Mansfield, known as a tough grader, decided he would issue two grades to students - an official grade and a grade Mansfield thinks the student actually deserves. While a spokeswoman admitted that grade inflation is a problem at Harvard and other elite colleges, the furor was sparked by Mansfield's statement that an influx of black students to Harvard decades ago led some white professors to ease the grading for both white and black students. Mansfield's position rankled students, faculty and administrators. Mansfield, who is a tenured professor, said he based his opinion on personal knowledge and contended that the university would not provide data on the issue to disprove him. The issue of grade inflation has prompted institutions such as Boston University, Duke and Dartmouth to come up with solutions to the problem of grade inflation.
Educators admit it's next to impossible to hold all professors to one grading standard.
Part of the problem is that students no longer shy away from lobbying their professors for better grades, particularly when their financial aid or scholarships are on the line. In the spirit of opening their hearts on Valentine's Day, eight Mercyhurst students of Dr. Richard Hamwi, assistant professor of art, donated artwork to the Harborcreek Youth Center on Feb. 14. The students completed paintings, pastels and one work in crayon - all in an effort to brighten the walls of the center's residential treatment facility. To have someone come out and do something so generous is unbelievably meaningful to these kids who have had such tough lives. For the students, it was an opportunity to simply do something good.