Grading Standards

MEMORANDUM

TO: Finance Faculty (regular, visiting, adjunct faculty, and instructors)
FROM: Robert Whitelaw, Menachem Brenner, Stephen Brown
DATE: December 7, 2007
SUBJECT: Suggested Undergraduate Grading Standards for the Department of Finance

This memo lays out the new Department of Finance policy on suggested grading standards in the undergraduate program. MBA program grading guidelines are unchanged.

Our reputation depends in part on the ability of prospective employers to quickly ascertain that a student really understands financial policy and theory, and has the technical capability to use the tools learned in finance. It is part of your responsibility as a faculty member at New York University to evaluate student understanding of the materials in your course with examinations or written assignments that are sufficiently demanding to reveal differential performance. At the same time, we understand that circumstances change and that grading policies should reflect these changing circumstances. Thus, these are the new suggested standards for Department of Finance undergraduate courses.

Suggested Percent Grade Distributions for Undergraduate Finance Courses
A's	25 to 35
B's	50 to 70
C's and below	5 to 15
IP and IF	No more than 5

We are particularly concerned that you do not give too many A and A- grades (those should be earned competitive grades that reflect superior performance in the current class and among students from the past five years). A grade of C is appropriate for students who are clearly below standards, and grades of D or F apply for students still further below our expectations of performance in a top program.

Remember also that students must specifically request incomplete grades from the instructor and fill out the Request for Incomplete Grade form before the last day of class. Only the instructor has the authority to grant incomplete grades, and there are strict time limits on students to complete course work or else the incomplete grade will lapse.