Michigan’s Pass/Fail Grade Pilot

<p>Co-hosts Becky and Katie discuss the announcement that the University of Michigan is piloting pass/fail grading for some first-semester freshmen starting fall 2027. They talk about Michigan’s stated goals of reducing student stress and mental health strain and encouraging academic exploration, while raising questions about equity (why only one college and one semester), whether students should have choice, and potential downstream impacts on prerequisites and professional pathways like med school, law school, and CPA eligibility. They also compare the idea to ungrading/specs grading research, note differences across institutions like Caltech and MIT, and reflect on polarized public reactions and broader skepticism toward higher education.</p><p>https://www.npr.org/2026/08/12/nx-s1-5928197/university-michigan-freshmen-letter-grades-pilot-fall-2027</p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/14/university-michigan-new-grading-policy-freshmen-deserves-an-f/</p><p>https://www.today.com/video/university-of-michigan-drops-letter-grades-for-pass-or-fail-system-268174405586</p>