University of Michigan to hide first-semester grades in new pilot

The University of Michigan will launch a pilot program in fall 2027 that uses pass/no-credit grading for all first-year students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts during their first semester.

Students will receive private letter grades and instructor feedback, but their transcripts will show only a pass or no credit. The university says the policy will help students adjust to college demands, explore challenging subjects and build early momentum.

Supporters say the approach can ease the transition from high school, while critics argue it could weaken academic rigor and devalue college degrees. Michigan is following schools including MIT, Wellesley and Swarthmore, which have adopted similar policies.

Read the full story at csmonitor.com.