Academic Distinction
Continue to main contentStudents who are interested in graduating with Academic Distinction should understand the policies and procedures before applying. Students considering this award will be required to complete a special project or scholarly paper under the supervision of a committee that will also oversee the acceptance of the student’s work for the completion of Academic Distinction.
Policy
Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major is earned by completing a scholarly paper or special project under the supervision of a committee of at least three degreed faculty and/or staff members. The project may not be used to earn any other form of honor, and the steps detailed below must be followed, including deadlines. Failure to meet criteria and/or deadlines will disqualify the student from earning this honor.
Qualifications
The student making application shall at the time of application have a minimum of 75 semester hours of credit, a 3.25 grade point average in the department of the major, and a 3.0 overall grade point average, as verified by the Office of the Registrar.
Procedure
Step 1
- The student must first read the information in this handbook about Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major. When the student has a tentative topic, he or she will identify a member of the faculty in the major to serve as the proposed chair of the project.
- The student completes the form “Application for Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major” available in the Registrar’s Office.
- The Registrar’s Office determines whether the student meets minimum qualifications:
- Completion of a minimum of 75 degree hours
- Minimum grade point average of 3.25 in the major
- Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0
- The student must apply and complete steps 1-8 before the first day of classes in the student’s graduation or commencement semester, whichever is first. After evaluation of the student’s eligibility, the Registrar’s Office will forward a completed copy of the form to the proposed committee chair.
Step 2
If the student meets the minimum qualifications, he or she, in consultation with the proposed committee chair, will describe the proposed scope and nature of the project or paper, with a tentative thesis statement and the plan for completion. The proposal will be forwarded to the chair of the department of the student’s major.
- Upon the chair’s approval, the student, committee chair, and department chair will develop a proposed committee member list numbering not less than two faculty or staff members, in addition to the committee chair.
- If the project proposed is of an interdisciplinary nature, the committee shall include representative(s) from all disciplines.
- At least one member of the committee must not serve in the department of the major.
- Members who fulfill the requirements of Item A may also fulfill the requirements of Item B. For example: If the study involves the effects of Indigenous cultures on pre-school age children, and the student’s major is Child Development, a member of the Anthropology faculty could serve both as a representative of one of the disciplines and also as a member not in the department of the major.
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