Why is grade inflation happening? We answer this with a question: Who wants tougher grading standards? Administrators want high graduation rates. Departments want to attract students to enroll in their courses and major in their subject areas. Faculty who are easier graders are rewarded with higher scores in teaching evaluations. Furthermore, as colleges increase the number of adjuncts they employ, these less-stable faculty members may worry more about the impact of student satisfaction and enrollment on their continued employment, and increase grades accordingly.21
