As students return to campus this week, some universities - including the University of Michigan - are rolling out pass or no-credit grading for incoming freshmen in their first semester, replacing traditional letter grades in an effort to reduce academic pressure.
Licensed psychotherapist Brooke Bendix of Therapyology said the shift comes at a critical time, as many students are moving away from home for the first time. “I think that brings up a lot of anxiety, and what we’re doing with taking away the pressure of the academic with the grades is that we’re putting more focus on how we adjust to college,” Bendix said.
Bendix said the change could help students in more ways than one, noting that removing the fear of a poor grade allows freshmen to focus on building independence rather than fixating on academic performance.
She also encouraged parents to embrace the possibility of setbacks as part of the growth process. “It’s okay if there’s some failure. Failure you learn from. That is the most important thing,” Bendix said, adding that her practice tells clients to “fail forward.”
For parents struggling with the transition, Bendix recommended seeking their own support systems rather than over-monitoring their children, saying it allows parents to “show some calm behaviors” while their children learn to navigate adulthood on their own.
Click on the video above to watch the segment. You’ll find more information at therapyology.com.