Professors will soon be able to view class grade patterns

In the next two weeks, the University will launch a program allowing professors to view class grading patterns — for themselves and their colleagues.

The initiative, referred to as the instructor grading pattern dashboard, is part of an "ongoing effort":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2011/04/unc_approves_contextual_grading_policy aimed at addressing the issues of grade inflation and inequitable grade distribution.

It will allow professors to view grade distributions from all classes, departments and other professors.

Andrew Perrin, a professor of sociology who spearheaded development of the program, said the project was started 10 years ago and aims to make grading patterns more transparent.

“The tool is one piece of the larger process,” he said.

In April 2011 the "Faculty Council approved":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2011/04/unc_approves_contextual_grading_policy the "addition of extra context":http://www.dailytarheel.com/multimedia/6609 — including classes’ median grades — to students’ transcripts. The move came in response to a "UNC study":https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http://www.unc.edu/~dgill/links/research/pdf/EPC-finalreportongrading-04-22-09.doc&ei=Tv31UKGKCo368QSc4oGoBQ&usg=AFQjCNFK935L6MglBmnVXID8bhgDA6RXIQ detailing the issue of grade inflation at the University.

Perrin said he hopes the dashboard will help professors contextualize their own grading habits.

“There’s been ongoing concern over both grade inflation and grade inequality,” he said.

The project was developed by members of Information Technology Services and the registrar’s office.

University registrar Chris Derickson said the tool was also part of a larger initiative called the Student Data Warehouse, a program that offers all "student data":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2009/01/student_data_analyzer_readybr_ in one place that is structured for easy retrieval.

Candy Davies, director of ITS systems and procedures, said primary instructors at UNC will be able to access the program by entering their Onyen and password into the data warehouse.

Derickson said the dashboard has been in development for six months.

“Programmers have spent hours of effort,” he said. “Most of the credit goes to ITS.”

He said the registrar’s office still needs to finish validating the data, and ITS needs to finalize the program’s security before it can be used by professors.

Derickson said the registrar’s office was working with departments and schools to find out if other administrators would benefit from access to the dashboard, but that at its launch, it would only be available to primary instructors.

Those restrictions are in place to protect student identities and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Derickson said.

“I work with University counsel very closely,” he said. “Protecting FERPA is a primary responsibility.”

If members of the public had access to the program, they could potentially have access to grades and student information for classes with five or fewer students, he said.

Perrin said he expects professors will take advantage of the tool.

“I think it’s a huge innovation and a way Carolina is leading the way on a huge concern,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.