Harvard College faculty began a week-long vote on Tuesday to limit the number of "A" grades awarded in undergraduate courses [1].
The move represents a significant effort to address grade inflation at the university. If passed, the policy would create a cap on top marks to ensure that grades more accurately reflect student performance and academic rigor.
The voting period started May 13 and is scheduled to close on May 19 [2]. This proposal is described as one of the boldest attempts in decades to rein in grade inflation, an issue that has reportedly drawn attention from the White House [3].
Faculty members seeking the change argue that the current system is flawed. One faculty member said that grading is too compressed and too inflated, as nearly all faculty recognize, and is also too inconsistent, as students have observed [4].
Some academics believe the prevalence of high marks discourages students from challenging themselves. Joshua Greene said that putting a perfect GPA in reach of so many students perversely deters them from taking classes that could threaten it [5].
The proposal comes amid student frustration over the potential crackdown on grades [3]. The university aims to resolve concerns that grade compression has made it difficult to distinguish between different levels of student achievement.
Faculty will determine the outcome of the vote by May 19 [2]. The results will dictate whether the university implements a formal limit on the distribution of the highest possible grade in its undergraduate curriculum.
“Our grading is too compressed and too inflated, as nearly all faculty recognize”
This vote signals a shift in academic philosophy at one of the world's most prestigious institutions, moving away from a permissive grading culture. By capping 'A' grades, Harvard is attempting to restore the signaling value of a high GPA for employers and graduate schools, while simultaneously trying to encourage students to take academic risks without the fear of jeopardizing a perfect record.
