Faculty of Arts
MEMORANDUM
To:
Prof. Raewyn Dalziel, DVC (Academic)
CC:
Prof. John Morrow, Dean
Dr Luke Goode, Associate Dean (Students)
From:
Jan Crosthwaite, Associate Dean (Academic, Budget and Planning)
Date:
30 June, 2006
Subject:
Postgraduate Qualifications: Honours, Distinction, Merit
The consultation document has been circulated to all Departments (HoDs and Graduate
Advisors) in the Faculty.
The Faculty of Arts agrees with the goals of consistency, transparency and simplicity behind
the recommendations from the meeting/working group on grading.
In 2006, the Faculty decided to set a uniform cut-off between H2(1) and H2(2) at B+ (GPA
6), having discovered that some Departments used this while others used the cut-off point
recommended in the current document.
Some concern has been expressed that setting a differentiation part-way through the B grade
(GPA 5.5) makes a differentiation where there is not an obvious demarcation point. (What
would be the relationship between the grade descriptors for B and the demarcation between
H2(1) and H2(2)?). However it is realised that the Honours category results from an overall
average, and some Departments who responded to the consultation document acknowledge
that if this is to be a significant cut-off, then that will be taken into account in the
determinations of examiners meetings.
Others respondents have expressed support for the proposed recommendations.
The Faculty is pleased to see a clear statement of the correspondence between Honours grades
and the Distinction/Merit categories. This is essential given that both Bachelors (Honours)
degrees and PGDiplomas may give entry to the MA, and be the basis for awarding
scholarships.
The Faculty acknowledges the importance of clear descriptors for grades at postgraduate
level, and for levels of honours. These have been, or are in the process of being, developed for
all subject areas.
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Document Outline
