Harvard University faculty members are voting on a proposal aimed at curbing grade inflation in undergraduate courses. The effort follows reporting that solid A grades have become more common over time, raising concerns that letter grades are losing consistency and meaning.
According to coverage of the vote, the plan includes multiple components that must each pass by a simple majority. One proposal would limit the number of “solid A” grades to 20% of students in a course, with an additional four A grades available per class. The proposal is described as relatively modest, as it is designed not to restrict grades such as A-minus. Supporters argue the added “buffer” helps protect smaller seminars where a higher share of students may earn top marks.
The faculty vote also considers changes to how internal honors are calculated, including moving from a traditional grade-point-average approach to an average percentile rank, as well as allowing some courses to use new “satisfactory” and “unsatisfactory” grades with a “satisfactory-plus” option.
A pre-vote faculty poll reportedly showed about 60% of respondents favoring the 20% plus-four formula over another alternative. If approved, the changes would take effect in fall 2027 and include a required three-year review.
