LETTER: Increasing graduation honors to conform to Ivy schools will dilute Rice education

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by Caryn Dietrich and Caroline Schaeffer

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Why should Rice continually try to force itself into the Ivy League?

From the famous T-shirt sporting "Rice -- The Harvard of the South" to the current view adopted by the Student Association, many would like to see this university drag itself up to the northeast and sprout ivy.

The SA supports a change that would increase the percentage of those receiving honors from 20 percent to 30 percent. This proposal, if approved by the faculty, would bring the percentage of honors conferred to the level of Yale University.

The research results present a strong case for the proposed change.

However, this research is incomplete.

Is there any research on exactly how students are disadvantaged when applying to graduate schools and applying for jobs?

Is there any research on what type of student might benefit from the proposed change?

Perhaps certain types of students might indeed benefit, like those who take classes that are more objectively graded.

An increase in the percentage of graduation honors conferred is contradictory to Rice's tradition of not inflating grades.

This change only perpetuates the idea of graduating students who look good on paper and who pad their resumes.

Rice should not focus its efforts on competition with the Ivies; it should concentrate on providing the excellent education it is known for. As students, we should take pride in the academic rigors of our university and not devaluate them.

As for the SA, members of the senate should seek input from their fellow students regarding this and other issues.

This proposal is not one that should be discussed or voted upon by the SA senators alone -- perhaps holding a referendum regarding this proposed change would be beneficial to the senators and students alike!

Before making up your mind on this issue, ask yourself why you came to Rice. Was it for an education or a pat on the back?

Caryn B. Dietrich

SRC '96

Caroline A. Schaeffer

SRC '96

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the November 3, 1995 issue.

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