SR 5.5.2 GRADUATION AND COMMENCEMENT HONORS
(These rules are established by and may only be amended by the elected Faculty Senators in the University Senate.)
5.5.2.1 Authority
Pursuant to KRS 164.240, the University Faculty is assigned by law the authority to recommend to the Board of Trustees those conditions of merit and circumstance that the Board may establish relating to certain honors associated with degrees. Pursuant to KRS 164.240, the University Faculty is also assigned the authority to recommend to the Board of Trustees those persons upon whom the Board may confer these honors. For the purposes of these University Senate Rules, and within the meaning of KRS 164.240, such honors conferred to students upon their graduation are referred to as “degree honors,” while such awards to others are referred to as “Honorary Degrees” (capitalized).
The Board of Trustees has delegated to the body the “University Faculty,” the Board’s final approval authority in the establishment of conditions of merit and circumstance for “degree honors” as well as its final authority to confer such honors, within the framework of the University Senate. [BoT: 12/10/1917] The Board of Trustees has specifically identified the elected Faculty Senators (as the representatives of the University Faculty) as being the body authorized to act for the University Faculty in making final policy and decisions concerning “degree honors.” [BoT: 6/10/2005; GR IV.A,C]
With respect to “Honorary Degrees,” the Board of Trustees has reserved its statutory authority to make final approval of conditions of merit and circumstance for, as well as final approval of the award of, such degrees, with the proviso that as per KRS 164.240, its final action on either conditions or nominees is contingent upon the recommendation by the elected Faculty Senators in the University Senate. [BoT: 6/10/2005; GRIV.A,C]
5.5.2.2 Conditions of Merit and Circumstance for Degree Honors
5.5.2.2.1 Undergraduate "University Honors"
Students shall be graduated "Summa Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). [US: 10/11/94; US: 4/11/94]
Students shall be graduated "Magna Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). [US: 4/11/94]
Students shall be graduated "Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 to 3.6 for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). [US: 4/11/94]
Students with a minimum of two but less than three years of work at the University shall receive the appropriate commencement honors if they attain a grade point average (GPA) of 0.2 greater than the above. The transcript shall show these credentials as "University Honors." [US: 12/13/2021]
- * Courses taken under the Study Abroad and National Exchange Student programs (and for which students pay their tuition to the University of Kentucky) are considered as courses taken at UK for purposes of both the residency requirement of SR 3.1.1.1 and for graduates to be conferred commencement honors at the time of award of their degrees under SR 5.5.2.2. [SREC: 2/14/01; SREC: 5/31/2005]
- * A student who has invoked the academic bankruptcy rul (SR 5.4.1.5) during their University career shall be considered, for the purposes of commencement honors, as having attended the University only for those hours earned subsequent to readmission. [SREC: 6/21/83]
- * A student need not be enrolled full-time to fulfill the years of work necessary to receive commencement honors. Two years of work means 60 credit hours; three years means 90 credits. [SREC: 5/8/85]
- * Under this rule, the cumulative GPA is used to test for qualification for graduation honors, and the minimum number of credit hours that must be included in that GPA calculation (i.e. quality hours) is 90 hours. [SREC: 2/24/2006; 9/9/2019; US: 12/13/2021]
- * A student does not have to be a full-time student to be eligible for qualifying for graduation honors. [SREC: 5/31/2005]
5.5.2.2.2 Honors Related to Undergraduate Degrees and Professional Degrees
5.5.2.2.2.1 General Policies
The bachelor's degree with honors in a student's major (also known as "departmental honors") or a degree with honors from a professional college will be conferred upon a student whom the faculty of the student's department, or college in the case of a professional college, and the dean of the student's college recommend receive the degree. A student may be required to complete work in addition to that required for the bachelor's or professional degree to receive a degree with honors. [US: 12/13/82]
For bachelor's degrees, the transcript will show the honor(s) as being associated with the respective program major at the department level. For professional degrees, the transcript will show the honor(s) as being associated with the respective program at the college level. [SREC 3/21/2022]
The degree with honors from a professional college shall be based solely upon work done in the professional college. (see SR 9.19 and 9.20)
5.5.2.2.2.2 Degree Honors in the JD Program (University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law)
The Rosenberg College of Law awards Latin Honors as follows:
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher will be graduated “Summa Cum Laude.”
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher will be graduated “Magna Cum Laude.”
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher will be graduated “Cum Laude.”
Latin Honors will be awarded regardless of the number of graded credit hours (i.e. quality hours) earned by the student. [US: 12/13/2021]
5.5.2.2.2.3 Degree Honors in the PharmD Program (College of Pharmacy)
The Doctor of Pharmacy program awards Latin Honors as follows:
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher will be graduated “Summa Cum Laude.”
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher will be graduated “Magna Cum Laude.”
Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher will be graduated “Cum Laude.”
Latin honors will be awarded regardless of the number of graded credit hours (i.e., quality hours) earned by the student. [US: 12/13/2021]
5.5.2.2.2.4 Degree Honors in the DMD Program (College of Dentistry)
The graduation honors are "With High Distinction" and "With Distinction". Students are chosen according to their class rank when they apply for a May degree. The top 12% of the class receives "With High Distinction;" the next 8% receives "With Distinction." [SREC: 3/11/2022]
5.5.2.2.2.5 Lewis Honors College
The bachelor’s degree with University Honors (SR 1.4.3.8.1<insert link>) will be conferred by the Lewis Honors College. After a student has completed all of the requirements for graduation, the bachelor’s degree with University Honors in a student’s major or minor will be conferred upon the successful completion of the Lewis Honors College curriculum, in conjunction with departmental approval of the student’s thesis. College approval is required when the major or minor is not from a department but from a college. [US: 5/6/2019]
See SR 5.5.2.3 for information on Honorary Degrees.