The University of Michigan will hide letter grades for its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts for first-year students starting in fall 2027 to “curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals.”
The college announced the change on its website. The pilot program will designate all LSA first-year students’ first semester grades as either pass or no credit on their transcripts.
Michigan excluding first-semester grades is part of a larger problem:
— Neetu Arnold (@neetu_arnold) August 8, 2026
“As universities admit more students who fall below college readiness standards, some departments have used these gaps to justify adopting easier grading practices in the name of equity…
Faculty and… https://t.co/OJK9wE6guk
“We believe that covering grades will help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals,” the university said.
“LSA is investing in students’ well-being and growth by fostering a culture of connection and collaboration—rather than competition.”
The University of Michigan announced it will hide first semester grades from freshmen's official transcripts in an effort to curb the mental health crisis.
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) August 7, 2026
MRC's @Justine_Brooke on @foxandfriends @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/LBScacqYpB
I can agree that supporting student mental health is a worthy effort. But hiding grades and removing the word "fail" is not the way to do it. BTW, this is only for LS&A students not university-wide.#umich #michigan #goblue #universityofmichigan #gradeinflation… https://t.co/caKEAhal11
— Michael Schostak for U-M Regent (@Schostak4Regent) August 7, 2026
The college said that hiding first-year grades will “help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys—core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education.”
The announcement follows rampant grade inflation and the dumbing down of higher education, which devalues a college degree.
Over the past few decades, the education system has advanced students who weren’t proficient at reading and writing. These students have reached college, where many struggle to read books.
This problem really starts with grade inflation in middle and high schools.
— James A. Furey (@JamesAFurey) August 8, 2026
We are sending these kids off to college with no academic skills or knowledge whatever and the universities are responding as such. https://t.co/1Y2V4cnMzK
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: The University of Michigan just announced they’re hiding all of the grades for their incoming students' because they are "going all-out to curb mental health issues" in the incoming freshman class by abolishing first-semester grades for everyone enrolled in the… pic.twitter.com/41AlW87veq
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) August 7, 2026
University of Michigan to hide some first-semester transcripts to “curb the mental health crisis” | Not The Bee
— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) August 8, 2026
We've officially reached this point.
Yep. We're afraid to give grades now.
Here's a closer look from the school's website at how they'll be protecting the fragile… https://t.co/OshYUiZnYm pic.twitter.com/Tga6zV6Gaz
LSA students’ grades will be recorded in their transcripts and reflected in their GPAs for all subsequent semesters they are enrolled at U-M.
