Graduation Information: Distinction and Honors
Academic Distinction is only given to undergraduates and is determined approximately three weeks before graduation using the Institutional GPA (GPA of courses taken at East Texas A&M) from the prior semester as final grades will not have officially been posted at the time of the ceremony. Students who achieve academic distinction will be provided a medallion (at no cost) on the day of the commencement ceremony. Stoles and cords are not provided for academic distinction.
If you are in the College of Innovation and Design (competency-based), you may or may not have distinction at the time of the ceremony. If you look at the top of your DegreeWorks and there is no institutional GPA listed, then you have not taken courses with us previously and will not have any prior ETAMU grades to pull distinction from. We will, however, update your GPA and award any earned distinction once final grades are processed.
Levels of Distinction
East Texas A&M determines levels of distinction based on the following GPAs:
- Summa Cum Laude: 3.90-4.00
- Magna Cum Laude: 3.70-3.89
- Cum Laude: 3.50-3.69
Honors
Honors, High Honors, and Highest Honors are awarded, as determined by the Hearing Committee, to students in the Honors College based on defense of their thesis. The Honors College provides pins and fourrageres as well as stoles for Regents Scholars.
Distinction and honors will be listed in the program and will be announced with the student’s name as they cross the stage. If your distinction level changes after the ceremony, we will be happy to exchange your medallion.
Due to the inherent nature of the higher required GPA for Masters and Doctoral candidates, academic distinction and honors are not recognized at these levels.