Honors and Awards
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must maintain a “B” average and must have carried a credit load of at least 12 semester hours. Academic achievement may be recognized by election to membership into Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society and/or one of the discipline honor societies during the junior or senior year.
Graduating with Honors
At Albany State University, the awarding of honors is calculated by the Office of the Registrar and falls into two categories:
- The recognition of graduation with honors at the commencement ceremony
- Official honors once the grades for the final semesters of attendance are posted and the GPA is recalculated.
Recognition of Graduation with Honors
In order to be recognized as graduating with honors at the commencement ceremony, students must meet the following criteria. The recognition of honors is included in the commencement program. At least 60 semester-hours of the credits used in the GPA calculation to determine honors for the bachelor’s degree must be earned at Albany State University.
Spring Ceremony – Recognition of Graduation with Honors
For those students who finish their coursework in spring, the GPA calculation includes all courses taken through the previous fall semester. However, the 60 hours required to be earned at Albany State University will include those earned in the spring semester.
Fall Ceremony – Recognition of Graduation with Honors
The GPA calculation includes all courses taken through the previous summer semester. However, the 60 hours required to be earned at Albany State University will include those earned in the fall semester.
Official Honors
The award of official honors is the only type that will be included on the student’s official diploma and transcript from Albany State University. This recalculation of the GPA is completed after all coursework is completed and all final grades are recorded.
Please note that it is possible to be receive a recognition of graduation with honors but not receive official honors or official honors at the same level if your GPA increases or decreases after the calculation of your final semester or semesters of coursework.
Spring Completion of Coursework
Students participating in the spring ceremony will complete their coursework during that spring semester. The official honors calculation will include all coursework needed to complete the award of the degree, which could increase or decrease the GPA previously used to determine the recognition of graduation with honors.
Summer or Fall Completion of Coursework
Students participating in the fall ceremony will complete their coursework during the summer or fall semester preceding commencement. The official honors calculation will include all coursework needed to complete the award of the degree, which could increase or decrease the GPA previously used to determine the recognition of graduation with honors.
Honors Calculation and Designation
GPA Calculations
Please note that both the Regents GPA (all credit earned at Albany State University) and the overall GPA (includes credit transferred from other institutions) must fall within the designated ranges. If either the Regents or overall GPA falls below 3.50, honors will not be awarded. If each GPA falls within a different range, the lower designation will be awarded.
The Regents GPA and the overall GPA can be found by logging into Banner Web, navigating to the Student Services & Financial Aid tab, and selecting View Student Information.
Baccalaureate Degree Honors Designations
One of three honors designations is possible for baccalaureate students. They are listed in the table below.
| Award | Required GPA |
|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude (Gold Honor Cord) | 3.90 – 4.00 |
| Magna Cum Laude (Blue Honor Cord) | 3.75 – 3.89 |
| Cum Laude (White Honor Cord) | 3.50 – 3.74 |
Associate and Career Associate Degree Honors Designations
For students earning an associate or career associate degree, the specific award will be “With Distinction” for an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
| Award | Required GPA |
|---|---|
| With Distinction (Red Honor Cord) | 3.50–4.00 |