Keep grades

 College without grades sounds alluring, but what impact would ending the grading system incur? Too many negative consequences I believe.That question was considered at a workshop during the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities late last month, reported by Inside Higher Ed.

Many professors and college administrators believed this would be a good move and proposed to enact an evaluation system to replace the current grading system.I on the other hand completely disagree.

The evaluation system, in one scenario, could replace grades with narrative evaluations, rubrics, and clear learning goals. I can't imagine ACC abolishing grades and using student evaluations in its place.In order to accommodate an evaluation system, administrators would need to lower class sizes and create more classes. ACC has over 35,000 students trying to get into limited classroom space, an evaluation system would only make the enrollment process more difficult.The more difficult idea to process is that an evaluation system is better than the current grading system.

 I will admit that there are flaws in the grading system, but completely eliminating grades is not a solution. I like the grading system, and I am motivated by receiving grades for my work.

 I attended one class last semester where my teacher did not believe in grades, and it was the most frustrating class I have ever taken.

 In this class all that was required was that I complete assignments. After two and a half months of doing just that, and not receiving any feedback about my work, I became discouraged and withdrew from the course.

 I withdrew because I would rather receive a W for a course than an F. I didn't know how well I was doing in class, because I didn't receive a grade for my work. The teacher also didn't explain how we would be graded at the end of the semester despite questions from myself and other classmates.

 I knew I wasn't alone in my frustration because my classmates and I communicated with each other on how to express our disappointment with our teacher's decision to not give us grades for our assignments.

I think if ACC and other colleges switched to an evaluation system, it would discourage students rather than motivate them, from my experience.

If the AACU really wants to improve how students learn, I suggest integrating evaluations along with grades. Together, they can serve as motivations for students to improve academically.