Some cringe, while others sigh in relief when they hear that all eight semesters will now be included in the calculus of Latin Honors.
Washington University has historically counted grades only through the seventh semester when deciding if a student receives honors and at what level.
After considering the change for nearly a year, all undergraduate schools and disciplines at the University will use grades from every semester to calculate the grade point average (GPA) of students pursuing honors-including those earned in the last semester. The change will apply to those graduating in May 2008.
According to Dean James McLeod, many at the University feel a student’s entire record should be taken into account when awarding honors. Supporters believe the change will benefit students by providing them with every possible chance to improve their standing.
“[The change] has been requested by a number of people-students, faculty, staff members and deans,” said McLeod.
GPA alone does not decide a student’s honors, as the student must also complete a honors thesis or project. However, the GPA arguably remains the most important factor.
A particular GPA is required to undertake most honors theses, and a student’s final average determines the type of honors for which he qualifies.
A high-quality thesis serves more to approve, rather than change, the level of honors determined by a student’s GPA. If a student qualifies only for cum laude, a stellar project will not change this to magna or summa cum laude.
Many students are relieved that their last semester will count towards their honors GPA. Those with fewer semesters under their belt, such as transfer students, may be among those who benefit the most.
The more grades a student accumulates, the less each weighs on his or her GPA.
Similarly, students with low grades in previous semesters will also benefit from the additional time. A student who temporarily explored a discipline difficult for him-such as a freshman on the pre-medical track-will have another chance to improve his GPAs before assignment of honors.
However, the decision, announced in the middle of the academic year, has caught some students by surprise. Many entered their senior year believing the fall to be the last semester in which grades matter. Some on the honors track registered for classes assuming their spring grades would not affect their honors standing and are now reconsidering which courses to take in their final semester.
Upon hearing that this change will apply to the anthropology department, senior Zachary Steinert-Threlkeld felt misled.
“This totally changes how I approach next semester, especially in terms of classes to take,” said Steinert-Threlkeld.
Ruth Poland, also a senior in Arts and Sciences said she had planned to audit some classes or take them as pass-fail, but is now reconsidering. She does not expect to expand her choice of classes as much.
“I think people won’t be able to branch out and audit classes,” said Poland. “Instead, they’ll take classes they can get a good grade in.”
Dean McLeod was asked why the decision was not announced at the beginning of the year, or held off until next fall to allow students to plan their year around the change
“If it’s a positive for the students, I would think that you’d want to do it as soon as you could,” responded McLeod.
The policy was considered and approved now at the time when the administration starts planning spring 2008 graduation.
Dean McLeod was not aware of any “outspoken opposition” to the adjustment. He admits, however, the challenge will be to successfully apply the change to different disciplines, saying the University must be “flexible enough to leave space for the different approaches” each department takes to implement the policy.