Academic Honors

Students participating in Commencement may wear pins, ribbons, cords (as detailed in our Cord/Stole Policy) and/or stoles (as detailed in our Cord/Stole Policy) from national honor societies recognized by the University. Students may not wear medallions, except for Honors Program Thesis Medallions and Student Marshal Medallions.

University honor cords are single ropes worn over the robe. The cords come in three colors. . . gold, crimson, or white.

• Summa Cum Laude...with Highest Distinction ...3.80 - 4.00...gold cord
• Magna Cum Laude...with High Distinction...3.50 - 3.79...crimson cord
• Cum Laude...with Distinction...3.25 - 3.49...white cord

Undergraduate students who have achieved academic honors will receive their honor cord from the college faculty marshal on the day of the ceremony, and they will be seated according to the honor conferred.

Names listed in the program with the designations Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude are provided by the office of the Dean of the College and are based on grade point averages at the beginning of the term. Grades from this semester will not be included in honors calculations until certification for the diploma.

You may confirm your honor designation by checking the proof of the Commencement Program. If you think there is an error, you must talk with the College Graduation Analyst. If the honor is incorrect, have the analyst edit the program proof. After the yet to be announced date the analyst must write a statement to the Coordinator of Commencement and Student Affairs Events.

Graduate Students do not have academic honors, but may wear cords awarded previously.

Each College will identify the undergraduate student with the highest GPA to act as its Student Marshal. Student Marshals are recognized by their Marshal's medallion and will lead the college across the stage.