FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Susie P. Gonzalez

susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu

April 21, 2009

Stellar Trinity Students to Receive Special Recognition at May Commencement

SAN ANTONIO -- Beginning with Trinity University’s spring 2009 commencement, undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher – and thus, are eligible for Latin honors such as magna cum laude – will receive the President’s Award for Academic Excellence. The award will be symbolized by the wearing of a maroon stole bearing the seal of the University.

Each level of Latin honors designates students who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (cum laude), 3.75 (magna cum laude), or 3.85 (summa cum laude.) Previously, Latin honors were announced when students received their diplomas.

In the past, only students who were members of academic honor societies have been permitted to add honors cords to their graduation robes, noted Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Duane Coltharp. Trinity has about 20 academic honors societies, including ones associated with specific majors as well as nationally known honor associations such as Phi Beta Kappa and Blue Key.

Members of the Commencement and Convocation Committee spent a year examining the policies surrounding the use of cords, stoles, and other emblems and developed the new policy, which was recently approved by President John R. Brazil.

“We thought it would be nice for every single student who has graduated with the distinction of Latin honors to have a least one physical thing to wear at commencement,” Dr. Coltharp said. Between 20 percent and 30 percent of Trinity’s graduating classes earn Latin honors, said Sarah Iverson, assistant registrar.

“There are very likely high-achieving students; that is to say they’ve achieved a GPA of 3.5 or above, and for whatever reason, they might not belong to a specific honor society,” Dr. Coltharp explained.

The new recognition does not impact the cords worn by students who are members of existing honor societies. In other words, students may wear more than one item that denotes graduating with honors.

Research by members of the Commencement Committee showed that campus honor societies have widely varying academic criteria, with eight honors societies having a minimum GPA requirement of below 3.5.

Laura Helmick ’09, a student representative on the committee, believes that the new policy will be well-received. “Many of the students who qualify will have already qualified for honors from their majors,” she says. “And those who didn't receive other honors will be recognized for their achievements.” Ms. Helmick is from Spring, Texas, and will earn a degree in political science with a minor in economics.

The new stoles will be distributed to students on the morning of commencement as they are donning robes for the ceremony. The cords are a gift from the University to the high-achieving students at no cost.

Another change to the commencement ceremony is the institution of the Marshal of the Faculty Procession. This honorary position is held by a senior-most faculty member whose duties are to lead the faculty into and out of Laurie Auditorium during commencement. The spring 2009 Marshal of the Faculty Procession is Roger Spencer, the Vernon Taylor Professor of Economics.

--30--