Honors

Academic Distinction

General academic attainment of graduating seniors will be recognized through the awards of With Distinction, With Highest Distinction, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, based solely on the student’s academic average at the University of Mary Washington. The level of attainment required for each award is as follows :

To be graduated Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude, a student must have earned at least 60 credits on which quality points can be computed (UMW graded credits, not pass/fail and not transfer credits).

To be graduated With Distinction or With Highest Distinction, a student must have earned at least 30 credits, but less than 60 credits, on which quality points can be computed (UMW graded credits, not pass/fail and not transfer credits).

Departmental Honors

Many academic departments have programs in place to recognize exceptional work in the major or in another area. Departmental Honors may include an extensive research paper or project. Whatever type of work is required by the individual department, must be submitted to the library after honors have been awarded. In the middle of the Spring semester, each department will be solicited for potential candidates for honors. All potential candidates are notified of all deadlines and procedures to follow if indeed they achieve honors. Departmental Honors are noted on the students permanent record and in the Commencement Program.

For more information see Departmental Honors Guidelines.

Dean’s list

A student carrying at least 12 graded credits of new coursework on which quality points may be computed and who attains a grade-point average of 3.50 or better on all work taken for graded credit in a semester will be placed on the Dean’s List of Honor Students. Decisions for the printed Dean’s List are based on a student’s record as it stands at the official close of the semester grading period. A temporary grade (I or G) will postpone consideration for the Dean’s List; however, once this grade is converted to a permanent letter grade, the student’s grade-point average will be calculated and, if appropriate, a Dean’s List notation will be made on the student’s permanent record.

Presidents list

A student carrying at least 12 graded credits of new coursework on which quality points may be computed and who attains a grade-point average of 4.00 on all work taken for graded credit in a semester will be placed on the President’s List of Honor Students. Decisions for the printed President’s List are based on a student’s record as it stands at the official closed of the semester grading period. A temporary grade (I or G) will postpone consideration for the President’s List; however, once this grade is converted to a permanent letter grade, the student’s grade-point average will be calculated calculated and, if appropriate, a President’s List notation will be made on the student’s permanent record.