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“My grade is an A-, but I almost have an A. Can you round up?” This question and similar grade-related questions have been asked of me several times throughout my nearly decade-long career as a psychology professor and director of a psychological assessment clinic.

In my first few years as a bright-eyed, self-conscious professor, I always held my breath when I submitted final grades. Students are paying thousands of dollars each year, racking up extraordinary student loan debt to obtain an education. I could at least do my part by giving them the grade they earned.

Recently, the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts announced the rollout of the Grade Covering Pilot Program for first-year students. For these students, first-semester grades will be recorded as a pass P or no credit NC on their transcripts. This is all done in an effort to “curb the mental health crisis” among young adult college students.

This pilot program misses the mark. Students need to know their standing in a course, and an official academic record, such as a transcript, should reflect that. Although the pilot program notes that students will still receive grades on assignments and instructor feedback, the simplified binary grading........

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