Graduation with Honors

The diplomas of graduating students receiving associate and baccalaureate degrees will show honors categories based on the following scale:

Cum Laude	3.50 - 3.74
Magna Cum Laude	3.75 - 3.89
Summa Cum Laude	3.90 - 4.00

The honors categories listed above are designed to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of individual students and are announced at the commencement ceremony. The award of an honors designation is based on a student’s cumulative GPA. The honors category is initially calculated based on the cumulative grade point average of all course work taken at Cumberland University by the end of the semester preceding the commencement ceremony. Associate degree candidates must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Cumberland University to be eligible for honors distinction. Baccalaureate degree candidates must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at Cumberland University to be eligible for honors distinction. Of these 60 credit hours, 15 must be in upper division (300-400 level) courses. If a student’s final cumulative GPA would allow a higher honors category than was determined at the end of the semester preceding the graduation semester and announced at commencement, the student will receive a substitute diploma indicating the higher category. In like fashion, if the student’s final GPA warrants a lower honors category, then this designation will be assigned to the student’s final record. Courses may not be repeated for the purpose of raising an individual’s honors category. The student’s official transcript will reflect the appropriate honors category, if any, based on the cumulative GPA of all Cumberland University course work taken. Honors categories do not apply to graduate students.