Harvard University is currently facing a wave of student discontent following the release of a recent report by the Office of Undergraduate Education. This report, unveiled last week, highlights significant concerns over the institution’s grading practices, suggesting that the prestigious Ivy League school is not effectively fulfilling its grading responsibilities, which has resulted in widespread grade inflation.
According to The Crimson, Harvard’s student newspaper, the internal report disclosed that a staggering 60% of undergraduate grades are now A’s, a considerable increase from just 25% two decades ago. This shift has sparked a debate over academic standards within the university community.
Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh authored the 25-page report, which argues that the substantial rise in A grades necessitates the introduction of stricter grading criteria. The document warns that the current grading situation is detrimental to the academic culture of the College.
Harvard’s grading practices have come under scrutiny, as emphasized by a report from the Office of Undergraduate Education, which states that the school is “failing to perform the key functions of grading,” contributing to grade inflation. This revelation has been met with mixed reactions among students.
Some students, like one who shared their distress with The Crimson, have found the report’s findings disheartening. “I spent the whole day in tears,” this student recounted. “I missed classes on Monday, overwhelmed by the feeling that despite my hard work, my grades don’t reflect my efforts.”
“The whole entire day, I was crying,” one student reportedly told The Crimson. “I skipped classes on Monday, and I was just sobbing in bed because I felt like I try so hard in my classes, and my grades aren’t even the best.”
“It just felt soul-crushing,” she said.
Another student has concerns about the mental health toll potentially caused by stricter grading.
“It makes me rethink my decision to come to the school,” she reportedly said. “I killed myself all throughout high school to try and get into this school. I was looking forward to being fulfilled by my studies now, rather than being killed by them.”
Three huge “Veritas” banners hang from the facade of Widener Memorial Library on May 26, 2025. (Steve Rosenbach/Getty Images)
Some are worried about a well-rounded education, and say stricter grading could force them to drop extracurricular activities.
“What makes a Harvard student a Harvard student is their engagement in extracurriculars,” one said. “Now we have to throw that all away and pursue just academics. I believe that attacks the very notion of what Harvard is.”
Another, identified as a member of the men’s lacrosse team, concurred.
“It’s doing students a disservice because it’s not really accounting for what we have to do on a day to day basis, and how many hours we’re putting into our team, our bodies, and then also school,” he reportedly said.
Another student said there is a “crisis” at the school, but did not specify further.
The Newell Gate pedestrian entrance to Harvard University’s Soldiers Field Athletic Area. (A.P. Cortizas Jr./Getty Images)
“There is a reason we’re in this situation in the first place, and the fact that you’re so scared of your GPA dropping .1 or .2 shows that there is a real crisis going on,” he said.
A faculty committee has reportedly been assembled to “restore the integrity of our grading and return the academic culture of the College to what it was in the recent past.”
Some options being explored by the committee include employing the use of the A+ grade for the highest achievers, and including the median grade for each course on students’ transcripts.
Harvard did not return a request for comment.
