The proposal, which would allow for four additional As beyond the 20% cap, was developed by a committee appointed in November 2024 by Amanda Claybaugh, the dean of undergraduate education, to investigate grading policies and alternatives. If approved, the policy would take effect in fall 2027, with the Harvard Crimson student newspaper first reporting on it earlier this year. Student opposition to the cap is strong, with a survey by the undergraduate student government finding about 94% of students oppose it.
The proposal has faced criticism from students, including those on the Crimson's editorial board, who argued it falls flat in trying to resolve grading concerns. Additionally, the proposal would introduce a new internal 'average percentile rank' system, relying on raw scores rather than GPA to determine honors and awards. The exact date of the faculty vote next week and specific alternatives considered by the committee remain unknown.