3 ms·

As someone intimately involved in the art of assigning grades in a university setting (I'm a TA), let me let you in on a little secret... Around 10 years ago,

As someone intimately involved in the art of assigning grades in a university setting (I'm a TA), let me let you in on a little secret... Around 10 years ago, universities across the country awoke to a surprising new fact: they we're no longer bound by the expectation of being a benefactor of humanity. No! They were free to become thriving enterprises. And what was the product they should sell? Grades

SapphireSun 18y ago
Can you elaborate on that? Do people brazenly purchase grades? At my university, I have to fight damn hard for an A.
- jballanc 18y ago
  Economics involves more than just the exchange of money... For example: Student X, a member of the sports team (any sport will do), has been missing classes, not paying attention to the material, and doing poorly on the assignments. Then, X sleeps through the big exam. X comes to me, saying that (s)he should still be allowed to take the exam. I send X to the dean, and not more than 15 min later receive a phone call from the dean: "Couldn't we just let X take the test?" Me: "X is a poor student, has shown no remorse for missing the exam, and by all right should fail..." Dean: "Yes, but couldn't we let X take the exam?" True story...X did get to take the exam, and got a C in the course. The school has sold X a grade in exchange for X playing on the team, which brings revenue in to the school. Even when X isn't an athlete, the school is exchanging tuition revenue for grades. ...it's a shame, but people were really sweating last time the accreditation board did their once-in-a-blue-moon review. All the higher-ups wanted to skate a thin line between remaining accredited and still allowing as many students to get by with Bs and Cs as possible.
rsheridan6 18y ago
Universities are selling certificates that the buyer expects will get them a well paying job. Employers believe that the certificate indicates something about its owners abilities. Universities can just start selling grades, but that's sort of like selling baking soda and calling it crack. People will figure it out eventually, and then the commodity will become worthless. That's actually a lot like what's happened with the credit rating agencies that were giving AAA ratings to trash.

SapphireSun 18y ago

Can you elaborate on that? Do people brazenly purchase grades? At my university, I have to fight damn hard for an A.

jballanc 18y ago
Economics involves more than just the exchange of money... For example: Student X, a member of the sports team (any sport will do), has been missing classes, not paying attention to the material, and doing poorly on the assignments. Then, X sleeps through the big exam. X comes to me, saying that (s)he should still be allowed to take the exam. I send X to the dean, and not more than 15 min later receive a phone call from the dean: "Couldn't we just let X take the test?" Me: "X is a poor student, has shown no remorse for missing the exam, and by all right should fail..." Dean: "Yes, but couldn't we let X take the exam?" True story...X did get to take the exam, and got a C in the course. The school has sold X a grade in exchange for X playing on the team, which brings revenue in to the school. Even when X isn't an athlete, the school is exchanging tuition revenue for grades. ...it's a shame, but people were really sweating last time the accreditation board did their once-in-a-blue-moon review. All the higher-ups wanted to skate a thin line between remaining accredited and still allowing as many students to get by with Bs and Cs as possible.

rsheridan6 18y ago

Universities are selling certificates that the buyer expects will get them a well paying job. Employers believe that the certificate indicates something about its owners abilities. Universities can just start selling grades, but that's sort of like selling baking soda and calling it crack. People will figure it out eventually, and then the commodity will become worthless. That's actually a lot like what's happened with the credit rating agencies that were giving AAA ratings to trash.