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University of Michigan Switches to Pass-Fail Grading for First-Semester Students
Just the facts
Under the new policy, first-semester students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will receive pass or no credit designations on their transcripts instead of traditional letter grades. University of Michigan administrators, including Dean Rosario Ceballo and Associate Dean Timothy McKay, stated that the initiative aims to ease the transition from high school to university coursework and mitigate student mental health concerns. The pilot program aligns with similar grade-covering policies implemented at other institutions, including Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university plans to evaluate the pilot program's effect on student academic performance and well-being.
Why this is news
The University of Michigan announced a pilot program replacing letter grades with a pass-fail system for first-semester undergraduate students in its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
Sources
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