This page is troubled by the Academic Council's movement to eliminate the freshmen covered grades policy. Hopkins's covered grades policy is unique and has been in existence since at least the early 1970s. Hopkins can be a relatively tough and pre-professional school, and the covered grades policy helps mitigate these issues by allowing students time to adjust to the academic intensity while exploring new intellectual horizons. This is especially important for the numerous international students who require time to adjust to living in the United States, let alone attending school here.
The covered grades policy is so unique that students have cited it as a reason they choose Hopkins over other alternatives. Far from improving Hopkins' academic quality, disallowing covered grades might actually deteriorate it. Since President Ronald Daniels has not yet revealed his decision on the motion, this page takes the opportunity to address some of the key arguments made for ending the covered grades policy.
First, some University officials are concerned that the covered grades policy creates the impression that Hopkins students are especially grade competitive and the professors ruthless graders. However, it seems more plausible that the covered grades policy actually mitigates Hopkins' reputation for being challenging and tough. Moreover, in shaping University policy, the quality of Hopkins' academic program should take priority over the public's perception of it.
Second, it is argued that freshmen who perform well in their first semester are harmed by the covered grades policy. While this may be true to some degree, the case is exaggerated for several reasons. Students still have the option to reveal their first semester freshmen grades on their unofficial transcripts and resumes – and few employers request more. Also, students who wish to transfer to another university or apply for a scholarship are allowed to have their grades officially uncovered. Lastly, students who perform well in their first semester can receive Dean's List honors to mark their achievement. If the University deems that the policy is still harmful to the high performers, then it should give freshmen the option to uncover their grades before the end of the fall semester.
Third, the paternalistic argument is made that even though students may be in favor of the covered grades policy, it harms them by encouraging bad study habits. But as young adults, students should be able to choose for themselves what is in their best interest. The student body is overwhelmingly in favor of the covered grades policy and it would be unfortunate if University officials imposed a change out of a desire to protect.
Fourth, the best argument put forth is that the covered grades policy encourages freshmen to overload, getting their toughest classes out of the way fall semester. While this may be marginally true, the policy also encourages students to discover their academic interests, extracurricular activities and the surrounding community. This is a trade-off worth making since Hopkins can be very pre-professional and tracked. The covered grades policy provides healthy balance to Hopkins's rigorous academic program, and it would be detrimental to students' intellectual and social experience to abandon it.
