Harvard University faculty have voted to implement limits on the number of A-grades that can be awarded in about one-fifth of undergraduate classes, marking the latest effort by a selective institution to address grade inflation.

The faculty overwhelmingly approved the measure, which will restrict the proportion of top grades instructors can give in affected courses. The policy represents a significant change to Harvard's grading practices and comes amid broader concerns about grade inflation at elite universities.

The decision faced opposition from students, though specific details about the nature and extent of student objections were not detailed in the faculty vote. The new grading limits will apply to approximately 20% of Harvard's undergraduate course offerings.

Harvard joins other selective colleges that have implemented similar measures to combat grade inflation, a phenomenon where the average grades awarded to students have increased over time without corresponding improvements in academic performance. Such policies aim to restore meaning to academic distinctions and maintain rigorous academic standards.

The implementation timeline and specific details about which courses will be affected by the new grading caps have not been disclosed. Faculty members will need to adjust their grading practices to comply with the new limits when the policy takes effect.