CON Recognition for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Graduation with Honors

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Recognition for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement and Graduation with Honors Policy	Subsection: 5.2.35
Section 5.0 - Student Policies	Originating Date: February 1990
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Undergraduate Admission, Progression, Graduation & Scholarship/Grant Committee	Revised: October 1994 Revised: May 2000 Revised: February 2003 Revised: May 2008 Revised: May 2010 Revised: January 2012 Revised: September 2017 Revised: January 2018 Revised: May 2023

Policy

1. Undergraduate graduation with honors may be conferred upon individuals in the top 20% of their class/cohort from each division who complete a minimum of 40 hours, excluding credit-by-examination, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing (CON) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, by the conclusion of the semester prior to graduation.
   
   Criteria:
   1. The degree "With Highest Distinction" is awarded to students in the top 2% of their class who have cumulative grade point averages of 3.9 - 4.0 earned in UNMC CON courses. Final semester grades are not included.
   2. The degree "With High Distinction" is awarded to students in the next 8% of their class who have cumulative grade point averages of 3.75 - 3.89 earned in UNMC CON courses. Final semester grades are not included.
   3. The degree “With Distinction” is awarded to students in the next 10% of their class who have cumulative grade point averages of 3.5 - 3.74 earned in UNMC CON courses. Final semester grades are not included.
2. RN to BSN nursing students and advanced placement nursing students unable to complete the minimum number of graded hours within the UNMC for graduation with honors may receive special recognition for outstanding academic achievement. This recognition may be conferred upon individuals in the top 20% of their graduating class/cohort with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.750 and is based on CON courses completed prior to the semester in which they graduate.
   
   Criteria:
   1. The student must complete at least 10 credit hours in the UNMC CON.
   2. The "Award of Academic Excellence" is given to nursing students in the top 20% of their graduating class/cohort. Final semester grades are not included.

Procedure

1. The Student Services coordinators will verify eligibility during the semester before graduation.
2. Eligibility is determined for each division by program (Traditional BSN, Accelerated and RN-BSN).
3. Candidates are presented to the Academic Records Office of UNMC by letter from the Undergraduate Admission, Progression, Graduation and Scholarship/Grant Committee via the Student Services coordinators.