OU announced it will implement a change in May on the eligibility criteria for students graduating with Latin honorifics in a campus-wide email Wednesday.
Starting in the Spring of 2024, student graduation labels with distinction or with special distinction will be discontinued.
For Norman campus-based academic programs, new GPA requirements for Latin honorifics will be cum laude for 3.60 to 3.74 averages; magna cum laude, 3.75 to 3.89; summa cum laude, 3.9 to 4.0; and 4.0 medallions.
According to the email, the final transcript and the diploma will carry the summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude designation.
In the past, only Honors College students were eligible to receive Latin honorifics upon graduation, while non-Honors College students with an outstanding GPA were acknowledged as graduating with distinction or with special distinction.
André-Denis Wright, OU senior vice president and provost, wrote this change will make a significant distinction on levels of academic excellence.
Current Honors College students who are on track to graduate in the spring or summer of 2024 will adhere to the previous GPA requirements.
Students graduating with Latin honorifics will wear a hood with their gowns. Cum laude will wear gold hoods, magna cum laude cream hoods and summa cum laude crimson hoods. Undergraduate students who are eligible to receive the 4.0 university medallion can wear it during commencement ceremonies.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Peggy Dodd. Natalie Armour and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
