Wow.
What a scam, if this is true.
I took an advanced accounting class during one of those short semesters (2 hour classes, 3 days per week for 9 weeks rather than the normal 18), averaged a 93% and got a B. I was livid. I went to the professor to complain. He told me the short semester classes attracted the most serious students and he curve graded. The whole class did so well that 96% was the cut-off point for an A-.