Purdue – West Lafayette

University Senate Document 05-03                                      Elimination of Redlining

TO:      The University Senate

FROM: University Senate Educational Policy Committee

DISPOSITION: University Senate for Discussion

 

Introduction

 

Redlining is the term used to describe what happens when grades in certain courses are deleted from students’ GPA during the Change of Degree Objective (CODO) process by which students move from one School or College to another. The term “redlining” comes from the practice of crossing out the deleted courses with red ink on the form that was sent to the Registrar’s Office. The official term for this process is “index adjustment.”

 

Slightly more than 3000 students go through the CODO process each year and an average of two courses are redlined per student during this process. About 70% of the students who undergo CODO do so while classified as a 1, 2, 3 or 4; in other words, in their freshman or sophomore years.

 

Courses that are redlined fall into two categories: (1) courses that were taken to meet the requirements of the student’s original plan of study but are not required for the program or major into which the student is transferring, and (2) courses that cannot be counted toward graduate requirements in the new program or major.

 

Roughly 85% of the grades that are deleted during the redlining process in the last two years were grades of D or F. But 11% of the index adjustments were done for grades of C and 12.7% were done for grades of A or B.

 

There is a general consensus among academic advisors and representatives of the various Dean’s Offices that the present redlining system is characterized by a significant amount of abuse. A study of Big Ten and other peer institutions that is attached to this document suggests that the redlining system at Purdue is unusual, if not unique. A study of redlining practices by the Academic Progress and Records Committee, which is also attached to this document, suggests that are significant differences in policies and practices among the Schools and Colleges and even among programs in a given School or College.

 

The Educational Policy Committee considered three options: (1) retaining the present system, (2) creating an alternative to the present system with limits on the courses that could be redlined to eliminate at least some of ways in which the present system is abused, and (3) eliminating redlining. By a majority vote, the EPC brings the following proposed changes in the University Rules and Regulations to the Senate for action.

 

Present

 

E.     Transfer of Credits Between Curricula

When a student transfers from one curriculum to another leading to a different associate or baccalaureate degree, the courses that have been completed and are acceptable in satisfying the degree requirements of the new curriculum shall be determined as follows:

  1. An authorized representative of the dean of the school into which the student wishes to transfer shall cause to be entered upon forms provided by the registrar a list of those courses previously taken which may be used in satisfying the degree requirements of the curriculum into which the student is transferring. These courses shall include:

a)      All courses completed, regardless of grade received, which are required courses in the curriculum to which he/she is transferring or which are substantially equivalent to and are acceptable as substitutes for such required courses.

b)      Courses completed but not required for his/her new curriculum which are admissible for credit as elective courses in the new curriculum. The decision to transfer such credit for elective courses shall be made by the student at the time of transfer and upon the consent of an authorized representative of the dean of the school to which the student is applying for transfer.

  1. A graduation index as of the date of transfer shall be computed using only grades in courses transferred as specified above.
  2. When a student transfers between markedly different curricula within a school offering a single degree, the dean of the school shall be empowered to grant an exception which extends the benefits of this section.

 

J.       Scholastic Indexes*

The scholastic standing of all students enrolled in programs leading to a degree shall be determined by two scholastic indexes: the semester index and the graduation index.

