UGA professor drops lenient grading policy after backlash

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The University of Georgia has responded following a report about one of their professor’s lenient grading policies.

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According to the Drudge Report, the class syllabus for the business course includes a “stress reduction policy” aimed at allowing students to choose their own grades. It’s in hopes of soothing those who feel “unduly stressed” by their earned ones.

In addition, students can also change their own grades, opt out of group work and hear only positive reinforcement on in-class presentations, according to reports.

Professor Richard Watson, a respected Terry School of Business researcher, told one publication that the changes aren’t official yet.

The University of Georgia issued a statement on Twitter stating that the professor’s syllabus had since been changed:

“The professor has removed this language from the syllabus. In addition, UGA applies very high standards in its curricular delivery, including a university-wide policy that mandates all faculty employ a grading system based on transparent and pre-defined coursework.”

The issue has provoked a reaction from Cary Outlaw, who was helping his daughter move in at UGA.

"It kind of makes me think of what you hear of millennials, they're given way too much they don't have to earn," said Outlaw.

"I think of give myself the grade I deserved and try to be reasonable with what I decided," said Andrew Johnson, a freshman at UGA.

None of the incoming freshman FOX 5 News spoke to wanted the easy A. Some said it could unfairly skew grades, others opted to recognize the work it took get into UGA in the first place.

"Getting into college is an incredibly stressful process. I mean some stress is healthy, it means you care about things," said Sydney Dangremond.

"If you really take in knowledge and you worked for that knowledge and you learned it in its entirety then you’re going to hold on to that knowledge because it means more." said Guzman.

 

FOX 5 News reached out to Professor Watson by phone and email but did not get a response.