health
When did a bad grade become a mental health problem?
The University of Michigan wants to help address the mental health struggles of college students by making first-semester grades matter less. The policy raises a question that extends well beyond Ann Arbor: When did feeling anxious about something become a reason to make that thing less consequential?
TL;DR
- University of Michigan will change its grading policy for first-semester students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, making grades Pass/No Credit on external transcripts starting fall 2027.
- The university states the change is partly to address a mental health crisis among college students.
- Critics argue that treating anxiety over grades as a mental health problem is flawed, as feeling bad or anxious is not the same as being unwell.
- A bad grade can provide valuable feedback and opportunities for growth, such as realizing current study habits are insufficient.
- Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations can sometimes strengthen fear, whereas facing them can build resilience.
- While declining trends in depression and anxiety are noted among college students by a university study, the policy is still being implemented.
- The policy is compared to MIT's pass/no-record system, but Michigan's explicit mental health justification is highlighted as a point of contention.
- Learning to cope with anxiety, disappointment, and failure is presented as a crucial part of development into adulthood.
- The article distinguishes between providing treatment for serious mental health issues and making difficult experiences less consequential.
- The policy may reduce stress but doesn't necessarily equate to better mental health or equip students with essential life skills.