Student Honors/Honor Cords
What are the requirements to receive honors designations?
To graduate with an honor distinction a student must have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours at Illinois State University as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.65 or higher after the last completed semester as grades and hours for the current semester will not be posted at the time of commencement. Only Illinois State University course work is included in the computation of the GPA.
| Cumulative GPA | Honor Distinction |
|---|---|
| 3.90 - 4.00 | Summa Cum Laude, Gold Cord |
| 3.80 - 3.89 | Magna Cum Laude, Lavender Cord |
| 3.65 - 3.79 | Cum Laude, White Cord |
Students who have earned 30 semester hours at Illinois State University and a qualifying GPA both based on the last graded semester prior to commencement are recognized with the respective honor distinction at commencement.
Once grades for the current semester are posted cumulative hours and cumulative GPA are recalculated and final honor distinction determined. The final honor distinction will be permanently noted on the student's diploma and transcript as noted below:
Degree Honors include Major (Department) Honors and Latin (Laude) Honors. These Degree Honors will display on a transcript along with the degree earned. They will also print on the diploma.
Term Honors include Presidential Scholar, Honors Program Scholar, Honors Program Scholar with Distinction, Honors Program Scholar with Merit, and Bone Scholar. Term Honors will print after the appropriate term on the transcript, whether it is the term of admission or the term of graduation. Honors Program Scholar with Distinction is the only Term Honor that also prints on the diploma.
Where do I get my honor cord?
If you have earned the honors designation, you will be notified by e-mail from the Office of the University Registrar and provided with instructions for honor cord pick-up.
Honor cords are also available for undergraduate students in the Honors Program who complete at least three semesters and nine Honors credit hours in the program and who graduate in good standing. Presidential Scholars who meet these requirements and who complete the Presidential Scholars Program also receive a cord. Honors students who meet these requirements will be provided with instructions to pick up their cords prior to commencement.