"The grading committee's proposal aims to restore meaning to student transcripts by capping flat A grades to around 33 percent across undergraduate courses, addressing the issue of grade inflation."
"Grade inflation is about more than numbers; it deters students from taking classes that could threaten their perfect GPAs, leading to a culture of risk aversion."
"Despite the increasing selectivity of admissions, faculty report no significant improvement in academic performance, with many observing a decline in student investment in academics."
"The current grading system, which allows a high percentage of A's, is damaging the academic culture of the College, as noted in a three-year investigation by the dean of undergraduate education."
Harvard's grading committee has proposed capping flat A grades to 33% to address grade inflation, which has led to a 55-way tie for the Sophia Freund Prize in 2025. A significant percentage of students received A's, undermining the meaning of academic distinction. The committee's recommendation follows a three-year investigation revealing that the current grading system harms the academic culture. Grade inflation discourages students from taking challenging courses, leading to a lack of academic engagement and risk-taking among students.
Read at The Atlantic
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