UPDATE
September 28, 2026
The first-semester grade covering pilot program in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts has been paused. University leadership requested the pause to allow further input, analysis, and discussion. The pilot was initially scheduled to begin in fall 2027. College of LSA Dean Rosario Ceballo and her leadership team remain committed to continuing to work with the LSA community to help first-year students establish early academic momentum, support their well-being, and inspire their intellectual curiosity.
The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is working collaboratively with faculty and staff across campus to design a pilot program to help foster an environment where college students can acclimate to the demands of a University of Michigan education and pursue new academic challenges.
This pilot program would designate all LSA first-year students’ first-semester grades as pass (P) or no credit (NC) on their transcripts. While LSA students would still receive grades and instructor feedback in every course as they always have, final grades would not be recorded on their external transcripts and would not be reflected in their GPAs. LSA students’ official transcripts would state that all grades in the first semester are automatically designated as P/NC. Students would be able to request to have grades uncovered for graduate or professional school applications, as well as other opportunities.
Why Cover Grades in the First Semester?
Helping all students establish early momentum has been recognized as the most important element in U-M’s campus-wide Student Success Initiative. We believe that covering grades would help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals.
Our goal is to 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. For example, they can explore a subject that may not come easily to them or take a course in a new field without the fear that a low grade may have long-term consequences. LSA is investing in students’ well-being and growth by fostering a culture of connection and collaboration—rather than competition.
How Would Grade Covering Work?
The university would retain internal records of the grades LSA first-year students earn during their first semester for purposes of compliance, academic advising, potential academic awards and scholarships, and for students’ use as they apply for internships, majors outside of LSA, or other academic and professional opportunities. Students would receive either a passing or no-credit designation for their courses taken during their first semester, which would not factor into GPA calculations.
Beginning in their second semester, LSA students’ grades would be recorded in their transcripts and reflected in their GPAs for all subsequent semesters they are enrolled at U-M.
