Overview
- The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts announced that, beginning in fall 2027, incoming LSA freshmen will have first‑semester courses recorded as P (pass) or NC (no credit) on official transcripts.
- Those P/NC marks will not count toward students’ GPAs, but the university will retain full letter grades in internal records for academic advising, scholarships, internships, athletic eligibility, compliance and financial‑aid decisions.
- The policy applies only to new LSA first‑year students and does not offer an opt‑out option, with university officials saying a universal approach is needed to support transition and well‑being.
- The move prompted quick pushback from commentators and former Michigan figures who said shielding grades risks coddling students and weakening academic preparedness while supporters point to easing early pressure.
- Michigan cited precedents at selective schools such as MIT, Caltech, Swarthmore and Wellesley, and the change raises practical questions for employers, graduate programs and athletics that rely on recorded performance data.