A recent change in policy at Harvard Business School has added fuel to an ongoing debate at Wharton.
Harvard ended its seven-year-old practice of barring students from releasing their grades to potential employers last month.
Wharton MBA students have followed a student-led policy of grade non-disclosure for the past 10 years. But, professors say that Harvard's decision to allow their MBA students to show their transcripts during the recruitment season might tempt Wharton to change its own program, professors say.
Most of Wharton's MBA students, however, want their own school's policy to remain the same. Grades are currently off-limits for recruiters until graduation.
"Grade disclosure would enhance competition to an unhealthy degree," said Isaac Bright, a second-year MBA student.
Currently, the top 10 percent of MBA students make the honor roll -- a fact that they can report to prospective employers. Divulging grades, however, is not allowed.
Some Wharton faculty members agree that a policy like Harvard's would force students to take their studies more seriously. The current policy, they say, is too lax.
Finance professor Andrew Metrick said that he has become more strict in the classroom to compensate for some students' carefree approach to study, which he feels the policy has fostered.
Metrick also said he noticed a general decline in the level of seriousness apparent in each graduating class. He added that though instituting grade disclosure would not fix the culture entirely, it would certainly help.
Other MBA students see possible harm in implementing a disclosure policy.
But despite concerns of possible grade-grubbing and fierce competition, Metrick stressed that MBA students are "grown-ups" and that competition would not run rampant because "these students have been working for things other than grades."
Still, MBA students at Penn do not expect policy revisions at Wharton.
"The solution is deeper; it means taking good classes and making them better," second-year MBA student Ari Chester said. "Classes should be requiring more frequent assignments and grading [of] class participation."
According to Bright, the benefits of non-disclosure include a more collegial environment in which students can exchange knowledge more readily.
For MBA candidates, a policy of non-disclosure allows students to explore other facets of Wharton, he added.
"As an MBA student, a lot of growth in learning comes from engagement in the community," Chester said. "Disclosure encourages people to take more challenging classes while taking the stress off to participate in other activities."
Neither Chester nor Bright believe that Harvard's decision will have a significant bearing on Wharton students.
"I don't think the student body will change its policy, but it's a wakeup call for the administration to be proactive in improving the school," Chester said.
For your eyes only? - Harvard MBAs can now show grades to potential employers - Wharton MBAs cannot show transcripts, a policy intended to reduce focus on grades - Some Wharton professors say grade disclosure would lead to more serious work
