Overview
- An Office of Undergraduate Education report says undergraduate grading has grown too lenient and is undermining the College’s academic culture.
- The share of A grades has risen to roughly 60% from about 40% a decade ago, with the median GPA increasing from 3.64 to 3.83.
- Proposals under consideration include allowing a limited number of A+ grades and noting each course’s median on transcripts, with no changes finalized.
- Students interviewed by The Harvard Crimson criticized the report, warning of added stress and saying their heavy workloads are already substantial.
- Some students cautioned that unilateral tightening could harm Harvard applicants in jobs and graduate admissions, while the report cites faculty incentives and course-evaluation pressures as drivers of inflation.