Senior Commencement Honors

The Nitze Scholars Evaluation Committee meets on the Reading Day of each spring semester to make final, binding decisions on appropriate commencement honors for each graduating Scholars senior. The following categories and their criteria are ranked in order of importance. Differences in rankings of Portfolios are based on the level of reflection and the breadth of academic and extracurricular experience captured in the portfolio. In addition to fulfilling all other Nitze Scholars Program Requirements:

For the designation, Nitze Scholars Program Distinction, a student should have:

• Developed a “Distinguishing” Leadership/Service Portfolio
• Completed a Saint Mary’s Project, worthy of an A for 8 400-level credits
• Earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in Nitze Scholars Program Seminars and Tutorials

For the designation, Nitze Scholars Program Commendation, a student should have:

• Developed a “Excellent” Leadership/Service Portfolio
• Completed a St. Mary’s Project, worthy of an A- for 8 400-level credits
• Earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in Nitze Scholars Program Seminars and Tutorials

For the designation, Nitze Scholars Program Recognition, a student should have:

• Developed an “Good” Leadership/Service Portfolio
• Completed a St. Mary’s Project, worthy of at least a B- for 8 credits
• Earned at least a 3.00 GPA in Nitze Scholars Program Seminars and Tutorials

For the designation, Nitze Scholars Program Participation, a student should have:

• Developed a “Satisfactory” Leadership/Service Portfolio
• Completed a St. Mary’s Project of al least C quality
• Earned at least a 3.00 GPA in Nitze Scholars Program Seminars and Tutorials

Incompletes and Extensions will be considered by the Scholars Committee only for compelling reasons, following a written appeal by the student (dated no later than 1 November for a Project designed for completion in the Fall semester; 1 April for a Project designed for completion in the Spring semester) and a positive, written recommendation from the student's St. Mary’s Project Director and the student’s Academic Advisor.

Barring extenuating circumstances, a student who fails to complete or to submit a finished Leadership/Service Portfolio by the date due, OR who submits a completed but unsatisfactory St. Mary’s Project of less than "C" quality, will NOT be permitted to graduate from the Nitze Scholars Program. The Nitze Scholars Committee has normally dropped such students from the Program, and, following the exhaustion of any appeals, the Provost has always upheld those decisions and required the student in question to complete the General Education Requirements that were in effect at the time of his/her matriculation in order to graduate.

View the list of commencement honors for 2001-2003