Yale University Awards 80 Percent Of Grades In The A Range
Jonathan Turley | 12/03/2023
We recently discussed the runaway grade inflation at Harvard where roughly 80 percent of grades were As. Now the Yale Daily News is reporting the same percentage of As. Indeed, the percentage is virtually identical. Harvard is handing out 79 percent agrees where Yale is apparently more rigorous at 78.9. The report is apparently an embarrassment to the university since the dean of Yale College said that professors are not adhering to guidelines for grading.Yet, this could hardly be a surprise to the dean since these grades are reported and issued by the records office.
Indeed, this average is reportedly down from the prior year where 81.97 percent of students were given As. So not getting an A at Yale meant that you were in the bottom 20 percent of the class.
That means that for virtually all of the students at Yale there was a three-grade system that runs from A+, A, and A-.
The percentage was higher in the African American Studies department at 82.21 percent. However, it was the Gender Students department that showed that 92.6 percent of grades were in the A range. So only 7 % of students did not receive an A in gender studies.
For employers and other universities, it renders the grades from Yale meaningless in judging the capabilities and record of students.
They are not apparently alone.
At Spellman College, economics professor Kendrick Morales was fired after objecting to the school raising his grades without his consent, even after massively increasing the grades.
Morales worked for two years at Spellman and taught two upper-level courses. In one class, he added a 28-point grade bump for one test at the request of his department chair.
When students overall bombed the final, Morales “pre-emptively” raised them 36 points so that a student receiving a 57 would receive an A. Yet, even with that increase, 44 percent of that class would still fail. Indeed, they had failed, but Morales says that Undergraduate Studies Dean Desiree Pedescleaux bumped up the students’ grades again without his approval.
He was later fired.
The allegations not only raise questions over the academic standards at Spellman, but the violation of academic freedom.
Grade inflation is only the latest sign of how school administrators have lost control of universities and colleges. It also reflects a growing expectation of students in terms of higher GPAs.
It is easy to say that this is the byproduct of the “trophy generation,” but this is not their fault.
The “Trophy Generation.” Heh.
Alaska Airlines buys Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 BILLION – including $900M in net debt
UK Daily Mail | 12/03/2023 | Mackenzie TatananniAlaska Airlines has entered an agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion, including $900 million of the carrier’s net debt.
According to Sunday’s announcement, Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share in cash.
The airlines say the deal will unlock more destinations throughout the Pacific region, continental United States and globally.
The deal is expected to generate high single-digit earnings accretion for Alaska Airlines within the first two years with no anticipated material impact on long-term balance sheet metrics.
‘This combination is an exciting next step in our collective journey to provide a better travel experience for our guests and expand options for West Coast and Hawai’i travelers,’ said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO.
. . . ah, the obligatory apostrophe in Hawaii . . .
He added: ‘We have a longstanding and deep respect for Hawaiian Airlines, for their role as a top employer in Hawai‘i, and for how their brand and people carry the warm culture of aloha around the globe.’
How To Control Your Heirs From Beyond the Grave
The Telegraph via MSN | 12/3/23 | Amelia Murray
For most people, a will is a way to ensure your loved ones are looked after when you’re gone.
You can divvy up your assets as you see fit, and make sure family, friends, pets and charities get what you feel they deserve.
But things such as an increase in wealth, second marriages and blended families, have led to some people including conditional clauses in their wills in an attempt to control their loved ones from beyond the grave.
… Generally speaking, you can include whatever conditional clause you like in your will. Most tend to be fairly straightforward and sensible, but others can include requiring an heir to change their name by deed poll, look after a surviving cat, have a clean criminal record or get a job in finance (these are all real examples).
One of the most common caveats involves an age restriction whereby the beneficiary cannot inherit until they reach a certain age, say 25-years-old, to prevent irresponsible spending.
However, Alexandra Milton, partner at law firm Moore Barlow, said she has seen some cases where parents don’t want their children to inherit until they reach 60.
Legal experts also see many attempts to try and control relationships via a will – both from partners and parents.
Oliver Asha, head of legal at Make a Will Online, said he’s seen gifts given on the condition the surviving spouse does not remarry or live with a new partner.
