
Harvard to Cap A Grades to Combat Grade Inflation
What Happened?
Starting Fall 2027, Harvard University will limit A grades to 20% of undergraduate students per course to address grade inflation and AI use. This decision follows a survey revealing high GPAs among graduates.
Key points
- Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences approved the grading reform with 458 votes in favor.
- The new policy allows instructors to award A grades to a maximum of 20% of students enrolled in a course, plus four additional students.
- Nearly 85% of graduating seniors reported a GPA of 3.65 or higher, with a median GPA of 3.9.
- 73% of students surveyed opposed the grading cap, while 45% believed grades were inflated.
- 64% of graduating seniors reported using AI tools several times a week or daily.
Key insights
- The grading cap may lead to increased pressure on students to achieve higher grades within a limited pool.
- Concerns about AI use in academics could prompt further discussions on academic integrity.
- The high percentage of students using AI tools raises questions about the future of traditional learning methods.
Why it matters
This change could impact how academic performance is assessed at Harvard and may influence grading policies at other institutions.
Entities
Source
Times Now