Full-time undergraduate students who demonstrate a high level of excellence in academic work have their names placed on the academic dean’s list. The requirement for achieving the academic dean’s list is a grade point average of 3.5 or above in the preceding semester with no fewer than 12 credit hours per semester included in the grade point average computation.
The record of each undergraduate candidate for graduation with a very high grade point average is carefully reviewed by the University Committee on Honors and Awards so that appropriate recognition and honor may be accorded each student who has achieved outstanding academic success throughout his or her undergraduate years. The tentative honor, announced at commencement and released to the newspapers, is figured without the grades from the student’s last academic semester. The final honor that is put on the permanent record and diploma is based on the student’s entire academic record. Note that graduation with honors does not imply that the recipient has participated in the Honors College. For further details about graduation with University honors, contact the Honors College.
In determining academic honors, total letter-graded credits (TLC) are credits for those courses that determine the student’s grade point average. The GPA requirement will be higher than the minimum of 3.50, 3.75, or 3.90 for those students who have completed fewer than 110 TLC (or 55 TLC for associate degree candidates). See formula below.
More than 12 semester hours of “S/U” grades may increase the grade point average needed for graduation with honors. Courses taken under advanced placement, credit by exam, CLEP, etc. are considered “S/U” and do not count as letter-graded hours.
With distinction signifies a high level of academic achievement in an associate degree program and graduation with praise. The honor requires a minimum of 28 TLC and a cumulative GPA at least as high as the larger of 3.5 and [4.5 - (TLC/55)].
With highest distinction signifies the highest level of academic achievement in an associate degree program and graduation with great praise. This honor requires a minimum of 50 TLC and a cumulative GPA at least as high as the larger of 3.9 and [4.9 - (TLC/55)].
Cum laude signifies a high level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program and graduation with praise. This honor requires a minimum of 55 TLC and a cumulative GPA at least as high as the larger of 3.5 and [4.5 - (TLC/110)].
Magna cum laude signifies a very high level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program and graduation with great praise. This honor requires a minimum of 83 TLC and a cumulative GPA at least as high as the larger of 3.75 and [4.75 - (TLC/110)].
Summa cum laude signifies the highest level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program and graduation with great praise. This honor requires a minimum of 99 TLC and a cumulative GPA at least as high as the larger of 3.9 and [4.9 - (TLC/110)].
In the case of transfer credit, each record from the transfer institution(s) is studied and evaluated individually. In general, the following principles serve as guides:
The Academic Honors Policy is to apply for students graduating fall semester 2010 and thereafter.
Graduation with University Honors is one of the highest honors awarded by the University. The requirements are: