W&L and universities nationwide question if and how to handle rising expectations and results.
At Washington and Lee University, a grade point average (GPA) that once placed a student comfortably in the middle of their class would now fall well below average. If a student graduated from W&L in 2005, they needed a GPA above 3.325 to be in the top half of their class. By 2025, that number climbed to 3.715. The causes of this shift, and whether it is a problem, are disputed.
The trend mirrors a national pattern of rising grades. Much of this shift occurred during the years impacted by COVID-19 policies. In 2019, the top third of the W&L graduating class had a GPA of 3.622 or higher. By 2023, that number rose to 3.815.
At the end of the 2020 winter semester, students could choose to receive a regular letter grade or simply a pass/fail designation. Due to the extraordinary circumstances of a mid-semester lockdown, “it was a time where students were given a lot of leeway in general,” according to Economics Department Chair Linda Hooks. Grade optionality did not extend beyond that one semester.
University Investment Committee examines Makena Capital partnership and conservative investment strategy after endowment underperformance contributes to budget constraints.
As part of The Spectator’s America 250 speaker series, Benson will discuss his experience as a professional journalist and the need for a free press in the era of America’s 250th anniversary.
Although Operation Epic Fury is a start, further action is needed in Iran to recapture the regional security promised by the Carter Doctrine and to gain a strategic advantage on our rivals.
W&L and universities nationwide question if and how to handle rising expectations and results.
At Washington and Lee University, a grade point average (GPA) that once placed a student comfortably in the middle of their class would now fall well below average. If a student graduated from W&L in 2005, they needed a GPA above 3.325 to be in the top half of their class. By 2025, that number climbed to 3.715. The causes of this shift, and whether it is a problem, are disputed.
The trend mirrors a national pattern of rising grades. Much of this shift occurred during the years impacted by COVID-19 policies. In 2019, the top third of the W&L graduating class had a GPA of 3.622 or higher. By 2023, that number rose to 3.815.
At the end of the 2020 winter semester, students could choose to receive a regular letter grade or simply a pass/fail designation. Due to the extraordinary circumstances of a mid-semester lockdown, “it was a time where students were given a lot of leeway in general,” according to Economics Department Chair Linda Hooks. Grade optionality did not extend beyond that one semester.