Harvard Faculty Votes to Cap A Grades in Effort to Address Grade Inflation

1-Minute Brief

The new grading policy aims to address concerns that grade inflation has diminished the value of academic achievement at Harvard.

Key Facts

• Harvard faculty voted to impose a cap on the number of A grades awarded to undergraduates.
• The cap will limit A grades to about 20% of students in undergraduate classes.
• Faculty members overwhelmingly approved the measure to restrict top grades.
• The new policy is set to take effect in the fall of 2027.
• A Harvard law school dean described grades as 'almost useless' due to inflation.

What Happened

Harvard faculty members have approved a policy to limit the proportion of A grades awarded in undergraduate classes, instituting a cap of roughly 20%.

Why It Matters

The decision is intended to counteract decades of grade inflation, which faculty argue has undermined the significance of high academic performance and made it harder to distinguish exceptional achievement.

What's Next

The cap will be implemented starting in the fall of 2027. Observers will watch how the policy affects grading practices, student outcomes, and similar measures at other institutions.