Snowplow Administrators: “Why Cover Grades in the First Semester?”
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and Arts:
The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is working collaboratively with faculty and staff across campus to design a pilot program that helps foster an environment where college students can acclimate to the demands of a University of Michigan education and pursue new academic challenges.
Beginning in fall 2027, the College will designate all LSA first-year students’ first-semester grades as pass (P) or no credit (NC) on their transcripts. While LSA students will still receive grades and instructor feedback in every course as they always have, final grades will not be recorded on their external transcripts and will not be reflected in their GPAs. LSA students’ official transcripts will state that all grades in the first semester are automatically designated as P/NC.
Why Cover Grades in the First Semester?
Helping all students establish early momentum has been recognized as the most important element in U-M’s campus-wide Student Success Initiative. We believe that covering grades will help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals.
Our goal is to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys—core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education. For example, they can explore a subject that may not come easily to them or take a course in a new field without the fear that a low grade may have long-term consequences. LSA is investing in students’ well-being and growth by fostering a culture of connection and collaboration—rather than competition.
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More:
For all those who see “covering grades” on transcripts as helping first-year students:
In 2016, Johns Hopkins reversed its 40+-year policy bc it did more harm than good
- Delayed students from adapting to college-level work
-Could place students at a disadvantage when applying to grad school/jobs
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This is a bad idea on so many levels, not the least of which is that it’s the wrong way to deal with anxiety/mental health concerns. From everything I’ve read (and experienced personally), the literature says that the way to overcome anxiety is to confront and manage issues (gradually) as they arise versus avoiding them – exposure therapy.
