Research from the University of Michigan highlights an unintended consequence of modern grading practices in colleges, particularly those using Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas. The study found that students with last names starting with letters toward the end of the alphabet (U to Z) receive lower grades—about 0.6 points less on a 100-point scale—compared to those with names starting with A to E. This grading bias appears more significant in the social sciences and humanities.
