? 前美國(guó)財(cái)政部長(zhǎng)和前哈佛大學(xué)(Harvard)校長(zhǎng)拉里·薩默斯表示:“現(xiàn)在哈佛大學(xué)大多數(shù)學(xué)生的分?jǐn)?shù)全都是A,這令我感到困擾。”
常春藤盟校的教育以其極為嚴(yán)格的要求而聞名。但對(duì)于被哈佛錄取的學(xué)生來說,在學(xué)業(yè)上的成功比你想象的更為普遍。
根據(jù)《哈佛校報(bào)》(Harvard Crimson)的報(bào)道,在哈佛大學(xué)2024屆畢業(yè)生中,約有五分之一的學(xué)生報(bào)告稱,他們的平均學(xué)分績(jī)點(diǎn)(GPA)幾乎完美,接近4.0。近80%的學(xué)生平均GPA為3.7或更高——相當(dāng)于A-或更高。
如此高的分?jǐn)?shù)引起了教師們對(duì)分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹的擔(dān)憂,因?yàn)橄鄬?duì)而言,學(xué)業(yè)上的成功并不突出。
哈佛大學(xué)教授兼名譽(yù)校長(zhǎng)拉里·薩默斯對(duì)《財(cái)富》表示,高等教育機(jī)構(gòu)的優(yōu)先事項(xiàng)不正確。
他表示:“我認(rèn)為這些機(jī)構(gòu)應(yīng)該進(jìn)行反思,他們應(yīng)該知道以追求真理為己任的重要性,而不僅僅是關(guān)注社會(huì)正義;他們應(yīng)該追求機(jī)會(huì),而不是追求身份政治;他們應(yīng)該崇尚卓越,而不是一味地慶祝相互自尊。”
“例如,現(xiàn)在哈佛大學(xué)大多數(shù)學(xué)生的分?jǐn)?shù)全都是A,這令我感到困擾。我認(rèn)為在一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)更加激烈、卓越變得更加重要的時(shí)代,這并沒有向我們的學(xué)生傳遞正確的信息?!?
分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹問題
去年的一份報(bào)告顯示,2020-2021學(xué)年,哈佛大學(xué)得到A段成績(jī)的學(xué)生比例,比十年前上升了近20%,這引發(fā)了新的討論。
然而,分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹在高等教育中并不是一個(gè)新問題。多年來,公立和私立機(jī)構(gòu)學(xué)生的平均GPA一直在緩慢上升。例如,在耶魯大學(xué)(Yale),學(xué)生的平均成績(jī)經(jīng)過疫情期間大幅上升之后持續(xù)升高,這引發(fā)了人們對(duì)于分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹的擔(dān)憂。2010-2011學(xué)年,所有年級(jí)67%的學(xué)生成績(jī)?yōu)锳或A-。到2021-2022學(xué)年,這一比例上升到82%。
幾十年來,薩默斯一直在表達(dá)他對(duì)這個(gè)問題的擔(dān)憂,部分原因是他擔(dān)心學(xué)生在就業(yè)市場(chǎng)上處于不利地位。
他在2002年告訴學(xué)生:“我們必須注意不能讓哈佛大學(xué)的學(xué)生處于不利地位。我們必須確保在學(xué)校里表現(xiàn)優(yōu)異的學(xué)生,在雇主眼中能夠得到同樣的認(rèn)可?!?/p>
分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹影響的不僅僅是成績(jī)單上的一個(gè)數(shù)字。學(xué)術(shù)榮譽(yù)和其他榮譽(yù)通常以學(xué)生的GPA為依據(jù),這些榮譽(yù)在學(xué)生爭(zhēng)取第一次實(shí)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì)或第一份工作時(shí)都可能至關(guān)重要。
無法讓自己脫穎而出,可能對(duì)Z世代造成雙重打擊,因?yàn)樗麄儽纫酝魏螘r(shí)候都更難找到入門級(jí)工作。根據(jù)Handshake的數(shù)據(jù),超過一半的2025屆畢業(yè)生對(duì)即將開始的職業(yè)生涯感到悲觀。
但一旦應(yīng)屆畢業(yè)生找到工作,一些老板就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)他們并不像宣傳的那樣出色。據(jù)報(bào)道,六成雇主解雇了Z世代員工,原因是他們?nèi)狈?dòng)力、組織能力和專業(yè)精神。
哈佛的問題
除了成績(jī)問題,哈佛大學(xué)因其對(duì)校園反猶太主義運(yùn)動(dòng)的處理而登上了全美媒體的頭條,這最終導(dǎo)致了哈佛大學(xué)校長(zhǎng)克勞迪亞·蓋伊的辭職。
薩默斯去年在X上發(fā)帖稱,他“對(duì)哈佛理事會(huì)和哈佛領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層是否有決心和能力讓這里繼續(xù)成為猶太人和以色列人可以繁榮發(fā)展的地方,已經(jīng)失去了信心”。
他對(duì)《財(cái)富》雜志表示,在全美各地的校園里,對(duì)反猶太主義的處理方式突顯了高等教育機(jī)構(gòu)并不總是對(duì)所有觀點(diǎn)持開放態(tài)度,包括更保守的觀點(diǎn)。
哈佛目前還面臨著兩個(gè)倡導(dǎo)團(tuán)體的訴訟,他們稱2023年春季和秋季的事件造成了一個(gè)敵對(duì)的教育環(huán)境。
盡管經(jīng)歷了動(dòng)蕩不安的一年,但哈佛在2024財(cái)年獲得了其史上第二高的捐款,現(xiàn)用捐款總額超過5.25億美元。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
? 前美國(guó)財(cái)政部長(zhǎng)和前哈佛大學(xué)(Harvard)校長(zhǎng)拉里·薩默斯表示:“現(xiàn)在哈佛大學(xué)大多數(shù)學(xué)生的分?jǐn)?shù)全都是A,這令我感到困擾?!?/p>
常春藤盟校的教育以其極為嚴(yán)格的要求而聞名。但對(duì)于被哈佛錄取的學(xué)生來說,在學(xué)業(yè)上的成功比你想象的更為普遍。
根據(jù)《哈佛校報(bào)》(Harvard Crimson)的報(bào)道,在哈佛大學(xué)2024屆畢業(yè)生中,約有五分之一的學(xué)生報(bào)告稱,他們的平均學(xué)分績(jī)點(diǎn)(GPA)幾乎完美,接近4.0。近80%的學(xué)生平均GPA為3.7或更高——相當(dāng)于A-或更高。
如此高的分?jǐn)?shù)引起了教師們對(duì)分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹的擔(dān)憂,因?yàn)橄鄬?duì)而言,學(xué)業(yè)上的成功并不突出。
