Story perspectives

Michigan Pauses Pass/No-Credit Pilot for 18,000 Freshmen

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 11:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Grasso Pauses Grading Pilot

University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso paused the planned pass/no credit grading pilot for first-year LSA students.
University leadership requested the pause to allow further input, analysis and discussion after extensive media coverage.
The pilot, slated for fall 2027, would have replaced letter grades with pass/no credit for 18,000 LSA freshmen.
Regent Sarah Hubbard praised the pause as a good decision and said the board will revisit the proposal.

Summary

Pagnotto Warns Rankings

Freshman Tess Pagnotto warned the pass/no-credit plan could hurt Michigan’s academic rankings.
Senior Meghan Tuttle suggested hiding grades for tough upper-level courses like organic chemistry instead of first-semester grades.
Graduate student Melissa Kadri praised the pilot, saying it would let newcomers explore subjects without GPA pressure.
Junior Niloy Islam argued fairness, noting he endured hard graded courses as a freshman and should keep the system.

History

Historical Context

The 1960 California Master Plan capped UC enrollment at 27,500 and mandated tuition-free education for state residents. After Proposition 13 cut property-tax revenue in 1978, the system added fees that later became tuition, leading to the 2011 milestone when student fees first outpaced state support. These funding shocks shape today’s cautious approach to sweeping academic reforms.

1 of 3

Grasso Pauses Grading Pilot

University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso paused the planned pass/no credit grading pilot for first-year LSA students.
University leadership requested the pause to allow further input, analysis and discussion after extensive media coverage.
The pilot, slated for fall 2027, would have replaced letter grades with pass/no credit for 18,000 LSA freshmen.
Regent Sarah Hubbard praised the pause as a good decision and said the board will revisit the proposal.

1 / 3