Harvard University's faculty is set to vote next week on a proposal to cap the number of A grades awarded in each course, in an effort to curb grade inflation. The plan, put forward by a faculty committee, would limit A grades to 20% of students in a course, with a further allowance of four additional As.
If approved, the policy would take effect in the autumn of 2027, according to the Wall Street Journal. The proposal also introduces an internal "average percentile rank" system, which would rely on raw scores rather than grade point average (GPA) to determine honours and awards.
A document drafted by the university's subcommittee on grading said that in November 2024, Amanda Claybaugh, the dean of undergraduate education, appointed a committee to investigate grading policies. The document states that grade inflation has become so pronounced that two-thirds of letter grades issued are straight As, and almost 85% are A-range grades. An internal report last autumn found that about 60% of grades during the 2024-25 academic year were As, up from roughly 25% in 2005-06.
The proposed cap has faced criticism from students, including the editorial board of the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, which argued that the measure "falls flat" and fails to restore rigour to the classroom. A survey conducted by the undergraduate student government found that about 94% of students oppose the cap, with concerns that it would heighten stress and intensify competition.
Faculty opinion appears more mixed. The Crimson reported in February that while some faculty members voiced cautious support for the proposal, others worried it could discourage students from enrolling in demanding courses and pose a danger to faculty autonomy. The editorial board noted that Princeton University adopted a similar cap in 2004 but discontinued it in 2014. The Guardian has contacted Harvard University for comment.
