Nearly half of Williams students graduated with honors last year, in contrast to under one-third in 1985. Only 8 percent of students at Stanford get Cs and Ds, and there is no such thing as a failing grade. The article concentrates on selective colleges, where we'd expect standards to be relatively high. The Journal article puts grade inflation down to professorial softness. Alas, the maverick professor toiling to salvage competent academic standards may find students who vote with their feet and avoid his classes or opt for less demanding teachers.
Lower enrollments can readily qualify that teacher for non-renewal of contract.
In a buyer's market, where colleges are competing for students, a professor who insists on high standards is much more likely to get in trouble than the students who fail to meet these standards. So high grades for students, many of whom are undoubtedly doing mediocre work, are no surprise. After all, they must get their degrees and jobs first. There is ample time to get knowledge later. Consequently, generous grades bring in good evaluations.