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University of Michigan freshman grading pilot

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2026-08-14 15:03 UTC → 2026-08-19 14:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) has announced a pilot program to withhold traditional letter grades for incoming freshmen during their first semester. Scheduled to begin in fall 2027, the policy will record grades as pass (P) or no credit (NC) on official transcripts to mitigate student mental health crises and promote collaboration over competition. While official transcripts and GPAs will not reflect letter grades during the first term, the university will maintain internal records of actual marks for use in academic advising, scholarships, internships, and awarding academic honors. Students will continue to receive direct feedback and visibility of their actual grades from instructors. Standard grading and GPA calculations are set to resume in the second semester. The initiative follows models used by other institutions, such as MIT, Caltech, Swarthmore, and Wellesley. The decision follows data from the university-based Healthy Minds Study, which indicated that 37% of students reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms and 32% reported moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. LSA Dean Rosario Ceballo noted the decision could address rising rates of stress, depression, and anxiety, while Associate Dean Timothy McKay stated the program is intended to provide a “smooth on-ramp” for students transitioning from high school to a rigorous academic environment. ~~While supporters suggest the policy allows students to explore new subjects without immediate GPA pressure,~~ Recent details clarify that participation in the ~~proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Critics suggest~~ pilot is mandatory for all LSA freshmen; officials noted that ~~shielding students from~~ an opt-in system might create a perceived stigma regarding the academic ~~setbacks may not adequately prepare them for future pressures,~~ abilities of participating students. Furthermore, while ~~others~~ administrators have ~~expressed concerns regarding potential grade inflation and~~ publicly framed the ~~impact on~~ initiative as a mental health measure, internal documents suggest the policy is also intended to address racial “credit gaps” and “intersectional patterns of inequity” in academic ~~rigor.~~ performance, noting that Black and Hispanic students have historically experienced lower four-year graduation rates.

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