Earlier this year, UTSA adopted a new plus/minus grading system. Some departments have agreed to either accept or reject the change department-wide, while other departments have decided to let each individual professor choose to implement the systems in their classes. Student responses to the new system are mixed.

Tanisha Hurd, a junior English major had several comments about the new grading system; “All four of my classes, which are all in the English department, are using the system. I really don’t get the point of changing the grading system, besides trying to make it harder on us [students].” Hurd continued.

“This new grading system has more of an advantage for those who make okay grades. If you notice, as the grades become higher, it becomes unfair because grades 94-96 and 97-100 end up with the same GPA. Really, what’s the difference between A and A plus? They are both 4.0.”

Senior philosophy major Aaron Newcomb also opposes the new system “While I see the obvious advantages to the school, I haven’t heard an argument from the administration arguing for its necessity. So the students seem to be the losers here.”

Amber Trujillo, a senior accounting major sees advantages, “I haven’t had any classes use it yet. I feel it should be used because there are students who make the effort to get an 89, and [they] shouldn’t be given the same rating as a person who barely made an 80.”

Trujillo added, “I believe the plus/minus system gives a more accurate picture of the grade the student is earning.

“If they’d allow numerical, I would go with that for accuracy.”

Shayne Walker, a sophomore English major, is bothered by the inconsistency resulting from a new grading system.

“They changed it on me after I already had two semesters of the old system.”