Grade Inflation in Studios

Of 2723 studio seats taken in this college in the last three years:
48% of the students have made an A level grade
2.7% have failed (75 of 2723)
3.3% have dropped (90 of 2723)
94% of the students enrolling in our studios pass the studio
84% of those make an A or a B level grade
10% were average and made C levels

I've sensed for a while now an upwardly creeping assessment level and a recalibration of how we grade collectively. Now, I've "crunched" the numbers. Here's proof of the interesting "crawl" up in inflation in studio marks:
In Fall 2005 we gave out 42% As, 35% Bs, 17% Cs, 01% Ds, 02% Fs
In Spring 2006 we gave out 46% As, 37% Bs, 10% Cs, 02% Ds, 02% Fs
In Fall 2006 we gave out 50% As, 29% Bs, 12% Cs, 02% Ds, 01% Fs
In Spring 2007 we gave out 55% As, 33% Bs, 08% Cs, 00% Ds, 01% Fs
In Fall 2007 we gave out 56% As, 31% Bs, 07% Cs, 01% Ds, 01% Fs
In Spring 2008 we gave out 57% As, 32% Bs, 07% Cs, 00% Ds, 01% Fs

Personally, I think it is important that I use the full range of grades to best assess and signal a range of qualities to my students. I started grading more broadly across the spectrum of grades last Spring and intend to continue to do so in my own teaching in the coming semester.

The university catalog says an A level grade is for an "Excellent" demonstration of learning, a B level grade is for "Good" demonstration of learning, a C level grade is for "Average" demonstration of learning, a D level grade is for "Poor" demonstration of learning, and an F is for "Failure" in demonstrating learning.

That in mind, In Spring 2008 90% of all the students who took a studio performed above average (A or B) in assessment and only 01% of the total number of seats failed a studio. I think we all should consider reigning in this situation because it raises a question of academic integrity but on the other hand for each instructor there has to be respect for academic freedom in assessment. Share this data with colleagues as you think relevant for discussion. All of this is public record.