This week, the Mississippi State University Student Association Senate met to discuss three pieces of legislation, including the proposed plus/minus grading system, an appropriations act and a resolution thanking participants of this year’s Bulldog Bash.
First, the Senate passed Act 4, an appropriations act, which allocated funds to several groups on campus. Notably, the largest appropriations went to Lab Rats for marketing items, Cru for various operational affairs and Young Life for Young Life Donuts and Coffee during finals week.
Secondly, the Senate discussed Resolution 4, which shows student opposition for the plus/minus grading system proposed by the Faculty Senate. A recent SA poll on myState showed 93 percent of the 7,651 students polled disapproved the system. Senator Joy Cariño, the author of the resolution, urged other senators to speak with Faculty Senate members to continue expressing the student body’s disapproval of the proposition. Senator Drew Baker clarified the general language of the bill to ensure future proposals of the plus/minus system are still opposed by this resolution.
The Senate justified its opposition and that of the student body by using research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and the College Student Journal, which shows students feel the plus/minus system is more detrimental than helpful. They state many students find the whole letter scale as a better system. Additionally, this research found that overall cumulative mean GPA was not impacted by the plus/minus grading.
Finally, the Senate passed Resolution 5, which expresses student gratitude toward all the performers, vendors, sponsors, volunteers and the City of Starkville for making Bulldog Bash 2018 possible.
Following the adjournment of the business meeting, the senators who had yet to be sworn in were done so by SA President Mayah Emerson.