Last Spring the Faculty Senate passed a resolution calling
forthe adoption of a plus-minus grading system. Over the
summer months, |! notified the Chair ofthe Faculty Senate that,
after lengthy deliberation,| had decided to decline to approve
the resolution. Ittook me several months to come to this
conclusion, not only because! found the issue a difficult one to
resolve, but also because! believe that the exercise of a veto of
Faculty Senate action should be used sparingly.

Fundamentally, my decision notto approve the resolution is
based uponthe notion that those students most likely to be

harmed by this resolution are those who are our best students.

The student who now receives an A in a course would be subject

to receive either an A or an A-, but would not be eligible to
receive an A+. The net effect,! believe, would be a probable
diminution of grade point average without the opportunity to
recoup in other courses. While one argument advanced for the

plus-minus system is that it would serveto attenuate grade

 
inflation, this particular form of attenuation seems both
unnecessary and unfair.

My second reason notto approve the resolution is that! am
not convinced thatthe present system is failing to serve the
desired evaluative needs. Some have argued thatthe present
system does not provide a sufficient level of refinement in
grading. |! cannot help but observe that inthe student’s view a
B+ is still a B (and not an A) and an A- is still an A (albeit
with a little of the luster worn off).

The agenda today will include consideration of an
appropriate mechanism to consider the Racial and Ethnic
Harassment Policy which! set in place last spring. The
proposed policy isthe product of an_ad hoc committee charged
early last year with the responsibility to draft such a policy.
Events of last year caused meto believe that it was important to

state a policy tothe campus community without delay. Hence, |

ae took the initiative and approved the policy as prepared by the

committee with the understanding that it would receive the

 
review of the Faculty Senate andthe Student Government
Association during the Fall Semester.! ask that you give the
policy your careful consideration and report your
recommendations to me at your earliest convenience.

President Spangler announced a fourteen-point plan for the
conduct of athletic programs atthe constituent universities of
the University of North Carolina system atthe August 25, 1989
meeting of the UNC Board of Governors. Time considerations
prevent a full discussion of all fourteen points today, but! will
comment onthree ofthe points which have received considerable
public discussion. In his remarks, President Spangler called for
a mandatory drug testing program for athletes. East Carolina
University has had a mandatory, random drug testing program in
place since Fall, 1985.

President Spangler further called for a public reporting of
the financial reports of athletic foundations. The Pirate Club,

also known asthe ECU Education Foundation, has had its

financial records audited bythe State Auditor since its inception,

 
pf

and the University has included the annual financial statement of
the Pirate Club inthe annual University Financial Report. |
intend to include both the Medical Foundation and ECU
Foundation financial statements inthe 1990 University Financial
Report.

The President asked each Chancellor to review the faculty
role inthe Athletics Committee.| have alerted Ernest Schwarz,
Chair ofthe Athletics Committee, that! wishto discuss this
matter with the Committee.| have also informed Faculty Senate
leadership that! will seek their counsel inthis matter following
my discussion withthe Athletics Committee.

Finally, ! wishto share a portion of the commentary on
higher education in North Carolina fromthe annual Almanac
section from the September 6th issue ofthe Chronicle of Higher
Education:

"For public higher education, the strength is not limited to

ee the top research universities. The 14-campus system is

thriving, with many campuses pushing to expand programs or

 
improve facilities. The UNC campus at Charlotte and East

Carolina University in particular are seen as institutions on the

move."