What You Need to Know
• The University of Michigan will implement a “grade covering” pilot program for incoming freshmen in 2027.
• Freshmen in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will receive pass or no credit grades for their first semester.
• The initiative aims to support students’ mental health and will not apply to other colleges within the university.
The University of Michigan announced that thousands of incoming freshmen will not receive letter grades on their report cards starting in the fall of 2027. The university’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will launch a “grade covering” pilot program for first-year students, where they will only receive pass (P) or no credit (NC) grades during their first semester. While instructors will still assign letter grades for internal purposes, these will not appear on students’ final GPAs or transcripts. The program is designed to alleviate stress and support mental health among students, particularly as they transition into university life. This policy will not extend to first-year students in the university’s other 18 colleges, such as business and engineering.
Why It Matters
This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the mental health challenges faced by college students, particularly during their transition to higher education. The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts enrolls approximately 3,500 first-year students across over 80 majors, highlighting the scale of this change. Research indicates that academic pressure can significantly impact students’ mental well-being, making supportive measures increasingly important. The program aims to foster an environment conducive to academic exploration without the fear of detrimental impacts on students’ academic records.
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