<p>From Daily Stanford</p>
<p>Some beg, some plead, some even flirt with their professors all in the name of getting an A. But for Stanford students, achieving those top grades might not be so hard after all, according to a recent grade inflation study at Duke University.
Stuart Rojstaczer, a professor of environmental science at Duke, claims that universities throughout the nation including Stanford employ grade inflation to award greater numbers of students with higher grades. </p>
<p>The C grade has gone the way of the nickel candy bar, Rojstaczer said. </p>
<p>He stated that students are more likely than ever to achieve top marks.</p>
<p>With data from 34 colleges, Rojstaczer compiled a database of grade-point averages dating back to the 1960s and published the information on his Web site, <a href=“http://www.GradeInflation.com%5B/url%5D”>www.GradeInflation.com</a>. The findings show that grade inflation has occurred at all institutions, whether large or small, public or private.</p>
<p>According to Rojstaczers database, Stanford students graduating in 1968 averaged a GPA of 3.04. By 1992, that figure increased to 3.44. </p>
<p>The average GPAs are so high, its difficult to distinguish between those who are exceptional and those who are merely good, Rojstaczer said. As a result, the higher grades have been devalued.</p>
<p>A similar phenomenon is hitting high schools, as well. A recent UCLA survey of college freshman supported Rojstaczers findings and claimed that, while just over 15 percent of first-year college students carried A averages in high school, the portion was 44 percent by 2001.</p>
<p>However, homework hours have hit an all-time low, the report stated. Nearly 85 percent of high school seniors spend 10 hours per week or less on homework. </p>
<p>Rojstaczer said that, aside from devaluation, grade inflation disadvantages those who have graduated from institutions employing fairer methods of student evaluation.</p>
<p>Its speculation of course, Rojstaczer said. But a Stanford student with a GPA of 3.6 percent, for example, would probably have a better chance of getting employment than a student with a similar GPA from an institution where assessment is stricter.</p>