Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences has taken a bold step to address the growing issue of grade inflation, aiming to restore the integrity of its A grades. This move, approved by a faculty vote, marks a significant shift in how the university evaluates undergraduate performance.
The decision comes as a response to the alarming trend of A grades becoming commonplace, with over 60% of all grades awarded to undergraduates falling into this category in recent years. This high concentration of A's has raised concerns among faculty members that the grades no longer accurately reflect the true achievement level of students.
This is not an isolated issue; other elite institutions like Princeton have grappled with similar challenges. Princeton's initial attempt to limit A-range grades to 35% of total awards was met with criticism, leading to its eventual abandonment. However, Harvard's approach is more comprehensive, aiming to ensure that an A grade truly signifies exceptional performance.
Under the new policy, instructors in letter-graded courses will be restricted to awarding A grades to no more than 20% of students in a class, plus four additional students. This limitation is designed to maintain the exclusivity and prestige associated with an A grade. Other letter grades, such as A-minus, will not be subject to this cap.
Additionally, the faculty has approved a shift from using grade-point averages (GPAs) to average percentile ranks when comparing students for honors, prizes, and awards. This change aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of student performance, moving beyond the limitations of traditional GPAs.
The introduction of these new policies is set to begin in the fall of 2027, with a review scheduled after three years to assess their effectiveness. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard's largest academic body, encompasses 40 departments and houses both the undergraduate program and all Ph.D. programs.
This move by Harvard highlights the growing recognition among academic institutions of the need to reevaluate grading systems. By taking a proactive approach to combat grade inflation, Harvard aims to ensure that its grades remain a reliable indicator of student achievement, benefiting students, employers, and graduate schools alike.
