Academic Honors and Awards

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List consists of full-time students whose grade point average (GPA) within a semester (at least 12 semester hours) is 3.50 or higher, and of part-time students who have averaged 3.50 or better for the last 12 semester hours of credit. Those part-time students who have been members before are eligible again once they have completed 12 semester hours since their prior listing. Semester hours earned during May and summer terms are not used in determining the Dean’s List.

Graduation Honors

Each student who has attained a 3.50 GPA at graduation will be entitled to the honor of cum laude; each student who has attained a 3.65 GPA will be entitled to the honor of magna cum laude; and each student who has attained a 3.80 GPA or above will be entitled to the honor of summa cum laude. In each case, the diploma will indicate the honor. All semesters will be used to compute this average. Graduation honors will be determined based on all courses attempted at all institutions. Students must qualify for honors on both the combined grade point average and the Adrian College only grade point average. The lower of the two GPAs will determine the level of honors.

To qualify for graduation honors, a student must complete at least 60 semester hours at Adrian College or approved off-campus programs and must be a candidate for the baccalaureate degree.

Departmental Honors

Departmental majors who have a 3.50 grade point average at the end of their junior year may write and present a project – thesis, portfolio or performance – in their senior year to be considered for departmental honors. The honors project will be directed by one or more faculty members from the student’s major department or two or more faculty members from different departments if the project is interdisciplinary. A student whose project is accepted by the department or departments will graduate with “departmental honors.”

Honors Ceremony

The Honors Ceremony is held each spring to recognize students who have received special honors during their academic career.  At this time, the list of students earning Dean’s List is published, and departmental and other awards are presented.

The Class of 1917 established the Scholarship Cup (4.0 GPA Award). Each academic year, based on grades from spring and fall semesters, the full-time students having the highest academic averages will be recognized, thereby joining the ranks of outstanding Adrian College scholars.