American Credit System Moueen Salameh Registrar Professor of

American Credit System Moueen Salameh Registrar Professor of Engineering Management American University of Beirut 1

This presentation will cover q Definition of the American Credit System q American Grading Scale q History of the Grading Scale at AUB q Generation of a conversion scale to and from the ECTS scale. 2

The American Credit System The American credit system is based on contact hours and is more oriented towards the faculty (the time a faculty member requested to teach). General rule for US credit system is for every hour in class students need to spend approximately two outside of class. 3

Course Credit A course credit in the American system (or credit hour) is a unit that gives weighting to the value, or time requirements of an academic course taken at an educational institution. In a normal 15 -16 week semester, one credit is equal to approximately one hour of lecture per week. A typical lecture class is 3 credits, or 3 hours per week of lecture. This does not include studying, or homework. 4

Course Credit Labs, studio arts, practicums, and such do not follow this rule so they can have much longer hours required per week for less credit. For example, 1 credit chemistry lab can be a 2 -3 hour session per week. 5

Course Credit In reality, credits per semester determine the attendance status. Usually 12 credits undergrad / 9 credits grad are full time status. Credits accrue in a student academic record and are part of determining where he/she stands in the academic program. Normally a bachelor's degree requires 120 -130 credit hours. 6

Difference between the ECTS and the American credit system The major difference between the ECTS and the American credit system is that q the first is based on student load, and is more oriented towards the students (the time required for them to meet the intended outcomes) q the second is based on contact hours and is more oriented towards the faculty (the time a faculty member requested to teach). 7

American Grading Scale The most common grading system is the assignment of a numerical or alphabetical letter score to the results of examinations or submitted reports, projects, and papers. 8

American Grading Scale Numerical grading systems usually are arrayed on a scale running from 0 to 4, with 4 representing outstanding work. Letter systems generally run from A to F, with A representing outstanding work and F representing failure. Sometimes these systems are fractional, so that indices such as "2. 5" or "A+" or "A-" appear on records 9

American Grading Scale Academic work, such as studio, thesis and dissertations, or practicum are frequently graded on a pass-fail (P-F) basis, which can sometimes be augmented by appending terms like "honors" or "outstanding" 10

History of Grading Scale at AUB Before 2000 11

2001 -2005 12

2006 -2010 13

2010 -Present The step function in the grade conversion chart was revised to be replaced by the following continuous quadratic fit that generates the equivalent GPA from the cumulative average (CAV). 14

2010 -Present 15

Letter Grades 16

Grade Distribution Compared with US Universities 17

Term Average Distribution 18

GRADE DISTRIBUTION 2007 -2011 19

GRADE DISTRIBUTION 2007 -2011 25. 00% 20. 00% 15. 00% 2007 2008 2009 2010 10. 00% 2011 5. 00% 0. 00% Less than 60 60 or more but 65 or more but 70 or more but 75 or more but 80 or more but 85 or more but less than 65 less than 70 less than 75 less than 80 less than 85 less than 90 90 or more 20

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ECTS GRADING SCALE Generating a conversion scale to and from the ECTS scale. 22

ECTS GRADING SCALE The ECTS conversion chart benefits our students. Employers and other educational institutions in Europe receiving AUB students will find it easier to understandardize. 23

ECTS GRADING SCALE Our study is based on the fact that The ECTS system initially divides students between pass and fail groups, and then assesses the performance of these two groups separately. 24

ECTS GRADING SCALE Those obtaining passing grades are divided into five subgroups: Ø The best 10% are awarded an A-grade, Ø The next 25% a B-grade, Ø The following 30% a C-grade, Ø The following 25% a D-grade, and Ø The final 10% an E-grade 25

ECTS GRADING SCALE Those who have not achieved a performance sufficient to allow a passing grade are divided into two subgroups: FX (Fail – some more work required before credit can be awarded) and F (Fail – considerable further work is required). 26

Fitting AUB Grade Distribution within ECTS Scale Fall Term 2005 -06 Count Fall Term 2006 -07 Range Count Range Best 10% 519 87. 80 100 523 87. 67 100 Next 25% 1300 81. 33 87. 79 1310 81. 47 87. 66 The following 30% 1559 75. 24 81. 32 1571 75. 63 81. 46 The following 25% 1300 68. 00 75. 23 1310 68. 31 75. 62 The Final 10% 520 60. 00 67. 99 524 60. 00 68. 30 Failing Grades All 168 40. 00 59. 99 174 40. 00 59. 99 Those Obtaining Passing Grades 5366 5412 27

Those Obtaining Passing Grades Fall Term 2007 -2008 Count Range Best 10% 561 87. 53 Next 25% 1404 80. 87 The following 30% 1684 The following 25% The Final 10% Failing Grades All Fall Term 2008 -09 Count 572 87. 00 100 87. 52 1430 80. 80 86. 99 75. 06 80. 86 1717 75. 00 80. 79 1404 67. 80 75. 05 1430 68. 07 74. 99 562 60. 00 67. 79 573 60. 00 68. 06 191 40. 00 59. 99 207 40. 00 59. 99 5806 100 Range 5929 28

Average Range Those Obtaining Passing Grades Failing Grades Best 10% 87. 50 100. 00 Next 25% 81. 12 87. 49 The following 30% 75. 23 81. 11 The following 25% 68. 05 75. 22 The Final 10% 60. 00 68. 04 40. 00 59. 99 All 29

Average Range Those Obtaining Passing Grades Failing Grades Interval ECTS Best 10% 87. 50 100. 00 [87. 5 -100 ] A Next 25% 81. 12 87. 49 [81 -87. 5[ B The following 30% 75. 23 81. 11 [75 -81[ C The following 25% 68. 05 75. 22 [68 -75[ D The Final 10% 60. 00 68. 04 [60 -68[ E 40. 00 59. 99 [40 -60[ F All 30

ECTS EQUIVALENCE AUB GRADE ECTS 87. 5 or more A 81 or more, but less than 87. 5 B 75 or more, but less than 81 C 68 or more, but less than 75 D 60 or more, but less than 68 E Less than 60 F 31

Thank You Moueen Salameh msalameh@aub. edu. lb 32