Harvard Law School Tweaks Grading Policy

Harvard Law School administrators modified the wording of its grading policy following student concern about a recent change that attached numerical values to the Pass-Fail system, according to the student body president.

Dean’s Scholar Prizes—awarded by professors for academic excellence in a course—were described on student transcripts as equivalent to five points on the grading scale. The explanation has been reworded to state that Dean’s Scholar prizes are worth an extra point in addition to the four points awarded for an honors grade, according to Law School Student Government President Jennifer D. Dein.

The wording will not affect how grades are calculated, but has assuaged fears among students that a Dean’s Scholar Prize would be regarded as equivalent to an “A.”

The wording adjustment was made after the Law School student government sent a letter to Law School Dean Martha L. Minow last week expressing concerns about a recent change to the grading policy that introduced point values to the high-pass system. Four points are awarded for a High Pass, three for Pass, two for Low Pass, and 0 for a failing grade.

The changes—which were intended to make Latin Honors calculations more precise—were implemented over the summer but were never publicly announced.

After many students voiced concerns that the new point system would devalue Passing grades, Dein said she decided to draft a letter on behalf of the student body.

“Many students were under the impression that the official grade change (to H, P, and LP) was intended to take some of the pressure off of grades,” the letter to Dean Minow stated.

“However, with the new method of determining Latin honors, it encourages both employers and students to view the Dean’s Scholar as an A, an H as a B, a P as a C; and an LP as a D,” it continued.

Though the latest wording change was never announced, it was disclosed to Dein earlier this week.

Harvard Law School spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.

The adjustment “definitely is an improvement,” Dein said. “It helps in emphasizing that students are being evaluated with Hs, Ps, and LPs, and a Dean’s Scholar is a special achievement.”

Dein said she still hopes the administration will address students’ other worries about grades.

The letter also cited student concern that employers will use the system to make direct numerical comparisons of students’ transcripts.

“If the numbers are primarily for the school to determine Latin Honors, there does not seem to be a reason for the employers to have the information at their fingertips,” the letter said.

“While they do not expect the school to hold a forum each time the administration changes a policy, many students would like some sort of communication in advance of such changes. In the absence of prior notice, some students may get the mistaken impression that the school is hiding something from its students,” it continued.

—Staff writer Zoe A. Y. Weinberg can be reached at zoe.weinberg@college.harvard.edu.