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Editorial: Passing unworthy students discredits diplomas
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Viewpoints
The Pacer is thrilled that more students than ever before are graduating college. However, we are very much not thrilled at the prospect of sharing our hard earned degrees with some of the students we happen to know and whose work we have seen.
Frankly, it is too easy to earn a UTM degree in some majors. The Pacer is proud of our university, but we are not alone in noticing the utter lack of basic skills some students have.
Take a second and think: we can all picture someone from a group project or rough draft editing session that really doesn't belong in college. Whether through social promotion, luck or something else entirely, some students make their way not just to their freshman year, but all the way to their senior year without basic mastery of the English language (or other primary skills in math etc. ... The Pacer is most familiar with seeing shortcomings in writing).
These students should have been failed long ago. They should have received nothing more than an F for any class that required writing. If by freshman year students cannot master subject verb agreement, then perhaps college is not the place for them. The Pacer encourages these students to seek further education at a technical school of their interest or seek a job that does not require post-secondary education.
But by passing these students professors are helping no one. They will not be prepared for their career and their graduation will only lessen the value of the degree they share with those students who took their education seriously and mastered the material.
At an institution that especially values education, it is easy to understand the urge to give students second chances. Everyone likes to get them and they are sometimes merited and appropriate. Consider, however, how many second chances these students will have had by their senior year.
Now consider how many they will have at their first job, one. In the real world, there are no grades … there are two options: acceptable work or termination. Finally, consider the chances a student who actually worked hard to get the same UTM degree will have at getting that job after the first was fired for incompetence, thus weakening the value of a UTM degree to employers.
The buck must stop somewhere and we think it should be with UTM professors.
Frankly, it is too easy to earn a UTM degree in some majors. The Pacer is proud of our university, but we are not alone in noticing the utter lack of basic skills some students have.
Take a second and think: we can all picture someone from a group project or rough draft editing session that really doesn't belong in college. Whether through social promotion, luck or something else entirely, some students make their way not just to their freshman year, but all the way to their senior year without basic mastery of the English language (or other primary skills in math etc. ... The Pacer is most familiar with seeing shortcomings in writing).
These students should have been failed long ago. They should have received nothing more than an F for any class that required writing. If by freshman year students cannot master subject verb agreement, then perhaps college is not the place for them. The Pacer encourages these students to seek further education at a technical school of their interest or seek a job that does not require post-secondary education.
But by passing these students professors are helping no one. They will not be prepared for their career and their graduation will only lessen the value of the degree they share with those students who took their education seriously and mastered the material.
At an institution that especially values education, it is easy to understand the urge to give students second chances. Everyone likes to get them and they are sometimes merited and appropriate. Consider, however, how many second chances these students will have had by their senior year.
Now consider how many they will have at their first job, one. In the real world, there are no grades … there are two options: acceptable work or termination. Finally, consider the chances a student who actually worked hard to get the same UTM degree will have at getting that job after the first was fired for incompetence, thus weakening the value of a UTM degree to employers.
The buck must stop somewhere and we think it should be with UTM professors.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 24
Kent Ozment
posted 10/10/08 @ 1:02 PM CST
To the unnamed authors of the October 7th editorial: Passing unworthy students discredits diplomas.
This article sparked an interest within me, and I am eager to receive a bit of clarification regarding its presented accusations. (Continued…)
Kent Ozment
posted 10/10/08 @ 1:41 PM CST
To the unnamed authors of the October 7th editorial: Passing unworthy students discredits diplomas.
This article sparked an interest within me, and I am eager to receive a bit of clarification regarding its presented accusations. (Continued…)
Amanda
posted 10/14/08 @ 12:01 PM CST
Please submit letter to the editor.
Red Neckerson
posted 10/15/08 @ 5:47 PM CST
Liberals are always doing crazy crap like that. First they give loans to people they know can't pay them back, causing a US financial collapse...now they pass students that don't fulfill requirements. (Continued…)
Aaron
posted 10/18/08 @ 5:25 PM CST
Once again, use some evidence to back up your accusations, you cannot simply accuse all Liberals and expect people to believe you when you simply have no proof. (Continued…)
Allison
posted 10/20/08 @ 2:31 PM CST
I just think it's ironic that these individuals are so out spoken but hide behind the Pacer name. I'm a Public Relations major and using what I've learned from my wonderful professors I have come to the conclusion that most likely not every staff member of the Pacer holds this view. (Continued…)
B.J. Erwin
posted 10/21/08 @ 12:18 PM CST
I agree with most of the responders on this subject. Who is the Pacer staff that they know professors are just passing students on whims, to increase their popularity? Do they have some ability to read the minds of professors and instructors? Do they bug the offices of the faculity and staff, and listen in on the grading process? I have worked hard for my grades at UTM, and would be insulted if someone tried to suggest that I had somehow been successful because the professor is too lazy to grade my work properly. (Continued…)
Sara Mac
posted 10/21/08 @ 7:08 PM CST
I think the main point of the editorial, which is meant to reflect only the opinion/viewpoint of the editorial board and not the entire opinion of The Pacer, is that students who are incapable of fulfilling the smallest criterion for their respective major, are being disillusioned on their abilities while in college. (Continued…)
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