Latin honors requirements change this year

The change in the policy for Latin honors requirements has confused many seniors this year. They are not sure if they fall under the new policy or the old policy, which for many, means the difference between graduating cum laude or not.

The old policy held the following required GPA ranges and minimum credits to receive Latin honors: cum laude – 3.35 to 3.64, magna cum laude – 3.65 to 3.94, summa cum laude – 3.95 to 4.00. All must have a minimum of 30 credits with grades of A through D- at Millersville, with the inclusion of transfer credits factoring into the GPA.

The new policy declares the recipient must fall between the following GPA ranges and minimum credits to receive Latin honors: cum laude – 3.5 to 3.74, magna cum laude – 3.75 to 3.94, summa cum laude – 3.95 and 4.00. All must have at least 60 credits of Millersville course work. Transfer credits do not factor into the GPA.

During the 2006-2007 year, the Academic Policy Committee began revisions to the established Latin honors requirements. According to University Registrar Candace Deen, “Concern was raised with the old policy because Millersville took transfer credits into consideration which made students upset who did poorly at other schools, and as a result had their GPA lowered.”

The revisions were finished in May 2007, and announcements were made to the students who were admitted during the 2006-2007 school year. These students were admitted with a student handbook that held the old policy, but would be affected by the new policy. Letters, announcements, faculty notifications, and website postings were all made to notify these students of the changes and how it affected them. According to Deen, students who graduate after the December 2009 commencement will be held to the new policy’s requirements for receiving Latin honors.

The goal for these changes was to create a set of common Pennsylvania curriculum, where requirements for Millersville matched sister schools around the state. Other schools had different requirements, and the Academic Policy Committee looked at their requirements for Latin honors and Dean’s list, and looked at the data they had of students by GPA. “We want it to be more selective,” Deen said, “We wanted to show honors that were more reasonable, where cum laude had more than magna cum laude, and magna cum laude had more than summa cum laude.”

The committee was encouraged to review them and looked at which Millersville students were in the Latin honors categories under the old rules, and who would be in the categories under the new rules. Another concern for the committee was that Millersville was the only university that had Latin honors requirements lower than Dean’s list requirements. “If the Dean’s list starts at a 3.5 (GPA) then Cum Laude should be a 3.5,” Deen said.

Transfer students were also notified of the changes. “During the transition period,” Deen explained, “We counted transfer credits if they helped students get Latin honors, and we discounted transfer credits if they hurt the student’s GPA. Now, we do not count transfer credits. We can’t control the standards of other schools.”

Deen offered advice to current seniors who are confused by the changes, “All current students need 60 credits and must have earned a 3.5 GPA. The Associate Provost includes the in-progress classes as well. We look for a minimum of 3.5 GPA, but if you have a 3.49 we round up. Also, if you have in-progress classes and you are on the border line of getting Latin honors, you may not get to wear the honor cords or have it printed in the bulletin at graduation, but after classes are over and your grades are reported, if your GPA and credits meet the requirements, it will be credited on the diploma and on the official transcript.”

The process took several years. The plans were approved on March 20, 2007, reviewed by the Dean May 2007, and plans were put in place in the Fall 2007 semester to utilize the changes by the Fall 2009 semester.

For more information, or clarification as to where your individual case falls, contact the Registrar’s Office, located in the Lyle Building, or call their number at 717-872-3035 to make an appointment.