Harvard University is facing mounting scrutiny over a growing issue of grade inflation, as 60% of its undergraduate grades are now A’s, a marked increase from the 25% recorded two decades ago. The situation has sparked intense discussions among students, faculty, and administrators about the need for stricter academic standards. A 25-page report, authored by Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh, highlights that the institution is ‘failing to perform the key functions of grading,’ which the report claims has damaged the academic culture within the university.
The report, released internally to Harvard students, has left many feeling dejected and disheartened. One student reportedly told The Crimson, ‘The whole entire day, I was crying… I felt like I try so hard in my classes, and my grades aren’t even the best.’ Another student expressed concerns about the potential mental health toll of stricter grading, saying, ‘It makes me rethink my decision to come to the school… I was looking forward to being fulfilled by my studies now, rather than being killed by them.’
Some students argue that stricter grading could force them to cut back on their extrac, such as being part of the men’s lacrosse team. One student member of the team said, ‘It’s doing students a disservice because it’s not really accounting for what we have to do on a day to day basis, and how many hours we’re putting into our team, our bodies, and then also school.’ Others suggest that the issue is indicative of a broader crisis within the university, with one student noting, ‘There is a reason we’re in this situation in the first place, and the fact that you’re so scared of your GPA dropping .1 or .2 shows that there is a real crisis going on.’
While no specific action has been announced yet, a faculty committee has been set up to ‘restore the integrity of our grading and return the academic culture of the College to what it was in the recent past.’ Some of the options being considered include the introduction of an A+ grade for the highest achievers, as well as the inclusion of the median grade for each course on students’ transcripts. Harvard has not yet provided any official statement or comment regarding the matter.