Yale Law School Drops Numerical Basis for Grades

Yale's Law School has introduced a non-numerical grading plan in an effort to eliminate intense grade competition under the numerical system and to encourage students to participate in extra-curricular activities.

By the new system, which goes into effect at the end of the first term, instructors will mark papers excellent, good, satisfactory, or failure. Number values ranging from three for excellent to zero for failure will be given for the purposes of computing a weighted average and awarding prizes.

Wesley A. Sturges, Dean of the Yale Law School, declared that "the Yale Law School has lost faith in the numerical system," by which a tenth of a point may mean the difference of 15 of 20 places in a student's class standing.

Sturges believes that grading on a quality basis will increase interest in such activities as the "Law Journal" and Moot Court.