  1. The semester index is an average determined by weighting each grade received during a given academic session by the number of semester hours of credit in the course.
  2. The graduation index for an undergraduate student is a weighted average of all grades received by the student while in the curriculum in which he/she is enrolled plus all other grades received in courses taken in other curricula offered by the University and properly accepted under procedures established in Section II-E for satisfying the requirements of the school in which the student is enrolled. With the consent of his/her academic adviser, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeated registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation index. In the case of a course in which a conditional grade has been improved by examination or for which a course of substantially equivalent content and level, as designated and properly authorized by the department offering the original course, has been substituted, the most recent grade received shall be used. The grade in a remedial level course, as identified by the student's school, may be deleted from the graduation index upon the recommendation of the student's school.
  3. The graduation index for a student enrolled in the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine is a weighted average of all grades received by the student while in the professional curriculum.
  4. The graduation index for a student enrolled in the professional curriculum in pharmacy is a weighted average of all grades received by the student while in the professional curriculum plus all grades included in the student's undergraduate graduation index, as defined in section J.2 above, prior to entering the professional curriculum. With the consent of his/her academic adviser, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeated registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation index.
  5. The graduation index for a graduate student is a weighted average of all grades received by the student in graduate-level courses (those numbered 500 or higher) since entering a graduate program, plus all grades received in undergraduate-level courses, taken while in the graduate program as part of the graduate plan of study. With the consent of his/her major professor, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeat registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation index. Grades received in foreign language courses to establish reading knowledge as specified by the Graduate Council are not used in computing graduation indexes, f
  6. For the purpose of averaging, each grade shall be weighted in the following manner:* ft

GRADE WEIGHT

A+, A 4.0 x semester hours = index points

A- 3.7 x semester hours = index points

B+ 3.3 x semester hours = index points

B 3.0 x semester hours = index points

B- 2.7 x semester hours = index points

O 2.3 x semester hours = index points

C 2.0 x semester hours = index points

C- 1 .7 x semester hours = index points

D+ 1 .3 x semester hours = index points

D 1 .0 x semester hours = index points

D- 0.7 x semester hours = index points

E, F, EF, IF 0.0 x semester hours = index points

P, N, I, PI, SI, W, WF, WN, WU, IN, IU Not included

  1. The semester index is the sum of all index points for one semester for the grades A+/A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, E, EF, IF and F, divided by the sum of all corresponding semester hours. This index is represented by the following formula: ft

S= 4NA+-MNA+3.7NA-+33NB++3NB

NA++NA+NA-+NB++NB +..

In the formula, NA+, NA, NA-, NB-K ^c. are, respectively, the number of credit

hours of A+, A, A-, B+, etc.

  1. The graduate index is computed similarly using the grades specified in Section VII-J2 and VH-J3.**
  2. The registrar shall compile and report semester and graduation indexes after the close of each academic session.

 

 

 

Proposed

 

E.     Transfer of Credits Between Curricula

When a student transfers from one curriculum to another leading to a different associate or baccalaureate degree, the courses that have been completed and are acceptable in satisfying the degree requirements of the new curriculum shall be determined as follows:

By an authorized representative of the dean of the school into which the student wishes to transfer.  shall cause to be entered upon forms provided by the registrar. a list of those courses previously taken which may be used in satisfying the degree requirements of the curriculum into which the student is transferring. These courses shall include:

a)      All courses completed, regardless of grade received, which are required courses in the curriculum to which he/she is transferring or which are substantially equivalent to and are acceptable as substitutes for such required courses.

b)      Courses completed but not required for his/her new curriculum which are admissible for credit as elective courses in the new curriculum. The decision to transfer such credit for elective courses shall be made by the student at the time of transfer and upon the consent of an authorized representative of the dean of the school to which the student is applying for transfer.

  1. A graduation index as of the date of transfer shall be computed using only grades in courses transferred as specified above.
  2. When a student transfers between markedly different curricula within a school offering a single degree, the dean of the school shall be empowered to grant an exception which extends the benefits of this section.

 

J.       Scholastic Indexes*

The scholastic standing of all students enrolled in programs leading to a degree shall be determined by two scholastic indexes: the semester index and the graduation cumulative index.

1.        The semester index is an average determined by weighting each grade received during a given academic session by the number of semester hours of credit in the course.

2.        The graduation cumulative index for an undergraduate student is a weighted average of all grades received as an undergraduate student by the student while in the curriculum in which he/she is enrolled plus all other grades received in courses taken in other curricula offered by the University and properly accepted under procedures established in Section II-E for satisfying the requirements of the school in which the student is enrolled. With the consent of his/her academic adviser, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeated registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation cumulative index. In the case of a course in which a conditional grade has been improved by examination or for which a course of substantially equivalent content and level, as designated and properly authorized by the department offering the original course, has been substituted, the most recent grade received shall be used. The grade in a remedial level course, as identified by the student's school, may be deleted from the graduation index upon the recommendation of the student's school.

