The University of Michigan will nix letter grades for first-semester freshmen, a policy the school hopes will help students “start strong” and “curb the mental health crisis.” The program will apply to students in the school’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. The university plans to continue recording letter grades for compliance and advising, though they will not be reflected on the student’s transcript or in their GPA calculation. The University of Michigan’s move comes as universities across the country are reevaluating their grading procedures. “As grades cluster, they cease to convey useful information about relative student achievement,” the committee wrote.