the top 10 percent of their respective college's graduating class are designated as graduating with honors. Those in the top 5 percent graduate with high honors. Honors designations must be approved by the student's major department and dean."
"As a sociology major, I find it unjust that people don't know what…honors they are going to graduate with until the day of graduation," Whittacre said. "To me, that doesn't motivate anyone. What about those people who struggle, but they work really…hard and achieve a B+ average? Are they any less of person than a person who finds it easier to do chemistry and get a 4.0?"
Whittacre went on to illustrate that a chemistry major and an English major are both competing for the top 10 percent, regardless of class load or difficulty.
In the paper presented to the ASISU Senate, Whittacre stated, "This system would allow those who have preformed with great effort and achievement to be recognized by their peers and family. It would also give an incentive to students as a goal to work for and achieve. It is a set goal; that is not recalculated and adjusted every year. It is stable and fixed so the student can adjust their performance to it rather than the other way around."
Whittacre took a class last semester, Community Action, from Prof. Sydney Crew, who based the class on taking on the system by working through the system to change injustices. The class was challenged to look at ISU and find some injustices.
After wondering if he was going to graduate with honors, Whittacre read the section in the ISU undergraduate catalog which states, "Students who secure a minimum grade point average of 3.33 and also are in the top 10 percent of their respective college's graduating class are designated as graduating with honors. Those in the top 5 percent graduate with high honors. Honors designations must be approved by the student's major department and dean."
"As a sociology major, I find it unjust that people don't know what…honors they are going to graduate with until the day of graduation," Whittacre said. "To me, that doesn't motivate anyone. What about those people who struggle, but they work really…hard and achieve a B+ average? Are they any less of person than a person who finds it easier to do chemistry and get a 4.0?"
Whittacre went on to illustrate that a chemistry major and an English major are both competing for the top 10 percent, regardless of class load or difficulty.
In the paper presented to the ASISU Senate, Whittacre stated, "This system would allow those who have preformed with great effort and achievement to be recognized by their peers and family. It would also give an incentive to students as a goal to work for and achieve. It is a set goal; that is not recalculated and adjusted every year. It is stable and fixed so the student can adjust their performance to it rather than the other way around."
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