The debate on whether or not the San Mateo Community College District would adopt a plus/minus grading system was finally put to a vote on April 27 at Skyline College.

Skyline College’s academic senate voted against the adoption of a plus/minus grading system, which was proposed by College of San Mateo. In order for the new grading system to go into effect, there needed to be a unanimous vote amongst the three community colleges, and since Skyline is voting against the proposed plan, it will not go into effect.

“It was a very close vote,” said Professor Carla Campillo, Counselor and coordinator of the International Student Program. “We wanted to reflect what the campus wanted.”

Campillo also added that she could not disclose the actual results of the vote because their agenda had not been approved.

The vote, held by the academic senate took input from students, faculty and the sister colleges in formulating its decision. Previously there had been an open forum held on the Skyline campus where anyone who wished could attend and voice their opinions about the possibility of adopting a new system.

“I like it the way it is,” said Van Zeng, a Skyline student, who didn’t attend the forum but still had something to say about it. “I don’t think it makes much difference.”

Associated Students also voiced their opinion with their own vote against the plus/minus system. Associated Students President Luis Padilla also shared that opinion at the Academic senate meeting.

Cañada college could not be immediately reached for the results of their vote, but Tom Mohr, interim president of Cañada college said he was not averse to a plus/minus system of grading.

“It allows one to be more discriminating about the student’s grade,” Mohr said. “The faculty should be free to decide. Then again a C is a C.”

There will be a district academic senate meeting on May 14, and Campillo believes the subject will be brought up again.

“I think it should just stay the way it is, whatever you get in the end is what you get,” said Skyline student Matt Cassely.