OTHERS SAY: Don't drop letter grades | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

A commentary argues against eliminating letter grades as colleges experiment with alternatives amid pressure from AI-assisted work. The piece points to the University of Michigan’s plan: starting fall 2027, some first-semester freshmen in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will receive pass or no-credit marks instead of traditional grades. While the rationale is understandable—AI can produce polished assignments without class attendance—the author says dropping letter grades doesn’t fix the underlying problem. Grades remain necessary for comparing progress for parents, employers, graduate programs, scholarship committees, and students. The article also cites grade inflation, widespread cheating, and a culture that treats an A as an entitlement.