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Academic Policies & Procedures
ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Dean’s List
Superior scholastic performance is recognized each semester by the publication of the Dean’s List.
Students qualify for the Dean’s List by earning a semester grade point average of 3.600 or above with a
minimum of 12 credits, at least nine of which are on the A–F grading system, with no grade of CD, D, F, NC,
X, or I.
Latin Honors at Graduation
The Bachelor of Arts degree is conferred with honors upon students who have maintained a high
level of academic excellence. To be eligible for honors, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.600
(cum laude), 3.750 (magna cum laude), or 3.900 (summa cum laude) for all university courses (SMU
and transfer), for all courses in the department and major field, and for all courses at Saint Mary’s
University. Provided all three of the categories mentioned above are at an acceptable honors level,
the category having the lowest GPA determines the level of honors at graduation. Honors are awarded
with the degree. Students must complete at least 60 credits in residence at SMU and must complete all
requirements for graduation to be eligible for honors.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
The valedictorian of the graduating class is the student with the highest GPA and the salutatorian of the
graduating class is the student with the second-highest GPA. The GPA used is the cumulative GPA for all
university courses (SMU and transfer). Students must complete at least 60 credits in academic residence
at SMU and complete their degree by the May commencement ceremony to be eligible for these honors.
Department Honors at Graduation
Some academic departments provide graduating seniors the opportunity to qualify for departmental
distinction or honors. These honors are to inspire and reward students who have completed
outstanding work within the department. Each department establishes criteria for department
distinction or honors; minimum standards are a 3.700 department and major field GPA and a 3.300
cumulative GPA. Departments are encouraged to require a senior paper and public presentation or
similar creative experience judged to be of superior quality by a committee of departmental faculty.
Departmental distinction is reserved for students who perform academically at the top level of all
graduates from the department.
Academic Warnings and Penalties
The academic penalties are academic jeopardy, academic probation and academic dismissal. Academic
jeopardy indicates a significant academic deficiency which warrants the immediate concern of the
student. Probation indicates that a student’s grades are such that continued performance at that
level will prevent the student from earning a degree. Dismissal occurs when a student’s pattern of
performance shows a lack of progress towards graduation. These penalties are based upon grades and,
ultimately, a grade point deficiency.
Grades earned through the PACC program are not used in academic penalties calculations.
A transfer student’s class standing is determined by the number of semesters he/she attended prior
to matriculation at Saint Mary’s. For example, a transfer student may be in his/her first semester of
attendance at SMU, but actually be classified as a second semester sophomore if he/she attended three
semesters as a full-time student elsewhere. In this case, the student’s fourth semester status would be
used in applying the appropriate probation/dismissal standards.
Academic Jeopardy
A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.000, but is above the probation/dismissal standards listed
below will be placed on academic jeopardy. This status warns the student and the academic advisor
that the student is in danger of being placed on probation or of being dismissed if the current level of
performance continues.
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