In a significant move for academic recognition, the Student Senate at Wichita State University voted to recommend the addition of an honorary A+ grade to the university’s grading scale. This decision was made during a meeting held on October 25, 2023, where the resolution passed with a majority vote of 16 in favor and 7 opposed.
The proposed A+ grade would be reflected on student transcripts, but it will not impact Grade Point Averages (GPAs) or diminish the value of a standard A. The specific percentage thresholds for an A+ will be determined at the discretion of individual instructors. Nazanin Kasirosafar, the chair of the Student Government Association’s Academic Affairs, emphasized that the A+ designation would serve to highlight exceptional academic performance.
To gauge student interest, a survey was distributed via ShockerBlast, the university’s official online newsletter. The survey garnered 309 responses, a number that sparked debate among senators regarding its representation of the entire student population, which totals approximately 18,000.
During the discussion, Jamie Winslow, a Business Senator, expressed concerns about the survey’s sample size relative to the larger student body. “The survey only included about 300 students compared to the 18,000 that go here, and that just doesn’t convey what the actual student population might want,” Winslow stated.
In response, Riley Hanson, the Chairperson of Student Services, defended the survey’s validity. “The survey is meant to support the legislation. It is not the legislation in and of itself. Over 300 participants is amazing in any capacity for a survey, let alone a non-research survey that is only encompassing 18,000 students,” Hanson remarked. He noted that all students had equal opportunity to participate since the survey was sent to the entire student body via ShockerBlast.
Despite the skepticism regarding the sample size, the resolution was approved by the Senate. The Student Senate convenes weekly on Wednesdays at 19:30 in room 233 of the Rhatigan Student Center, and meetings are broadcast live on the SGA’s YouTube channel.
The proposed A+ addition reflects a growing trend among educational institutions to recognize outstanding student achievement more distinctly. As universities adapt their grading policies, the ongoing discussions at Wichita State highlight the balance between representation and the desire for academic excellence.
