COVID-19 has made this semester more challenging than any other during our time at Harvard.
In order to prioritize student wellbeing and educational equity under these difficult circumstances, Harvard administration must adopt a universal Double A Model for the Spring 2020 semester. This would provide students with either “A” or “A-” grades for every course. We stand in solidarity with student advocates at Yale, Brown, Stanford, and UC Berkeley in calling for a universal grading system.

Harvard’s verbal commitment to diversity and equality in education must be accompanied, in practice, by consistent policy support for its most vulnerable students. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt the most equitable grading policy at a time when the student body is facing diverse financial situations, technological access, and learning environments. It is also crucial that we address the concerns of the student body as a whole, while protecting those most severely affected.

While we understand that universal measures may seem drastic, any non-universal system will actively discriminate against the most marginalized students, including those who do not have internet access, who have sick relatives, who live internationally, or who have exacerbated mental health concerns. Through the Double A Model, we also seek to protect the grading system for those who are concerned about grades for post-grad plans, ending their academic probation, or upholding scholarship requirements.

We must support these students at this time. Sign on and support equal opportunity in education!

For more information and policy specifics, check out our Double A Grading Model FAQs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pyLpVnacUhzN1jM0cYFEDtbg0IPJECDH5-u0zTKhf5I/edit?usp=sharing