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Electronic Appendix to CEPC 05/06-09
April 6, 2006
To: St. Olaf College Faculty
Fr: CEPC
Re: Proposed revision: Catalog policy concerning honors: Additional Data in Support of Rationale
Rationale:
The faculty last revised the honors requirements for the class of 1981. Before that, the minimum honors requirements were as follows: cum laude: 3.2; magna cum laude: 3.5; summa cum laude: 3.8.
In 1981 , there were 525 students in the graduating class. A total of 220 students, or 42% of the class, graduated with honors, as follows: 147 students (28%) were awarded their diploma cum laude; 56 (10.6%) magna cum laude; and 17 (3%) summa cum laude.
For the class of 2005 , as of the April 25, 2005 senior profile, 402 seniors out of 692 (58%) were eligible to graduate with honors, as follows: cum laude 214 (31%); magna cum laude 146 (21%); summa cum laude: 42 (6%).
For the class of 2006 (720 students total) , under the current GPA stipulations for graduation honors, as of March 16, 2006, the number and percentage of students at each level of honors are as follows:
Summa cum laude: 64 students; 9%
Magna cum laude: 157 students; 22%
Cum laude: 212 students; 29%
Percentage of the class eligible for honors: 60%
For the class of 2006, if the proposed motion were in effect for the current year, the number and percentage of students for each type of honors would be as follows:
Summa cum laude: 38 students; 5.3%
Magna cum laude: 91 students; 12.6%
Cum laude: 91 students; 12.6%
Percentage of the class eligible for honors: 30.5%
A survey on grading practices, conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) in the fall of 2004 (419 institutions responding), reveals that St. Olaf’s current cut-offs for honors are quite low compared to those of the institutions responding to the AACRAO survey.
Summa cum laude :
For four-year institutions (77 reporting): ~35% use GPA of 3.80-3.89; ~56% use GPA of 3.90 or above. For institutions of 1,000-2,499 (112 reporting): ~29% use GPA of 3.80-3.89; ~54% use GPA of above 3.90.
For institutions of 2,500-4,999 (51 reporting): ~37% use GPA of 3.80-3.89; ~41% use GPA of above 3.90.
Magna cum laude :
For four-year institutions (77 reporting): ~35% use GPA of 3.60-3.69; ~60% use GPA of 3.70-3.79.
For institutions of 1,000-2,499 (112 reporting): ~25% use GPA of 3.60-3.69; ~48% use GPA of 3.70-3.79.
For institutions of 2,500-4,999 (51 reporting): ~16% use GPA of 3.60-3.69; ~47% use GPA of 3.70-3.79.
The rest use GPA above or below.
Cum laude :
For four-year institutions (77 reporting): ~22% use GPA of 3.25-3.49; ~59% use GPA of 3.50-3.59; ~9% use GPA of 3.60-3.69.
For institutions of 1,000-2,499 (112 reporting): ~25% use GPA of 3.25-3.49; ~57% use GPA of 3.50-3.59; ~8% use GPA of 3.60-3.69.
For institutions of 2,500-4,999 (51 reporting): 25% use GPA of 3.25-3.49; ~56% use GPA of 3.50-3.59; ~2% use GPA of 3.60-3.69.
The rest use GPA above or below.
Class of 2006, Number of students @ GPA 3.3-4.0 as of March 16, 2006
Count of CUMGPA |
|
CUMGPA |
Total |
3.3 |
8 |
3.31 |
9 |
3.32 |
12 |
3.33 |
5 |
3.34 |
5 |
3.35 |
9 |
3.36 |
5 |
3.37 |
7 |
3.38 |
6 |
3.39 |
3 |
3.4 |
11 |
3.41 |
8 |
3.42 |
7 |
3.43 |
5 |
3.44 |
9 |
3.45 |
7 |
3.46 |
8 |
3.47 |
8 |
3.48 |
8 |
3.49 |
4 |
3.5 |
9 |
3.51 |
8 |
3.52 |
7 |
3.53 |
9 |
3.54 |
6 |
3.55 |
9 |
3.56 |
6 |
3.57 |
6 |
3.58 |
4 |
3.59 |
4 |
3.6 |
8 |
3.61 |
4 |
3.62 |
7 |
3.63 |
6 |
3.64 |
7 |
3.65 |
9 |
3.66 |
4 |
3.67 |
6 |
3.68 |
10 |
3.69 |
2 |
3.7 |
9 |
3.71 |
3 |
3.72 |
6 |
3.73 |
6 |
3.74 |
5 |
3.75 |
12 |
3.76 |
4 |
3.77 |
7 |
3.78 |
4 |
3.79 |
7 |
3.8 |
8 |
3.81 |
8 |
3.82 |
6 |
3.83 |
4 |
3.84 |
6 |
3.85 |
6 |
3.86 |
9 |
3.87 |
1 |
3.88 |
7 |
3.89 |
3 |
3.9 |
4 |
3.91 |
10 |
3.92 |
3 |
3.93 |
7 |
3.94 |
1 |
3.95 |
2 |
3.96 |
3 |
3.97 |
4 |
3.98 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
Grand Total |
435 |
