Latin Honors

Consistent and excellent achievement is recognized at the end of a student’s course of study through the awarding of Latin Honors. A student’s overall QPA is calculated by averaging the grades for all the graded units required for a degree program. Latin honors are awarded during graduation.

Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors)

Awarded to a student who obtains a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or better, provided that they have a residence of at least six semesters immediately preceding the graduation. A GPA of at least 3.8 is required for students who are admitted in the program starting school year 2013-2014.

Magna Cum Laude (with high honors)

Awarded to a student who obtains a grade point average GPA of at least 3.6, provided that they have a residence of at least six semesters immediately preceding the graduation. A GPA of 3.6 or better is required for students who are admitted in the program starting school year 2013-2014.

Cum Laude (with honors)

Awarded to a student who obtains a grade point average of at least 3.4, provided that they have a residence of at least six semesters immediately preceding the graduation. A GPA of 3.4 or better is required for students who are admitted in the program starting school year 2013-2014.

• To qualify for Latin Honors, a student must have no major disciplinary case and no failing marks. Failures in NSTP and WRP will also disqualify the student from the Latin Honor award.
• Grades in WRP is not included in the computation of QPA.
• For transferees, grades obtained from credited courses taken in other schools are included in the computation of GPA/QPA.
• Students in the graduate programs are not anymore entitled to academic honors.

Residence and Unit Requirements 

Students who are candidates for graduation with honors must have completed at least 75% of the total number of academic units or credit hours in the University required for graduation and must have been in residence therein for at least three (3) years immediately prior to graduation.

Resident Credit

In the computation of the General Point Average (GPA) / Quality Point Average (QPA) of students who are candidates for graduation, all courses taken shall be included.

Procedural Guidelines 

1. Students need not apply for honors. After grade encoding, the Office of the University Registrar will generate the list of the candidates for Latin Honors from the computer system.
2. The list shall be forwarded to the Discipline’s Office.
3. The verified list will be forwarded by the Discipline’s Office to the Registrar to be sent to the Institute Deans.
4. The confirmed list will be forwarded by the Deans to the Registrar for endorsement to the Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA).
5. The SVPAA shall approve or disapprove the recipients of Latin Honors. This will be the basis of informing the recipients of Latin Honors.

Policy Guidelines on Disqualification for Academic Honors 

1. Candidates with at least one grade of F are “disqualified” for Academic Honors.
2. Candidates are allowed a maximum of 15 units of AW marks for a four-year degree program and 18 units of AW marks for a five-year degree on their records.  Dissolution of classes/courses resulting in an AW mark is considered justifiable cause and shall not disqualify a candidate. This will not be included in the 15/18 units limit.
3. A Leave of Absence (LOA) and/or AW exceeding the maximum limit may be considered if due to justifiable causes, e.g. grave illness, death in the family. LOA’s are covered by the Maximum Residency Rule (MRR) of the University.  The candidate should be able to present evidence for his/her claim.
4. Records of grave misdemeanor, evidenced by a suspension by Student Discipline shall disqualify a candidate. Candidates may be subjected to background investigation by the Student Discipline.

Guidelines on the Creation of a Committee on Academic Honors 

1. Each Institute shall create a Committee on Academic Honors (ICAH) to be composed of a Chairperson and at least two (2) members.
2. The list shall be forwarded to the Discipline’s Office
3. The Dean shall select the Chairperson and members of the ICAH from the Institute’s pool of faculty.
4. As the need arises, the SVPAA shall constitute a University Committee on Academic Honors (UCAH), which will act on the petitions/appeals filed by the Institutes.
5. The UCAH shall be composed of a Chairperson, selected by the SVPAA, the Registrar, and at least one (1) representative from each Institute recommended by the respective Deans.

Class Valedictorians, who will deliver the valedictory address during the commencement exercises, will be screened by a university-wide committee formed by the SVPAA. The selection criteria include leadership track record, community service record, and communication skills on top of the Latin Honor that is determined by grade point average/quality point average.