Student Assembly

R.26 Revision of Median Grade Policy

Whereas, the Cornell University Median Grading Policy was implemented due to a Faculty Senate Resolution entitled, “About Median Grades,” which was adopted on April 10, 1996. The Faculty Senate Resolution states, “This procedure will be introduced so that each undergraduate class will have a uniform transcript. For example, if the procedure goes into effect in Fall, 1998, it will affect only students who begin their first year in 1998 or later years.”

Whereas, the Registrar has interpreted the above resolution to mean that transfer students receive median grades on their transcript while their colleagues of the same class year do not.

Whereas, the current Median Grade Policy places transfer students at a disadvantage when they decide their courses and compete for jobs and internships with their classmates.

Whereas, the current Median Grade Policy is not consistent with the Faculty Senate Resolution, which demands that each undergraduate class have a uniform transcript.

Be it therefore resolved, that the Student Assembly requests that the registrar clarify the Median Grade Policy, so that it is in conformity with the Faculty Senate Resolution. Transfers who matriculated in Fall 2008 and after will not receive a median grade on their transcripts until all of the students in each undergraduate class have a uniform transcript.

Be it further resolved, that this resolution be forwarded to University Registrar David Yeh, Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy, Dean of Students Kent Hubble, and Dean of Faculty William Fry.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrew Brokman
Transfer Representative At-Large

Jared Feldman
Vice-Chair, Committee on Transfer Affairs