Grade inflation is reshaping evaluations at elite colleges — Harvard reports about 60% of undergraduate grades are A’s. What caused this rise, and which fixes might work?
What’s driving grade inflation at Harvard: faculty incentives, student pressure and administrative choices
Many factors contribute to more A grades at Harvard. It’s not just one simple reason. We can look at how professors are encouraged, what students expect, and even choices made by the university itself.
Faculty Incentives and Pressures
Professors often face pressure to give higher grades. For example, good student evaluations are important for their careers. These evaluations can affect promotions and job security. It can also be less stressful to give an A than to explain a lower grade. Some faculty might also think higher grades help students feel more motivated to learn.
Student Expectations and Competition
Students at Harvard are very driven. They often need high grade point averages (GPAs) for graduate school or top jobs. This creates a lot of pressure. They expect to earn good grades, especially since they work so hard. This strong desire for high marks can sometimes influence how grades are given. Students might also challenge grades more often, which can make professors lean towards leniency.
Administrative Decisions and Policies
Even the university’s policies can play a part. Sometimes, there’s a focus on keeping students happy or making sure they stay enrolled. This focus might indirectly lead to higher grades. Also, different departments might not have clear, consistent rules for grading. This lack of clear standards can allow grades to creep up. At many top schools, an A has become almost the expected grade, rather than an exceptional one.
How Harvard could respond: transparency, limited top grades, and changes to honors criteria
Harvard has options to address the rising number of A grades. These changes could help make grades more meaningful. The goal is to keep high academic standards while being fair to students.
Making Grading More Transparent
One way to fix grade inflation is to be more open about grading. This means making clear guidelines for how grades are given. If everyone knows what an A truly means, it helps. Harvard could also share data on grade distribution. This shows how many students get each grade. Transparency helps students and professors understand the system better. It can also encourage more consistent grading across different courses and departments.
Setting Limits on Top Grades
Another idea is to limit how many A’s or A-‘s can be given in a class. This doesn’t mean making classes harder. Instead, it makes an A truly stand out. If only a certain percentage of students can get the very top grades, those grades become more special. This approach could make students work even harder to earn those top marks. It also helps employers and graduate schools understand what an A from Harvard really means.
Changing Honors Requirements
Harvard could also look at its honors criteria. Right now, many students graduate with honors. If it’s too easy to get honors, it loses some of its value. The university could raise the GPA needed for honors. Or, they could add other requirements, like a special project or thesis. Making honors harder to achieve would mean only the most outstanding students earn them. This would strengthen the meaning of a Harvard degree and its academic awards.
Fonte: Fortune.com
