Posted on 07/01/2013 6:13:16 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
School administrators at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) are systematically raising the final grades of African-American students, three ex-faculty members told Campus Reform last month.
Former Director of Academic Technology Shira Hedgepeth, along with two former professors who spoke to Campus Reform on the condition of anonymity, alleged administrators at the historically black college routinely increase the final grades of African-American students in order to raise the school’s standing.
“Some students had their final grades changed based on their race,” Hedgepeth told Campus Reform on June 6. “That was a common complaint of many of the faculty that I worked with.”
“None of the Caucasian or non-African American students… none of their grades were changed,” she added. “The way the grades fell out, there was no other reason for changing.”
Documents provided to Campus Reform by one of the former faculty members appear to validate these claims. Campus Reform has chosen not to publish the records due to concerns that doing so may violate the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act by revealing the names and grades of students.
According to Hedgepeth, and the two former professors who were granted anonymity because of they feared speaking out may jeopardize their retirement, instructors would submit final grades to the school only to have them later revised upwards by administrators as a way to “take care of their African American students.”
“There is no other motivation,” said Hedgepeth. “If you work on that campus you know it. Everything that was done was to make sure we service the African American students.”
WSSU’s spokesman, Aaron Singleton, however, told Campus Reform that the university had received no complaints.
“I checked throughout our administration and the university has not heard of any of those allegations,” said Singleton. “No one has filed any complaints at the university.”
According to one of the former professors, however, several faculty members have filed numerous complaints which were ignored.
“I have reported everything,” the professor said. “I doubt anything was done.”
“I have tried reaching out to our accrediting body but they would not take complaints such as these,” added Hedgepeth. “We have done everything we can to get somebody to start looking.”
Another former professor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the practice is ongoing.
“Oh yes, definitely,” said the former professor. “Oh yes, it is still going on.”
The two professors wished to remain anonymous due to fears the school would retaliate against them.
“All the faculty, white and black are very fearful to speak,” said one of the professors. “The department is run by fear and through retaliation. If you speak out you will be retaliated against.”
Hedgepeth was terminated by WSSU in 2011. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has since ruled she was a victim of racial discrimination when she was terminated. She now has two pending lawsuits filed against the school.
of course the irony here is Winston Salem is basically a black university in the “tradition” of howard, hampton, etc...the type of school that would be branded racist if it were white...
The quiet racism of low expectations.
Yes sir..........
How is it unfair? Did SCOTUS say it was unfair? Bammy?
Were any of the students whose grades were boosted athletes on scholarships?
I am not surprised at all. The soft bigotry of low expectations. But all this does is produce sub par graduates who are not prepared for the job market.
Those former Faculty members are “RACIST”. The University is just applying reparations for slavery.
And Paula Dean is getting sued for using a word. Amazing
“Winston-Salem State is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission of Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation status of Winston-Salem State University.”
Consider me not surprised.
Nothing new. In the 1990s I was pressured by a Black student and then by highers up to pass a black student who had done virtually nothing in a college course. I had experience with the same cynical behavior by administrators also in the 1970s in a once top tier medical school. That’s the first I heard of the position, “Dean of Minority Students.” When there was any issue or question that involved a Black student, the problem was quickly shunted off to the Dean of Minority Students, who would make excuses even for outrageous behavior by a Black student and run interference for the student and try to make everyone else feel guilty for suggesting the student was out of line. Affirmative Action created high-paying administrative hatchetmen even in professional schools to report “success” no matter what when confronting the challenge of retaining and graduating black students, who were sought just because of the color of their skin. These separate administrators themselves were often chosen for the color of their skin. Not only were these administrative units separate, the criteria applied were less than those applied to the rest of the students. Affirmative Action was supposed to be a temporary boost as a way of playing “catch-up,” not one that would still be institutionalized a generation later.
Which is a good reason to never hire grads from this school. I would “blacklist” this school, but I don’t want to appear...rascist.
do I really have to say it???
HELLO??!!??
What's quiet about Al Sharpie and Jesse Jackass??
When they emerge with sub par education onto the job market and can’t maintain a well paying job compared with graduates of other races, they become part of the statistics offered to “prove” institutional racism continues to keep them down.
I assume some are aware of changes to their grades but others aren’t and if you thought you got the same education as the people of other races but you’re the only one who can’t get or keep a well paying job - it serves to breed the racial anger that the Dems love to harvest.
I wonder if it occurs partly due to the requirement that those on financial aid not fail their classes? And/or to make it possible for under prepared or simply unqualified students to graduate with a degree?
Locally, government subsidies fund ‘adult schools’ (not the university college system but more along the lines of business training). A friend began teaching at one of them and discovered that most students (Hispanics and whites), don’t want to study or learn. They whine and complain to administration if academic standards of any kind are upheld. My friend will likely not keep her job after this quarter because she keeps trying to teach and the students resent it. The school is obviously aware of this and recommends not holding the students accountable - this apparently is because the students are all there on government financial aid. I pity those few students who are struggling to learn something.
I believe the very thing happened at another predominantly black school in NC called Barber Scotia. They had their accreditation yanked.
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