Grade inflation didn’t just corrupt transcripts. It corrupted curiosity Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences has voted to cap ‘A’ grades at approximately 20% of enrollment starting in fall 2027, a significant reversal of grade inflation. This move aims to address how inflated grades corrupt student choices, leading them to avoid challenging courses and thus stifling intellectual curiosity and growth. The reform is seen as a crucial step toward rebuilding intellectual culture by reintroducing information into a system that has lost its ability to convey genuine academic achievement.

• Harvard will cap ‘A’ grades at around 20% of enrollment from fall 2027.
• The measure is a response to severe grade inflation, described as a ‘race to the bottom’.
• Grade inflation encourages students to avoid difficult courses, prioritizing grades over intellectual exploration.
• Capping ‘A’ grades could encourage students to take intellectual risks and pursue learning driven by curiosity.
• This reform is linked to campus speech climate issues, as both punish intellectual exposure and reward conformity.
• The policy aims to reintroduce meaningful information into academic evaluations and foster authentic intellectual growth.