3.        The graduation cumulative index for a student enrolled in the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine is a weighted average of all grades received by the student while in the professional curriculum.

4.        The graduation cumulative index for a student enrolled in the professional curriculum in pharmacy is a weighted average of all grades received by the student while in the professional curriculum plus all grades included in the student's undergraduate graduation cumulative index. as defined in section J.2 above, prior to entering the professional curriculum. With the consent of his/her academic adviser, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeated registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation cumulative index.

5.        The graduation  cumulative index for a graduate student is a weighted average of all grades received by the student in graduate-level courses (those numbered 500 or higher) since entering a graduate program, plus all grades received in undergraduate-level courses, taken while in the graduate program as part of the graduate plan of study. With the consent of his/her major professor, a student may repeat a course not intended for repeat registrations. In the case of such a repeated course, only the most recent grade received shall be included in the graduation cumulative index. Grades received in foreign language courses to establish reading knowledge as specified by the Graduate Council are not used in computing graduation   cumulative indexes, f

6.        For the purpose of averaging, each grade shall be weighted in the following manner:* ft

GRADE WEIGHT

A+, A 4.0 x semester hours = index points

A- 3.7 x semester hours = index points

B+ 3.3 x semester hours = index points

B 3.0 x semester hours = index points

B- 2.7 x semester hours = index points

O 2.3 x semester hours = index points

C 2.0 x semester hours = index points

C- 1 .7 x semester hours = index points

D+ 1 .3 x semester hours = index points

D 1 .0 x semester hours = index points

D- 0.7 x semester hours = index points

E, F, EF, IF 0.0 x semester hours = index points

P, N, I, PI, SI, W, WF, WN, WU, IN, IU Not included

  1. The semester index is the sum of all index points for one semester for the grades A+/A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, E, EF, IF and F, divided by the sum of all corresponding semester hours. This index is represented by the following formula: ft

S= 4NA+-MNA+3.7NA-+33NB++3NB

NA++NA+NA-+NB++NB +..

In the formula, NA+, NA, NA-, NB-K ^c. are, respectively, the number of credit

hours of A+, A, A-, B+, etc.

  1. The graduate cumulative index is computed similarly using the grades specified in Section VII-J2 and VH-J3.**
  2. The registrar shall compile and report semester and graduation cumulative indexes after the close of each academic session.

 

 

 

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

Date:               September 7, 2005

 

To:                  ESAAC Subcommittee to explore ‘red lining’ best practice

 

From:              Robert Kubat, University Registrar

Lori Shipley, OnePurdue Functional Lead, ESA

 

Subject:           Big Ten and Peer Institution Benchmarking

 

The following paragraphs describe available information from Big Ten and Purdue University’s peer institutions regarding current practices on excluding courses from a student’s GPA.    The Big Ten information was obtained via an email survey and specifically asked if courses were excluded for the student’s GPA when the student changed majors.   In addition, questions were asked about use of multiple GPA’s.  The remaining peer institutions were compiled from the institution’s web sites.

 

Texas A&M

Texas A&M has a ‘First Year Grade Exclusion Policy’.   The ‘First Year Grade Exclusion Policy’ allows an undergraduate student who entered as ‘first time in college’ to elect to have grades of D, F, or U excluded from GPA calculations.   A maximum of three A&M courses may be excluded and the enrollment for the courses must be within 12 months of the first date of enrollment.   All courses remain on the official transcript. Only currently enrolled students may invoke first-year grade exclusion.  More details regarding the policy can be found at the following web site: http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/records/GEP_Jan2005.html

 

UT Austin

No academic policies were found which allowed exclusion of course work from the cumulative GPA other than changes made in 1999 which impacted credit by examination.  Prior to 1999 the GPA was calculated on the basis of all work undertaken at UT Austin, including credit by examination, correspondence, and extension. Grades in courses transferred from other institutions are excluded from the calculation.  The change in 1999 excluded letter grades for credit by examination from the GPA.  More details regarding the change in 1999 can be found at the following web site:

http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/1999-2000/legislation/credit_by_exam.html

 

Worth noting is UT Austin’s policy on repeated courses, All grades earned in University courses, whether repeated or not, count in a student's GPA.


