Varied grading rubrics at Calgary post-secondary institutions have students searching for A’s and giving their schools a big, fat F.

Each faculty at both the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University is granted leeway to draft their own grading scheme ‘ meaning a course mark of 80 per cent could leave a student with anywhere from a B to an A-.

Half a letter-grade can have a significant impact on one’s grade-point average, which, in turn, can hinder scholarship applications and future job prospects, pointed out U of C student Laura MacKinnon.

“It really makes no sense,” she said. “It’s hard when you are competing with students in other faculties (for scholarships).”

Jennifer Langille, vice-president academic with MRU’s Students’ Association, agrees and has taken her concerns to school administration. She said real progress is being made towards adopting a uniform system.

“They think it’s something that will be good for students,” she said.

MRU Provost and Vice-President Robin Fisher described the varied rubrics as an “artifact of the past.”

“I agree with the students on this and essentially am working with them to convince the institution that this is the right move,” he said.

Ola Mohajer with the U of C Students’ Union said students have taken issue with rubrics in the past, but she was not aware of any discussions to adopt a uniform system.