The University of Michigan is pausing its proposed pilot program that would “cover” first-semester grades of freshmen in the university’s College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts, the Ann Arbor university said, after critics argued it wouldn’t prepare students for the rest of their time at college and in the workforce.

“The first-semester grade covering pilot program in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts has been paused,” the University of Michigan said in a Sept. 28 statement posted to its website. “University leadership requested the pause to allow for 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.”

President Domenico Grasso said the proposal had become “the subject of extensive media coverage,” in a message to LSA faculty. The media attention, which Grasso said “distorted” the university’s intentions and the “academic strength and resilience of our students,” put the pilot program at risk.

“I worry further that our students could bear the consequences of those misperceptions, including being unfairly portrayed as coddled or unprepared for the demands of a rigorous Michigan education,” Grasso said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. As you know, our students arrive exceptionally well-qualified, and they were always going to receive the intense, meticulous, and constructive feedback and grading that characterizes a Michigan education.”

Grasso added that he spoke with Provost Laurie McCauley and Ceballo before asking the college to pause the program pending further review.

The pilot was first announced by Ceballo in a 2025 address and was expected to be implemented in fall 2027. The program would’ve designated all first-year, first-semester grades as pass or no credit on students’ transcripts, according to UM’s website.

Students in LSA would still receive grades and feedback from professors, but the final grades wouldn’t be recorded on external transcripts or reflected in their grade point averages.

The university would still retain internal records for purposes of compliance, academic advising, academic awards and scholarships, and for students’ use as they apply for internships, other majors or other academic and professional opportunities.

The college previously said the program would help the roughly 3,500 students admitted to LSA every year “acclimate to the demands of a University of Michigan education and pursue new academic challenges.” Ceballo also said in a previous statement in the University Record that the pilot program would also address student stress, depression and anxiety.

The backlash since the program was publicized last month was immediate, reverberating on social media channels and conservative media outlets like Fox News. Among the critics was former Michigan tight end Jake Butt, a Big 10 Network analyst who likened the grade covering to “participation trophies” and said it would blunt the ability of students to grow.

‘Back to the drawing board’

Regent Sarah Hubbard said in a post on X that the pause was “a good decision.”

“There are a lot of questions (about the pilot) that need to be answered,” Hubbard said. “A number of our stakeholders had a lot of questions and concerns and wanted review.”

Hubbard said the board had no place in reviewing or approving the change and it was only brought to a few members of the board in a brief conversation. She added she wasn’t surprised at the level of criticism the proposal received.

“We have a new president now, this is something that needs to go back to the drawing board,” she said.

satwood@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: University of Michigan pauses grade covering program after pushback

Reporting by Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News

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