University of Michigan to hide freshman grades to support mental health

The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) has announced a new policy to withhold traditional letter grades for incoming freshmen during their first semester. Starting this fall, the college will evaluate first-semester students on a pass/no credit basis to help “curb the mental health crisis” affecting college students and foster collaboration over competition.

While grades will not appear on official transcripts or affect GPAs during the first term, the university will maintain internal records of actual grades. These internal marks will be used for academic awards, scholarships, internships, academic advising, and transitions to majors outside of the LSA. Students will still receive direct feedback and visibility of their actual grades from instructors.

Standard grading and GPA calculations will resume in the second semester. The LSA, which houses nearly 20,000 students, joins other institutions like MIT, Caltech, Swarthmore, and Wellesley in implementing similar programs. Some experts have criticized the move, suggesting that shielding students from academic setbacks may fail to prepare them for the pressures of adulthood.