Stress of achieving tenure may cause profs to dole out good marksFor some assistant professors, as they attempt to gain tenure,or lifelong employment by the university, grade inflation can provide an opportunity to bolster their popularity with students. This in turn may lead to better student evaluations, which play a part in the tenure process. Assistant chemistry professor Helen Blackwell said grade inflation occurs even though many professors refuse to admit it. The tenure process is a stressful situation, so you can understand that people may take steps to ensure the teaching side of things looks good,\ she said. Associate English professor Caroline Levine said she agreed. ""You do have some incentive to show that students are delighted with classes,"" she said.
While some educators declared grade inflation to be dishonest, professors acknowledged the difficulty of resisting pressure from colleagues.Journalism professor Sharon Dunwoody said she agreed, even though she sees herself as a rigid grader. Like other professors, Dunwoody said her tenure decision had no impact on her teaching style.
""I led my academic life precisely as I wanted to,"" she said.""Student evaluations can be very helpful guides for faculty to improve their teaching,"" history professor Brenda Plummer said. Yet, Plummer said if departments do not responsibly use evaluations, the twice-yearly ratings may provoke inflated grades that hurt students by not giving them honest performance assessments.According to one assistant physics professor, grade inflation is a problem that cannot be isolated to one particular department. ""I think it's a problem in the University as a whole,"" he said, referencing a study he knows of in which grades given out over the past 10 years have risen each year.To be considered for tenure, assistant professors prepare materials gathered in a five to six year probationary period, during which they must establish reputations in their fields. These materials include resumès, copies of all publications, research grants and evaluations written by experts at other universities. Professors must also demonstrate excellence in research, teaching and public service.Most professors said teaching is the area where they obtain the most satisfaction, and do not see it as simply an opportunity to boost their reputations.""You're trying to do the very best you can every minute,"" Dunwoody said.Some professors said grade inflation may be somewhat helpful for those seeking tenure and students hoping for higher GPAs. However, according to Blackwell, ""This only hurts the professor's reputation and students' education in the end. \
