University of Michigan to cover first-semester grades

Education

Detroit Free Press

The University of Michigan's largest college is developing a pilot that will show first-semester grades as pass or no credit on external transcripts beginning in fall 2027. Students will still receive traditional letter grades and feedback that the university will retain internally for advising, scholarships, internships and major applications, but those grades will not count toward GPAs on external records. The college says the policy is intended to ease student adjustment, encourage academic exploration and reduce pressure linked to mental health concerns; the plan has drawn both faculty support and public criticism.

U‑M will list first-semester external grades as pass or no credit.