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REGULATION TITLE:

Academic and Graduation Honors

APPLIES TO:

Undergraduate Students

ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY:

Office of the Registrar

Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs

Division of Academic & Student Affairs

APPROVED BY:

Kentucky State University Board of Regents

## EFFECTIVE DATE:

August 8, 2025

NEXT REVIEW DATE:

August 8, 2028

## REGULATION STATEMENT:

Kentucky State University (KSU) encourages high standards of academic excellence and formally acknowledges outstanding student achievement. This regulation outlines the criteria for semester-based honors (Dean's List and Academic Honor Roll) and for honors awarded upon graduation (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, and Salutatorian).

## DEFINITIONS:

## Academic Honor Roll

An academic honor awarded to part-time students who achieve a high GPA in a given semester.

## Cum Laude

An honor awarded upon graduation signifying "with praise."

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## Dean's List

An academic honor awarded to full-time students who achieve a high GPA in a given semester.

## Graduation Honors

Honors awarded at the time of graduation based on a student's final cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).

## Magna Cum Laude

An honor awarded upon graduation signifying "with great praise."

## Salutatorian

The baccalaureate degree candidate with the second-highest academic standing in the graduating class.

## Summa Cum Laude

An honor awarded upon graduation signifying "with highest praise."

## Valedictorian

The baccalaureate degree candidate with the highest academic standing in the graduating class.

## PROCESS:

## Semester Honors

• Dean's List: To be included on the Dean's List for a semester, a student must meet the following criteria:

Earn 12 or more semester credit hours for which quality points are awarded.

○ Achieve a grade point average of 3.2 or better for that semester.

- Academic Honor Roll: To be included on the Academic Honor Roll for a semester, a student must meet the following criteria:

○ Be enrolled in 6 to 11 semester credit hours for which quality points are awarded.

○ Achieve a grade point average of 3.2 or better for that semester.

## Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded to graduating baccalaureate degree students based on their final cumulative GPA as calculated from all coursework attempted at KSU.

- Summa Cum Laude: To graduate Summa Cum Laude, a student must have a final cumulative GPA of 3.80 or higher.

- Magna Cum Laude: To graduate Magna Cum Laude, a student must have a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.60 but less than 3.80.

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Cum Laude: To graduate Cum Laude, a student must have a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 but less than 3.60.

## Valedictorian and Salutatorian Selection

- Selection: The Valedictorian and Salutatorian are the students with the highest and second-highest cumulative GPA, respectively, in the baccalaureate graduating class.

- Tie-Breaker: In the event of a tie for the highest or second-highest cumulative GPA (e.g., multiple students with a 4.0 GPA), the final selection will be based on the following criteria, applied in sequential order until a distinction is made:

○ 1st Criterion: The total number of credit hours earned with a grade of “A.”

○ 2nd Criterion: The total number of credit hours earned at KSU.

○ 3rd Criterion: The total number of leadership positions in extracurricular organizations.

4th Criterion: An essay contest decided by a vote by a committee composed of KSU's Deans.

## REFERENCES AND RELATED MATERIALS:

• Grade System Policy

## CONTACTS:


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Subject</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Office</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Telephone</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>E-mail</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>General Questions</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Office of the Provost</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>(502) 597-6946</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Michael.Dailey@kysu.edu</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Regulation Questions</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Office of the Registrar</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>(502) 597-6234</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Yolanda.Benson@kysu.edu</td></tr></table>

## HISTORY:


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Revision Type</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Date of Issuance/Revision</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Drafter(s)/Editor(s)</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Issued (New Regulation)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>June 2025</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Zach Atwell</td></tr></table>