To: All
Well – HBS has changes its grade non disclosure policy – I think its a horrible move….
14 December 2005
Dear Students,
I am writing to let you know that, beginning with the Class of 2008, Harvard Business
School will no longer prohibit students from disclosing the grades they earn in the MBA
program. I recognize that this decision will not be welcome news, for I understand most of you
would prefer to continue with our current policy.
In making this decision, I have listened carefully to concerns voiced by current students,
and sought the views of faculty, staff, former students, recruiters, and other key constituencies
who also care deeply about this issue and its effect upon HBS. I have consulted extensively with
Rick Ruback, the MBA Program Chair, and sought advice from the Senior Associate Deans who
comprise the faculty leadership. After carefully weighing the arguments on both sides of the
issue, and in light of our long-standing mission and reputation, I believe this is the right decision
for the School.
Fundamentally, I believe it is inappropriate for HBS to dictate to students what they can
and cannot say about their grades during the recruiting process. I believe you and your
classmates earn your grades and should be accountable for them, as you will be accountable for
your performance in the organizations you will lead in the future. You each should be at liberty
to provide recruiters with the fullest possible picture of your accomplishments — including your
academic performance while here at the School. In addition, Harvard Business School's
reputation is deeply rooted in the transformational experience we provide in our classrooms, an
experience that is vitally dependent upon maintaining high academic standards. The relatively
recent policy of prohibiting disclosure is inconsistent with our commitment to these standards.
In individual emails and conversations as well as other larger forums for discussion and
the recent Student Association poll, current students have raised a range of concerns related to
disclosure, including decreased cooperation and collaboration in the classroom, less willingness
to take risks (including course selection during the second year), grading practices, and a
potentially less diverse mix of incoming students. I have talked at length with faculty, with staff,
and with former students, particularly those who were here before we had prohibitions on
disclosure. Based on their extensive experience at the School (including faculty who themselves
were students at HBS), most believe the transition back to our original policy can be managed —
with careful consideration of the implementation issues many of you have raised — to minimize
any such effects. Based on our own experience over many years, Rick and I agree with this
view.
I would hope we can use the coming year, working together, to plan the implementation
of the change, and to make detailed recommendations on ways to monitor and mitigate any
detrimental outcomes. I have asked Rick and the MBA program group to engage student
leadership on this implementation, forming student-faculty working groups to develop guidelines
we can apply for the Class of 2008. We all want to ensure that HBS remains an outstanding
learning environment on every dimension.
I am grateful for the time and energy many of you have taken to share your thoughts and
opinions over the last several weeks. Your passion is a clear measure of how much you value
your experience here, and how much you wish to strengthen and improve the MBA program.
We share that deep commitment to the School and to the very special educational experience that
it provides.
Best regards,
Jay Light