 

University of Arizona

All grades for repeated courses are calculated in the major GPA, with the exception of grades that are replaced by the Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO) and those removed from the grade point average through Academic Renewal.

 

Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO)

Graduate students may apply to retake courses for which they received a grade of C or below. 

Undergraduates who have not received a bachelor’s degree may repeat under the Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO), only once, certain courses in which they received grades of C, D, or E.  A total of 3 courses, not to exceed a maximum of 10 semester hours, may be repeated under GRO.   The University of Arizona’s Grade Replacement Opportunity policy can be found at the following web site: http://catalog.arizona.edu/2004-05/policies/gro2.htm

 

Academic Renewal

Under certain circumstances, an undergraduate student may apply for academic renewal. Academic renewal allows students to have grades for a particular period of time excluded from their GPA.  If the qualifications are met, the student may have a maximum of four consecutive semesters of course work disregarded in all calculations regarding academic standing, grade-point-average, and eligibility for graduation. To qualify for academic renewal a minimum of five years must have elapsed since the most recent course work to be disregarded was completed.  If the student satisfies the conditions for Academic Renewal, the student’s permanent academic record will indicate that no work taken during the disregarded semester(s) or term(s) applies toward graduation.   All work remains on the record, ensuring a true and accurate academic history.  The University of Arizona’s Academic Renewal policy can be found at the following web site:  http://catalog.arizona.edu/2004-05/policies/acadrenw.htm

 

University of California - Berkley

No academic policies were found which allowed exclusion of course work from the cumulative GPA other than the normal incompletes, pass/no pass types of scenarios.

 

University of California - Davis

No academic policies were found which allowed exclusion of course work from the cumulative GPA other than the normal incompletes, pass/no pass types of scenarios. 

 

Georgia Tech

Grade Substitution became effective with the entering Fall 2005 first-time freshman class.  First-time freshman students who receive a grade of D or F in a course within their first two terms in residence are eligible to repeat the course and have the original grade excluded from the computation of academic average. Grade substitution may be used only once per course, with a maximum of two courses total.  The course must be repeated at Georgia Tech within the student’s first four terms in residence.  The original course and grade will continue to appear on the student’s transcript, with a notation that the course was repeated and that the original grade is not included in computation of the academic average.

 

 

Cornell

No academic policies were found which allowed exclusion of course work from the cumulative GPA other than the normal incompletes, pass/no pass types of scenarios.   Cornell offers the S-U System to encourage students to explore courses without risk to their academic record.  The S-U System assigns a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade for course work.

 

Illinois

No exclusion of course work occurs when a student changes majors.   The transcript system provides an overall GPA as well as a term GPA and transfer GPA   Departments use DARwin for additional GPA’s.

 

Penn State

No exclusion of course work occurs when a student changes majors.   Only one cumulative GPA exist for a student which includes all course work.

 

Michigan State University

No exclusion of course work occurs when a student changes majors.   The transcript does not include a major or program GPA.   In accordance with the requirements for certain majors, major or program GPA’s are calculated by the college or degree-offering unit.

 

Northwestern University

The academic transcript is a complete academic record that shows all work and a cumulative GPA.  In the degree audit, there can be a major GPA that includes or excludes courses as the program area wishes - they define it and it can differ by major. 

 

The University of Iowa

No exclusion of course work occurs when a student changes majors.   Up to five courses can be repeated and the original grades are not included in the GPA.   DARwin can provide a major GPA.

 

Indiana University

A modification was made to PeopleSoft to accommodate a program GPA as well as a cumulative GPA.