哈佛大學(xué)教授兼名譽(yù)校長(zhǎng)拉里·薩默斯對(duì)《財(cái)富》表示,高等教育機(jī)構(gòu)的優(yōu)先事項(xiàng)不正確。
他表示:“我認(rèn)為這些機(jī)構(gòu)應(yīng)該進(jìn)行反思,他們應(yīng)該知道以追求真理為己任的重要性,而不僅僅是關(guān)注社會(huì)正義;他們應(yīng)該追求機(jī)會(huì),而不是追求身份政治;他們應(yīng)該崇尚卓越,而不是一味地慶祝相互自尊?!?/p>
“例如,現(xiàn)在哈佛大學(xué)大多數(shù)學(xué)生的分?jǐn)?shù)全都是A,這令我感到困擾。我認(rèn)為在一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)更加激烈、卓越變得更加重要的時(shí)代,這并沒有向我們的學(xué)生傳遞正確的信息?!?
分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹問題
去年的一份報(bào)告顯示,2020-2021學(xué)年,哈佛大學(xué)得到A段成績(jī)的學(xué)生比例,比十年前上升了近20%,這引發(fā)了新的討論。
然而,分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹在高等教育中并不是一個(gè)新問題。多年來,公立和私立機(jī)構(gòu)學(xué)生的平均GPA一直在緩慢上升。例如,在耶魯大學(xué)(Yale),學(xué)生的平均成績(jī)經(jīng)過疫情期間大幅上升之后持續(xù)升高,這引發(fā)了人們對(duì)于分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹的擔(dān)憂。2010-2011學(xué)年,所有年級(jí)67%的學(xué)生成績(jī)?yōu)锳或A-。到2021-2022學(xué)年,這一比例上升到82%。
幾十年來,薩默斯一直在表達(dá)他對(duì)這個(gè)問題的擔(dān)憂,部分原因是他擔(dān)心學(xué)生在就業(yè)市場(chǎng)上處于不利地位。
他在2002年告訴學(xué)生:“我們必須注意不能讓哈佛大學(xué)的學(xué)生處于不利地位。我們必須確保在學(xué)校里表現(xiàn)優(yōu)異的學(xué)生,在雇主眼中能夠得到同樣的認(rèn)可?!?/p>
分?jǐn)?shù)膨脹影響的不僅僅是成績(jī)單上的一個(gè)數(shù)字。學(xué)術(shù)榮譽(yù)和其他榮譽(yù)通常以學(xué)生的GPA為依據(jù),這些榮譽(yù)在學(xué)生爭(zhēng)取第一次實(shí)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì)或第一份工作時(shí)都可能至關(guān)重要。
無法讓自己脫穎而出,可能對(duì)Z世代造成雙重打擊,因?yàn)樗麄儽纫酝魏螘r(shí)候都更難找到入門級(jí)工作。根據(jù)Handshake的數(shù)據(jù),超過一半的2025屆畢業(yè)生對(duì)即將開始的職業(yè)生涯感到悲觀。
但一旦應(yīng)屆畢業(yè)生找到工作,一些老板就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)他們并不像宣傳的那樣出色。據(jù)報(bào)道,六成雇主解雇了Z世代員工,原因是他們?nèi)狈?dòng)力、組織能力和專業(yè)精神。
哈佛的問題
除了成績(jī)問題,哈佛大學(xué)因其對(duì)校園反猶太主義運(yùn)動(dòng)的處理而登上了全美媒體的頭條,這最終導(dǎo)致了哈佛大學(xué)校長(zhǎng)克勞迪亞·蓋伊的辭職。
薩默斯去年在X上發(fā)帖稱,他“對(duì)哈佛理事會(huì)和哈佛領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層是否有決心和能力讓這里繼續(xù)成為猶太人和以色列人可以繁榮發(fā)展的地方,已經(jīng)失去了信心”。
他對(duì)《財(cái)富》雜志表示,在全美各地的校園里,對(duì)反猶太主義的處理方式突顯了高等教育機(jī)構(gòu)并不總是對(duì)所有觀點(diǎn)持開放態(tài)度,包括更保守的觀點(diǎn)。
哈佛目前還面臨著兩個(gè)倡導(dǎo)團(tuán)體的訴訟,他們稱2023年春季和秋季的事件造成了一個(gè)敵對(duì)的教育環(huán)境。
盡管經(jīng)歷了動(dòng)蕩不安的一年,但哈佛在2024財(cái)年獲得了其史上第二高的捐款,現(xiàn)用捐款總額超過5.25億美元。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
? Larry Summers, the former United States Secretary of the Treasury and Harvard president, says: “I’ve been very troubled that at Harvard now the most common grade is a straight A.”
Getting an Ivy League education is known for being extremely rigorous. But for Harvard students who get admitted, classroom success is more widespread than you might think.
About one in five students from Harvard’s graduating class of 2024 reported having a nearly perfect GPA, rounding to 4.0, according to the Harvard Crimson. Nearly 80% had an average GPA of 3.7 or greater—or roughly an A– or higher.
These high grades have caused concern among the faculty about grade inflation since relative course success is less distinct.
Larry Summers, Harvard professor and president emeritus, tells Fortune that higher education institutions do not have their priorities straight.
