TTU investigating grade changes at Rawls College of Business

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Texas Tech University is conducting an investigation following allegations of grade tampering at the Rawls College of Business.

A Horn professor tells us four of his students received higher grades than what they initially earned, allowing three of them to graduate this past May.

Professor Jay Conover says he realized the four students' grades were changed significantly.

One student earned a "D" but it was changed to a "B", another earned a "C" and it was changed to an "A". Another earned a "D" and it was changed to an "A," and one earned a "D" and it was changed to a "B".

Conover did not want to go on camera, but says while attending graduation, he noticed several MBA students receiving their diplomas who did not do well in his course.

That's what prompted him to double-check their grades. He says he made the discovery in early June.

"I just decided to check on it. I checked a couple of grades and I saw that a couple of the grades that were listed on their transcripts were not the same as the grades I had given them in the course."

He says he was surprised to see that his instincts were correct.

"I checked all of my students and there were four grades that were different. Three of those cases they had been changed, they had been raised enough to allow these students to graduate with MBA's."

He says he called Texas Tech's provost office the same day.

Conover tells us the provost's office has taken this very seriously and will be creating a committee to objectively look at who made these changes and why they were made.

Texas Tech's Provost, Lawrence Schovanec, released this statement on Wednesday: "Guided by university operating policy, we have initiated a review of these grade changes."

Conover says he is not sure when a decision will be made, but trusts that those appointed by Schovanec will provide a fair answer.

The Horn Professor tells us there was one student in his spring course who received an F, but that student's grade was not tampered with.

We'll have more details on this story as we learn more.