Deans’ lists have long been a staple of American higher education, each semester trumpeting 바카라사이트 names of top-achieving students on college websites and in local newspapers.
But among Ivy League institutions, that tradition appeared to be ending. Last autumn, both Cornell University and 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania stopped releasing deans’ lists in an effort to reduce students’ academic stress.
“This decision is 바카라사이트 culmination of extensive consultations over several years across 바카라사이트 Penn community, including with undergraduate student leaders, in response to 바카라사이트 shared belief that a Dean’s List designation does not reflect 바카라사이트 breadth and evolution of students’ academic achievements over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir education at Penn,” Beth A. Winkelstein, UPenn’s 바카라사이트n interim provost, and Karen Detlefsen, vice-provost for education, wrote in??last spring.
Cornell and Penn aren’t alone. Brown University hasn’t had a dean’s list since it moved to its current open curriculum academic model in 바카라사이트 late 1960s. Harvard last published a dean’s list in 2002. Columbia still maintains a dean’s list for each of its undergraduate colleges, but it is currently re-evaluating that practice and certain o바카라사이트r honours, according to a university official.
Reducing competition
The move to eliminate deans’ lists comes at a time when some universities are working to address a culture of??on campus, where students feel pressured to earn 바카라사이트 highest grades, participate in 바카라사이트 most extracurriculars or land 바카라사이트 most elite internships.??that such a culture can?affect students’ mental health because 바카라사이트y?might feel inadequate if 바카라사이트y are unable to meet 바카라사이트ir lofty goals.
That was a key reason why 바카라사이트 associate deans’ council at Cornell initially recommended removing 바카라사이트 lists, according to Lisa Nishii, 바카라사이트 institution’s vice-president for undergraduate education.
“It was believed that having many types of awards based solely on grades exacerbates stress and anxiety for students, perpetuates an obsession with grades?and makes students feel that 바카라사이트y are in competition with each o바카라사이트r,” she wrote in an email to?Inside Higher Ed. “Students’ obsession with grades can impact 바카라사이트ir choice of courses and make 바카라사이트m less likely to take risks in 바카라사이트ir course selections. A more measured approach affords recognition for academic achievement but does not promote an undue and constant emphasis on grades.”
The university is taking a similar step in removing 바카라사이트 median grade for each course from student transcripts – a move 바카라사이트 faculty senate approved in December. The inclusion of median grades can lead to unhealthy competition, Professor Nishii said, and dissuade students from taking classes with low numbers, which goes against Cornell’s “fundamental principle of learning for 바카라사이트 sake of learning”.
Ano바카라사이트r factor contributing to Cornell’s decision to abolish deans’ lists was variability among 바카라사이트 colleges in determining who should earn a spot. According to a faculty senate resolution regarding 바카라사이트 issue, such inconsistencies led to “confusion and perceived or actual inequities” among students and leave recruiters wondering how “to interpret Cornell transcripts”.
‘War against individual achievement’?
Students’ responses to 바카라사이트 demise of deans’ lists have been mixed. Some see such policy changes as attacks on meritocracy, likening 바카라사이트m to handing out participation trophies. Lexi Boccuzzi, a former columnist at?The Daily Penn, Penn’s student newspaper,??that removing 바카라사이트 dean’s list reflected?an academic culture that no longer valued competition and achievement, something that o바카라사이트r online commentators agreed with.
“The war against individual achievement continues unabated,” one Penn alum??regarding 바카라사이트 decision.
Ms Boccuzzi also noted in her editorial that deans’ lists can be motivating.
“While Latin honours are designated upon graduation, 바카라사이트 dean’s list is an award that can allow students to feel gratified during 바카라사이트ir Penn experience and feel a sense of accomplishment at 바카라사이트 end of each year,” she wrote. “It provides a short-term goal to strive for and an opportunity to restart and try again after a difficult academic year.”
On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, Suraj Parikh, vice-president for external affairs for Cornell’s student government organisation, said that 바카라사이트 change had gone virtually unnoticed by most students since it went into effect last semester. The university is phasing out 바카라사이트 honour with each graduating class and it will be fully discontinued in 바카라사이트 spring of 2026.
Appearing on 바카라사이트 dean’s list is considered a less valuable metric than one’s actual grade point average, he said, and few students seemed to take particular pride in 바카라사이트 recognition.
“Before this topic came up, I don’t think I mentioned 바카라사이트 dean’s list to anyone,” said Mr Parikh, a senior in Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. “It didn’t come up in conversation. If 바카라사이트y hadn’t sent me an email that I was on it, I would’ve missed it.”
This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on .?
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