“I think that there is a need for these institutions to reflect on the importance of pursuing truth as their mission, rather than social justice, pursuing opportunity rather than pursuing identity politics, and venerating excellence rather than simply celebrating mutual self-esteem,” he says.
“For example, I’ve been very troubled that at Harvard now the most common grade is a straight A. I think a time when we have a more competitive world and when excellence is ever more important, I don’t think that’s sending the right type of signal to our students.”
The issue with grade inflation
New conversations at Harvard were sparked last year when a report revealed that A-range grades were up nearly 20% for students in the 2020–21 academic year, as compared to the decade prior.
However, grade inflation is not a new concern in higher education. The average GPAs of students at both public and private institutions have been slowly rising for years, and at Yale, for example, recent concerns about grade inflation arose after averages continued to rise after a stark spike during the pandemic. Sixty-seven percent of all grades were either an A or A– in the 2010–11 academic year. By 2021–22, that number had risen to 82%.
Summers has been voicing his concerns about the issue for decades, in part due to worries about students being disadvantaged in the job market.
“We’ve got to be sensitive not to put Harvard students at a disadvantage,” he told students in 2002. “We’ve got to make sure a student who performs well is seen that way by employers.”
Grade inflation can have a wider impact than just a number on a transcript. Academic honors and other distinctions are often based on a student’s GPA—all of which may matter when trying to secure a first internship or job.
Not being able to distinguish themselves can be a double whammy for Gen Zers, who are struggling more than ever to secure entry-level jobs—with over half of the class of 2025 reported feeling pessimistic about soon starting their careers, according to Handshake.
But once recent graduates land a job, some bosses are finding them to not be as great as advertised. Six in 10 employers have reportedly fired Gen Z workers, citing a lack of motivation, organization, and professionalism.
Trouble at Harvard
Beyond grades, Harvard had made national headlines for its handling of anti-Semitism on campus—something that eventually led to the resignation of Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay.
Summers posted on X last year that he had “l(fā)ost confidence in the determination and ability of the Harvard Corporation and Harvard leadership to maintain Harvard as a place where Jews and Israelis can flourish.”
At campuses across the country, he tells Fortune, the handling of anti-Semitism has highlighted how institutions of higher education have not always been open to all viewpoints, including more conservative perspectives.
Harvard is also currently facing a lawsuit by two advocacy groups over what they describe as a hostile educational environment from incidents in the spring and fall of 2023.
Despite a rocky year, Harvard saw its second-highest donation haul in its history, with more than $525 million in current-use donations in fiscal year 2024.