Harvard University students are expressing outrage and despair following a campus report that has prompted faculty discussion about implemen...
Harvard University students are expressing outrage and despair following a campus report that has prompted faculty discussion about implementing stricter grading standards. The internal report, released by the Office of Undergraduate Education, warned that the university is "failing to perform the key functions of grading," resulting in rampant grade inflation that is "damaging the academic culture."
The report, detailed in the student newspaper The Crimson, found that approximately 60% of undergraduate grades are A's, a sharp increase from 25% two decades ago.
Student Backlash
The prospect of tougher grading has caused significant distress among students, with one telling The Crimson that the report's release led them to skip classes. "The whole entire day, I was crying," the student said. "It just felt soul-crushing."
Another student raised concerns about the impact on mental health, stating the potential change "makes me rethink my decision to come to the school." They added that they "killed myself all throughout high school to try and get into this school" and were looking forward to being fulfilled, "rather than being killed by [their] studies."
Other students expressed fears that the new policies would force them to abandon valuable extracurricular activities, which they believe are a core part of the Harvard experience. "What makes a Harvard student a Harvard student is their engagement in extracurriculars," one student argued.
Faculty Committee Actions
In response to the "inflation report," a faculty committee has been assembled to "restore the integrity of our grading." Potential options being explored by the committee include:
1. Formally introducing the A+ grade for the highest achievers.
2. Including the median grade for each course on students' transcripts to provide context for employers and graduate schools.
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