Policies & Practices
in Grading
Jon Comer, Professor, Geography
GTA Conference on Teaching
August 14, 2013
Session Overview
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Important OSU policies relating to grading
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Tips for effective grading practices
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Questions and discussion
Grading Policies
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Importance of the Syllabus:
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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:
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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.
Grading Policies
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Grounds for grade appeals:
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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.
Grading Policies
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NOT grounds for grade appeals:
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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.
Grading Policies
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Special grading situations:
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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.
Grading Policies
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Detecting cheating (Academic Integrity):
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Seek faculty assistance and follow policy
Carry on with further work in course without
prejudice
Types of sanctions:
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Level 1 – 0 or F on assignment (lesser infractions)
Level 2 – F! for course (major infractions)
Level 3 – Dismissal from graduate programs.
Grading Policies
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Discussing grades with students:
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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
Grading Policies
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Retention of grade records/books:
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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.
Grading Policies
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Resources:
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Academic Affairs Faculty & Staff Resources:
http://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/faculty-a-staff
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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)
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Registrar’s Office:
http://registrar.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=
article&id=412&Itemid=399
Grading Policies
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Resources:
Grading Practices
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Strive for timely return of graded work:
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More impactful for students
Better info for students vis-à-vis their grades
Why procrastinate?
Grading Practices
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“Fair” grading and other tips:
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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.
Grading Practices
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Using D2L to facilitate grading:
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Use D2L to distribute, collect assignments
Maintain updated gradebook on D2L
Develop grading rubrics within D2L.
Grading Practices
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Extra credit, bonus points, etc.:
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Try to avoid it:
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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).
Questions?