So much for an “A” for effort.
Students at Harvard University are furious over a controversial proposal that could limit the number of A grades faculty can award in undergraduate courses, a move administrators say is necessary to curb rampant grade inflation. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is set to vote next week on a plan that would cap straight A grades at roughly 20 percent of a class roster, with up to four additional A’s allowed in smaller courses. This would bring the number of A’s back down to the levels Harvard had in 2011. The proposal would also eliminate the traditional GPA as an internal metric, instead using percentile rankings to determine distinctions such as cum laude graduates.
“The proposal’s fundamental flaw, however, is expecting that an academic institution as pedagogically diverse as Harvard could somehow inspire academic vocation with a tool as crude as a quota,” The Harvard Crimson staff writers said in February.
The proposal follows a report showing that grade inflation at Harvard has grown dramatically over the past two decades. In the 2024-25 school year, roughly 60 percent of all undergraduate grades were A’s, a sharp increase from just 25 percent in the 2005-06 academic year.
“We have to do what’s in the interest of preserving the reputation of Harvard, and they all benefit from that,” Amanda Claybaugh, the dean of undergraduate education, told The Wall Street Journal.
A survey conducted by Harvard’s undergraduate student government found overwhelming opposition to the proposed A-grade cap, with approximately 94 percent of respondents disapproving, based on more than 800 responses, the outlet reports.
Student frustration has spilled into campus culture, with memes depicting an administrator behind the proposal as Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings,” declaring, “You shall not pass!”
“The fact that this policy even MIGHT go into effect with 94 percent student disapproval is absurd and goes to show how much this administration cares about us,” one student wrote on a Harvard forum, according to WSJ.
Administrators have responded to the backlash by tweaking the plan. Earlier this week, Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh announced a one-year delay, moving the earliest possible rollout to fall 2027, and introduced a new “SAT+” grade option designed to give instructors additional flexibility.
The reforms would cap only straight A grades, leaving A-minuses unaffected. Committee members behind the proposal expect this change to make A-minuses more common and socially acceptable, reducing the stigma around receiving less than a perfect grade. Supporters of the cap argue that reducing the share of A’s will restore the value of top marks and help employers and graduate schools better distinguish student achievement.
“We want to liberate students from the tyranny of the 4.0 and make them free to explore. We want to put the ‘us’ back in A-minus,” Joshua Greene, a Harvard psychology professor and member of the committee behind the proposal, told WSJ.
Key Points of the Proposal
- The proposal aims to address grade inflation by capping straight A grades at 20% of a class, with exceptions for smaller courses.
- Traditional GPAs would be replaced with percentile rankings for determining academic distinctions.
- The plan was met with strong opposition from students, with 94% disapproving in a recent survey.
- Administrators have delayed implementation and introduced a new grading option to provide more flexibility.
Student Reactions and Campus Culture
- Memes and social media posts have criticized the proposal, comparing administrators to characters from popular culture.
- Students argue that the policy does not reflect their interests or the diversity of academic experiences at Harvard.
- The proposal has sparked discussions about the role of grades in evaluating student performance and the impact on academic freedom.
Administrative Response and Adjustments
- The plan has been delayed by one year, with implementation now expected in fall 2027.
- A new grading option called “SAT+” has been introduced to allow instructors more flexibility in assessing student work.
- The focus remains on making A-minuses more acceptable and reducing the pressure associated with achieving perfect grades.
Supporters’ Perspective
- Proponents of the proposal believe that reducing the number of A grades will help maintain the value of high academic achievement.
- They argue that this change will make it easier for employers and graduate schools to identify truly outstanding students.
- The goal is to encourage students to explore their interests without the pressure of maintaining a perfect GPA.
Ongoing Debate
- The debate continues between those who support the proposal and those who believe it undermines academic integrity and student autonomy.
- Critics argue that the proposal does not address the root causes of grade inflation and may have unintended consequences.
- The discussion highlights the challenges of balancing academic standards with student well-being and institutional reputation.
