Guide to Academic Honors at Graduation

Honors Convocation

The following groups of students will likely be invited to Honors Convocation: Academic (Latin) Honors, Campuswide Honors, Phi Beta Kappa. Additional students may be invited should space permit. How these students would be identified hasn't yet been determined. Students will receive their invitation from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education in mid to late-May.

Academic (Latin) Honors

Who is eligible?

Students who meet the following criteria will be considered for honors:

  • Students must have graduated during the academic year (summer through spring - summer is the start of the academic year) or have submitted an application to graduate in spring by the last day of finals of winter quarter.
  • Students must have at least 72 units in residence at UCI by the end of winter quarter.
  • Grade changes including replacement of 'I' grades must have been submitted to Student Affairs by the end of week 3 of spring quarter for the revised grade to be included in GPA calculations.
  • Students must not have an incident of academic dishonesty.

How does selection take place?

Graduating students are ranked based on the average of the overall GPA and the upper-division engineering GPA. The top 1% receive Summa Cum Laude, the next 3% receive Magna Cum Laude, the next 8% receive Cum Laude honors. Students will be notified by the Engineering Student Affairs Office of Academic Honors in mid to late-May, following approval by a campus body.

What if I'm selected but don't graduate?

Students who are selected for honors but cannot graduate in spring for some reason will be reconsidered for honors in the next academic year.

Greek Honors

Members of Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, Eta Kappa Nu, Omega Chi Epsilon, and Pi Tau Sigma will be noted in the Commencement Program. Honor Society presidents are asked to submit the names of members to Student Affairs for inclusion in the program no later than the end of week 3 of spring quarter.

Phi Beta Kappa

Who is eligible?

  • Students must have completed at least five quarters and 75 units in residence and be fully registered for a sixth quarter to be considered.
  • Junior level candidates must have at least 120 quarter units and a minimum GPA of 3.75. Senior level candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.25, though students with GPAs below 3.5 are rarely nominated.
  • Grade changes including replacement of 'I' grades must have been submitted to Student Affairs by the end of week 3 of spring quarter for the revised grade to be included in GPA calculations.
  • Students must not have an incident of academic dishonesty.

How does selection take place?

Students are reviewed by a committee of Phi Beta Kappa faculty and staff looking for students with a strong liberal-arts background (broader than the minimum requirements by the campus), broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement, and good character. Students selected will be notified by the Phi Beta Kappa chapter in mid to late-May.

Cords

Students earning Academic (Latin) Honors will receive a gold cord by the Chancellor at Honors Convocation to be worn at Commencement. Students earning greek honors, CHP, and Phi Beta Kappa that are not awarded Academic Honors will receive a blue cord to be worn at Commencement. Blue cords will be available in the Student Affairs Office on Thursday and Friday of finals week. Cords are provided by the campus.

Stoles

Honor societies are responsible for arranging for stoles for their members. All honor society presidents have indicated that this has already been done.