Academic Honors: Start meeting criteria now

With graduation around the corner, your son or daughter may be hearing about certain seniors receiving “Academic Honors.” They may become intrigued about how to get their name listed with these top students and ask, “How does one receive academic honors?”

After much research, your son or daughter will find that this “honor” is given based on whether or not the student has completed a certain criteria during his or her admittance at Webster University. All graduating students receiving honors are recognized at commencement in May. These university and departmental honors are accorded at the time of graduation for recipients of baccalaureate degrees.

University-wide academic honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) are awarded to students who have achieved a high grade point average across the curriculum. Students' academic records must demonstrate excellence in a variety of academic disciplines—“breadth and depth”, including 3000 and 4000 classes outside their fields of study. It is important to keep in mind that "graded hours" do not include classes that issued "pass" or "credit.” Also, "cumulative grade point average" includes all Webster University courses plus any transfer courses being used by the student to attain his/her 128 credit hours.

Then during the student’s senior year, students may gain entry into the pool of candidates who will be considered for University-wide honors in one of the two following ways:

1.) All students whose transcripts include all of the following will automatically be included in the pool.

• A minimum of 45 graded credit hours at Webster University.
• A minimum of 90 graded credit hours accumulated in the entire college career.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7.
• A minimum of six graded courses outside of the major in addition to the general education requirements for the student's degree. Students in the School of Communications must take only three graded courses outside their major in addition to their general education requirements.
• A minimum of two graded 3000 level or above outside the student's field of study.

2.) Department chairs and site directors may also nominate exceptional students whose course of study puts them outside the parameters of the average student's curriculum vitae (e.g., Conservatory students, students from the international campuses). Recommendations are based on a student’s coverage through breadth and depth of the general criteria of across disparate disciplines in addition to high grades.

The Honors Board will then examine the pool of candidates and determine honors on the basis of cumulative G.P.A. and breadth and depth across the curriculum. The Board reserves the right to use its discretion in making these evaluations. After due deliberation the Board will award honors according to the traditional labels of cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

Criteria for selection for Individual department award departmental honors are determined by the individual department. Encourage your son or daughter to see their academic advisor for more information.

The Dean’s List is compiled each academic semester to recognize academic excellence. Qualifying students have completed at least 12 credit hours at Webster University (of which no fewer than 6 credit hours must have regular letter grades) and have earned no Incomplete grades for that semester. The following criteria are used to determine the awards:

• students who have completed 12–63 credit hours and who are in the top 10% of their class as defined by the current semester's G.P.A.
• students who have completed 64 or more credit hours, who are in the top 10% of their class as defined by the current semester's G.P.A., and who have taken at least one 3000- or 4000-level course not in their major or related areas as defined by the University.