Hopkins has recently taken steps to de-emphasize the covered grades policy amidst a new round of debates among administration and faculty members regarding the continued viability of the policy.
Guides conducting walking tours of campus have been instructed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions not to prominently feature the school's covered grades policy in their introduction of the school, but have not been barred from discussing the policy with tour participants.
"Because there is ongoing discussion and controversy about the policy, I'm very reluctant to have it. Let's make sure we don't make it a leading point in our conversation with prospective students," said William Conley, dean of enrollment and academic services.
"What they were told is that it's not really something we want to lead on. It shouldn't be a selling point for Hopkins to have covered grades. It's an interesting academic policy," John Bader, associate dean for academic advising, said.
"I think that [the covered grade policy] is something that will be discontinued," said Shannon Miller, a member of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Members of the administration of the University have asserted that academic policies such as covered grades are regularly discussed, and that there is nothing particularly salient about this controversial topic.
Students and faculty have repeatedly brought the issue to the administration's attention.
The Admissions Office annually reviews its print and electronic media. While it has determined that the covered grades policy is not a feature that differentiates it from peer institutions, information about the covered grades policy remains in Admissions literature.
"This particular controversy is very controversial and raises a lot of concerns held by a lot of people, especially the faculty, which is why it keeps coming back as an issue to talk about," Bader said.
Bader expressed concern that the covered grades policy would send the wrong message to prospective students, representing Hopkins as a difficult school that warranted a first semester without letter grades.
"Our academic environment is challenging, but it's nothing anymore burdensome than another top-rated college. When you see this as a prominent feature when you're coming here, you might say 'Wow what are they protecting me from?' We're not protecting you from anything," Bader said.
Members of the faculty have expressed concern that because of the covered grades policy, students are not as well prepared for typical year-long freshmen courses such as calculus, physics and chemistry, which continue into the graded second semester.
The administration has conducted studies of grade point averages across the freshman class during both the first and second semesters.
They have concluded that the majority of the student body performs at a lower overall academic level due to poor study habits formed during the covered first semester.
"If you're under the impression that grades don't matter, you're not as focused or disciplined as you should be, and therefore, you create habits that are not as useful that you have to unlearn when faced with real grades. So what was supposed to be a way to transition you nicely into college is actually a way to transition you into poor habits," Bader said.
Members of the administration believe that covered grades creates a culture of "getting courses out of the way" and encourages students to take courses that are often too difficult in order to earn credit.
"We know that it is a popular policy; We would argue of course that it is popular for all the wrong reasons. I think a lot of students may not fully appreciate that they are being punished for excellence," Conley said.
"You all work hard, you deserve the benefits of your hard work. Why not give you credit for it? If you're not taking your studies seriously, why should you get a free pass? Every other student in America is making an adjustment in college life ?- why can't we? I personally don't believe we need to protect anybody," Bader said.
In order for the covered grades policy to be formally abolished, the University's Curriculum Council would have to report to the Academic Council, which holds the final word on academic policy.
The Curriculum Council is made up of faculty and students, while the Academic Council solely comprised of faculty members.
