University of Michigan Drops First-Semester Grades to 'Curb Mental Health Crisis'
"In order to salve the mental health of freshman students, the University of Michigan has implemented a Pass/No Credit system for new students to improve their mental health," writes Slashdot reader Ol Olsoc. "The process, called 'Grade Covering,' is aimed at helping with the mental health crisis that students face by lessening grade pressure." Axios reports: U-M's College of Literature, Science…
In an effort to alleviate the mental health concerns of first-year students, the University of Michigan is introducing a Pass/No Credit system, according to information shared by Slashdot reader Ol Olsoc. Known as "Grade Covering," this initiative aims to reduce the academic pressure experienced by freshmen by removing letter grades from their first-semester transcripts, with the tentative implementation slated for the fall of 2027.
The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at U-M plans to retain professors' grading ability, but the grades will not be visible on external transcripts or contribute to students' GPAs.
U-M's spokesperson, Chris Sebastian, explained to Axios that faculty, staff, and students within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will continue refining the pilot program, with additional details to follow in the fall. While acknowledging that freshman students may face pressure, Ol Olsoc emphasized that confronting and overcoming challenges is often the most effective way to manage such stressors.
Written by urgent.news from Slashdot's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
