University of Michigan Pauses Pass–No Credit Pilot

Less than two months after announcing a pass–no credit grading pilot program, the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts hit pause on the plan, The Michigan Daily first reported Tuesday. The college had planned to debut the new system in the fall of 2027. 

In a letter to College of Literature, Science, and the Arts leaders and shared with Inside Higher Ed, university President Domenico Grasso said the pilot had become the “subject of extensive media coverage, much of which consists of distorted narratives about our intentions, and, most concerningly, about the academic strength and resilience of our students.” 

“It has become clear that the misconceptions and questions raised about the program put the pilot’s success at risk,” Grasso wrote. “I worry further that our students could bear the consequence of those misconceptions, including being unfairly portrayed as coddled or unprepared for the demands of a rigorous Michigan education.” 

Announced in August, the pilot would have graded all first-year students on a pass–no credit system for their first semester. Students would still receive grades and feedback from professors, but those grades would not count toward their GPAs or appear on external transcripts. The program aimed to “help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals,” according to the initial announcement. 

An update posted to the university’s website states that university leaders requested the pause “to allow further input, analysis, and discussion.” Grasso’s letter did not contain details about what will happen during the pause, and a college spokesperson declined to comment on how long the pause will last or what kind of additional input the university is seeking.