Academic Catalog

Policy Summary

Northern Arizona recognizes students with outstanding academic achievement each term and at the end of their undergraduate academic career.

Reason for This Policy

To outline the recognition of outstanding academic achievement by undergraduate students.

Entities Affected by this Policy

• All colleges and instructional units
• Office of the Registrar

Who Should Know This Policy

• All colleges and instructional units
• Office of the Registrar
• University Advising
• Student Affairs

Definitions

Summa Cum Laude is the highest of three levels of Latin Honors categories, translated from the Latin, Summa Cum Laude means "With Highest Praise" and is pronounced: "soo muh koom loud deyh".

Magna Cum Laude is the second of the three levels of Latin Honors categories, translated from the Latin, Magna Cum Laude means "With Great Praise" and is pronounced: "mah nuh koom loud deyh".

Cum Laude is the third of three levels of Latin Honors Categories, translated from the Latin, Cum Laude means: "With Praise" and is pronounced: "koom loud deyh".

Policy

Dean's List

The Dean's List is awarded to undergraduate students each fall and spring term who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in at least 12 graded units.

Latin Honors

Baccalaureate Latin Honors represent academic achievement by undergraduate students in relation to their peers and are awarded at graduation (degree awarding).

Latin Honors is specific to each college, with summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude awarded to the top 5 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent, respectively, of students in each college based on cumulative GPA thresholds.

Baccalaureate Latin Honors are granted to undergraduate students who:

• Meet one of the Latin Honors cumulative GPA thresholds that represent the top 5 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent of undergraduate student GPAs in the college.
• Successfully complete 30 or more units of credit earned from enrollment at Northern Arizona University.

Latin Honors GPA thresholds are calculated using data from graduating students for the preceding five years. For colleges with fewer than 300 graduates, a weighted average of all college Latin Honors GPA thresholds is used to determine the Latin Honors GPA threshold.

Responsibilities

• Office of the Registrar - Calculate Latin Honors and Dean's list and add the award(s) to the transcript. Calculate cumulative GPA thresholds and apply appropriate honors.
• Academic College - Send Dean's List communication to students.