Slippery Rock University faculty and administration place a high value on the academic accomplishments of its students. SRU’s academic reputation and its stature in the community of universities are tied inextricably to the scholastic achievements of its students. The university’s rich and extensive resources provide a foundation of support for the realization of this goal. Scholarly and dedicated university faculty strive to challenge students’ intellectual development and their achievement of excellence. The university community believes that student efforts in the attainment of high levels of scholarship deserve appropriate recognition and officially acknowledges student achievement throughout the academic year.

Academic Honors Convocation
In the Spring, the university observes its Academic Honors Convocation, a formal ceremony with regalia and academic procession. The convocation provides for the recognition of Deans’ List students and the twenty students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes who attain the highest cumulative averages for coursework completed at Slippery Rock University. These individuals are presented with the President’s Award of Achievement. The convocation also serves to set the tone for an academic atmosphere where excellence in scholastic endeavors is given the highest priority.

Academic Honors Month
During the month of April many of the university colleges and departments honor their students who have excelled academically. The events take various forms, including banquets that are held on and/or off campus where recognition awards are presented. In addition, the director of the Honors Program coordinates a month-long program of lectures, seminars and presentation of papers by Slippery Rock University students and faculty and by special guests.

Deans’ List
Undergraduate students who earn an adjusted semester quality point average of 3.500 or higher on a schedule of at least 12 new attempted and earned credits will achieve the Deans’ List as long as their cumulative QPA is at least 2.000. Student teachers may achieve Dean’s List status if they have earned 94 or more credits and have a cumulative QPA of 3.50 or higher at the end of the semester in which they student taught. Repeated courses and P/NC courses will not be computed into the 12 credit-hour minimum. The Office of University Public Relations will submit names of these students to their hometown newspaper for publication. During the Academic Honors Convocation, these students will be formally presented to the university community. There is no Deans’ List during the summer term. Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for the Dean’s List.

Honors at Graduation
At both the December and the May commencement ceremonies, the university recognizes students who have met the academic criteria for Latin honors.

• Undergraduates working on their first baccalaureate degree may qualify for honors at graduation. Post-baccalaureate students will not be eligible
  for these honors.
  
• A minimum of 61 credits must be earned at Slippery Rock University. These credits may include: all credit course work; all credits earned through SRU’s credit by exam program, including the NLN Mobility Profile II, administered by the Department of Nursing; SRU credit earned with a “P” grade; and credits earned as a visiting student at another SSHE institution.
  
• Credits earned by any other form of credit by exam (AP, CLEP, PEP, DSST and NLN (other than the Mobility Profile II), credits earned at other universities (transfer & transient) and non-SRU course work taken abroad will not count toward the 61 credit minimum.
  
• The following cumulative QPA’s must be earned to qualify for honors at graduation.
  
  

  Summa Cum Laude (With the Highest Honor)	3.800 - 4.000
  Magna Cum Laude (With High Honor)	3.600 - 3.799
  Cum Laude (With Honor)	3.500 - 3.599

No restrictions will apply to students who repeat grades of D or F and who still meet the criteria for honors at graduation.

At commencement the names of these honor students are specially designated in the commencement program. In addition, the Summa Cum Laude graduates wear around their necks medallions, which are gifts of the Slippery Rock University Alumni Association; Magna Cum Laude graduates wear white honor cords; and Cum Laude graduates wear green honor cord.

Recognition of honors at graduation will be based upon students’ cumulative QPA at the end of the semester preceding graduation. Designation of honors on the university transcript will not be determined until the students’ final semester grades are submitted and an official, final cumulative QPA is calculated.

Honors Program
See Honors Program in the Academic Departments and Programs section.