University of Michigan Introduces 'Grade Covering' For Some Incoming Freshmen Next Fall

The University of Michigan (UM) will switch from letter grades to "pass or no credit" for some first-semester freshmen beginning in fall 2027. Outlets across the political spectrum highlighted debates over whether this will be effective or if higher-ed institutions are coddling students.

The Details: Only incoming freshmen in UM's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will be part of the pilot program, known as "grade covering." The university said the decision is part of an effort to "curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals." The university will retain internal records of the students' grades for academic advising, potential academic awards and scholarships, however, grades collected during the first semester won't be factored into GPA calculations. LSA students' grades will be recorded in their transcripts and reflected in their GPAs beginning in their second semester.

For Context: Other institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College and Wellesley College have implemented similar grading policies. Conversely, the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted in May to cap the number of A-grades given out by professors to 20%.

'Coddling' Students: Fox News (Right bias) said the policy "shield[s]" students. The outlet quoted psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert who said, "We're raising a generation of students to believe that discomfort is dangerous…A bad grade can be upsetting, embarrassing and stressful. That's not a mental health emergency. That's college." Alpert also criticized what he said was "therapy culture invading the classroom." The New York Post (Right) quoted Alpert separately saying, "At some point, young people have to learn that feeling bad is not the same thing as being harmed."

Praise for the Decision: The New York Times (Lean Left) and Washington Post (Lean Left) both led with the decision being an effort to "ease stress" for freshmen. The Times noted opposition to the change, but focused more on students and faculty who praised the idea, including the UM student body president who said the system is "an incredible thing" that "will do a lot to help get students into a routine that is healthy and sustainable." 

A Shift in Higher-Ed: Wall Street Journal (Center) wrote the move comes "as schools wrestle with grade inflation and the need for remedial instruction for freshmen ill-prepared for college-level classes." The Journal mentioned other universities that have sought to reinstate entrance exams and testing because incoming students were less prepared. It quoted a former Michigan professor who said he didn't think the new policy would make much of a difference because "grades have lost their value as an indication of quality or excellence."

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