Changes

==Academic Decline==

==Academic Decline==

In 2001, Harvard was focused upon as part of the controversy regarding ''meritocracy'', in which unwarranted high GPA's (Grade Point Averages) are awarded. While in 1940 C-minus was the most common GPA at Harvard, and in 1955 only 15 percent of undergraduates had a GPA of B-plus or higher, in  the year 2000, 50% in of all the grades given were As or A-minuses, with just six percent being C-pluses or lower. More than 90 percent of the class of 2001 had earned grade-point averages of B-minus or higher.

In 2001, Harvard was focused upon as part of the controversy regarding ''meritocracy'', in which high but unwarranted GPA's (Grade Point Averages) were awarded. While in 1940 C-minus was the most common GPA at Harvard, and in 1955 only 15 percent of undergraduates had a GPA of B-plus or higher, in  the year 2000, 50% in of all the grades given were As or A-minuses, with just six percent being C-pluses or lower. More than 90 percent of the class of 2001 had earned grade-point averages of B-minus or higher.

In a Harvard Crimson article, noted conservative Harvard professor Harvey Mansfield contended that  "Grade inflation got started … when professors raised the grades of students protesting the war in Vietnam..." "At that time, too, white professors, imbibing the spirit of the new policies of affirmative action, stopped giving low grades to black students, and to justify or conceal this, also stopped giving low grades to white students." The problem was essentially seen as the predominance of the notion of self-esteem, "in which the purpose of education is to make students feel capable and 'empowered,' and professors should hesitate to pass judgment on what students have learned." Such assertions resulted in no small controversy.  

In a Harvard Crimson article, noted conservative Harvard professor Harvey Mansfield contended that  "Grade inflation got started … when professors raised the grades of students protesting the war in Vietnam..." "At that time, too, white professors, imbibing the spirit of the new policies of affirmative action, stopped giving low grades to black students, and to justify or conceal this, also stopped giving low grades to white students." The problem was essentially seen as the predominance of the notion of self-esteem, "in which the purpose of education is to make students feel capable and 'empowered,' and professors should hesitate to pass judgment on what students have learned." Such assertions resulted in no small controversy.  

Harvard alumni and author Ross Douthat attributed this problem partly to socioeconomic differences, and noted that "Harvard students are creatively lazy, gifted at working smarter rather than harder", being brilliant largely in their tactics "to achieve a maximal GPA in return for minimal effort."<ref>"The Truth About Harvard," by Ross Douthat, March 2005 The Atlantic Monthly; adapted from his book, Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class</ref>  

Harvard alumni and author Ross Douthat attributed this problem partly to socioeconomic differences, and noted that "Harvard students are creatively lazy, gifted at working smarter rather than harder", being brilliant largely in their tactics "to achieve a maximal GPA in return for minimal effort."<ref>"The Truth About Harvard," by Ross Douthat, March 2005 The Atlantic Monthly; adapted from his book, Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class</ref>

==References==

==References==