The following is a repost (found originally here), followed by my commentary:
Created by: Masters Degree
This is a fascinating piece. My reaction is that this phenomenon has everything to do with money. Tuition “inflation” is a causal factor in grade “inflation.” (My use of quotation marks around “inflation” is purposeful, but it’s another issue.) More students today need scholarships/aid to attend college, so more colleges provide that aid–but in so doing, they also require a minimum GPA, meaning that most students are trying to maintain a certain GPA in order to keep their funding. And often, that required GPA equates to a B average or higher. If we really want educated students, perhaps we should focus on finding alternative ways to support higher ed.
Erin Anne Clark 