Grade inflation—the gradual increase in average GPAs (grade-point averages) over the past few decades—is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased.
解析：
本句话主干：“Grade inflation is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education”， “the gradual increase in average GPAs (grade-point averages) over the past few decades”为同位语，解释 “Grade inflation”的含义。 “in which” 为从属连词，引导定语从句，修饰 “consumer era in higher education”。
翻译：
成绩膨胀(过去几十年平均绩点的逐渐提高)通常被看作是高等教育所处消费者时代的产物。在这个时代下，学生都被学校当作是需要被取悦的消费者。
