After receiving news that 2002-2003 school year grade point averages (GPAs) had returned to at least an 18-year high, some Faculty members are concerned that Harvard’s grade inflation epidemic has returned.

Harvard’s grade inflation problem made national news in 2001, when the Boston Globe reported that over 90 percent of Harvard students graduated with honors.

In response, the faculty discussed the issue extensively and decided to cap the overall number of honors at 60 percent, while encouraging professors to be vigilant about their grading practices.

In addition, they voted to switch GPAs from a 15- to a four-point scale.

For the next two years, grades dipped.

According to a report and letter distributed by Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 on Monday, “A” grades dropped from 23.8 percent of all grades in 1999-2000 to 23.4 percent in 2000-2001, and to just 22 percent of grades in 2001-2002.

The mean GPA fell both those years as well, going from 12.67 in 1999-2000 to 12.58 in 2001-2002.

But more recently, the trend seems to have reversed.

The data released Monday reported the average GPA for 2002-2003 back at 12.68, or 3.41 according to the new four-point scale.

In addition, the report said that “A” grades made up 22.4 percent of all grades students received last year. A-minuses spiked as well, to 25.4 percent of all grades.

That preponderance of high grades has Faculty members like Baird Professor grade of ‘A’ is supposed to represent extraordinary distinction,” Feldman said. “According to the most recent results, we’re giving 24 percent of our students A’s [after correcting for pass/fail grades]. That’s a strange distinction.”

In an interview on Monday, Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield ’53 said he was glad Gross had drawn attention to grades but that more reform was needed.

“I’m very pleased that a special letter was dedicated to the subject,” said Mansfield. “I’m not very pleased that grade inflation continued, however, to go up last year.”

Feldman says he has been concerned about the issue for several years. He addressed the Faculty in the spring of 2002 when the grading scale was switched.

Feldman said that since grades were dropping, he did not pursue the matter further.