Grade inflation doesn not affect employer's view

by Laura M. Schneider
THE POST

Despite recent reports that show Ohio University has experienced grade inflation, OU officials say grade inflation has not likely damaged the credibility of a student's grade point average. And employers still see GPA as a good gauge of student quality.

"I think it somewhat depends on the particular employer, but a general statement in my mind is that grades are important and that students need to take that very seriously," said Thomas F. Korvas, OU director of career services.

Korvas said grades are a good standard in evaluating individuals' work at a university.

Grades have risen between 1993 and 1999, according to a report by OU's Teacher Evaluation of Learning Committee. In 1993, 32.5 percent of grades at the university were As. In 1999, 39.5 percent of grades were As.

But Korvas, who was not involved in the studies but has contact with employers of OU graduates, said employers probably value GPA as much today as a decade ago.

"It's hard to say, but I think the employer would be more likely to focus on it as a national thing, as opposed to the institution," he said.

Joseph Kinstle, director of news production at CNN, said the difference between GPAs today and a decade ago would not make a large difference to him, because the GPA is only one factor of many that employers review.

"A lot of times they don't give a d--- what your GPA is; it's what your experience is. I want to make sure I've got someone who's smart, someone who can speak intelligently to world issues," Kinstle said. "The GPA is usually a reflection of course work, but it's not a total analysis of a person."

Other employers also said grade inflation would not cause major changes in how they view students' work.

"Personally, I say, if they graduated, have a degree, are presentable, speak correctly, and have a strong work ethic, and are willing to put forth effort - that makes a real difference in hiring," said Van Vanelli of WHIZ AM-FM TV in Zanesville, Ohio.

Vanelli said he looks at resumes, but the GPA is not a deciding factor.

Jennifer Schehl, special events coordinator for Girl Scouts of America, said both experience and GPA are important factors when hiring.

"A 4.0 is not what we're looking for - experience is key," she said.

Korvas said he believes that grades possibly have inflated as a result of increased student motivation.

"I think in general, there has been a trend in the last 20 years that students are very serious about their careers and marketability," he said. "They tend to want to get involved. It's one aspect of increasing one's marketability."

Schehl said she thought an inflation in grades could be the result of pressure on students.

"There's more pressure to have high grade point averages today than there was before," she said.