Student Government Association is discussing a plan to lower the grade point average requirements to graduate with cum laude honors. Its proposal would lower the standard for graduating cum laude to a 3.5 GPA. Currently, the requirement is a cumulative GPA between 3.6 and 3.799.
The issue arose because of a circumstance where students receive Dean's List honors throughout their career at Ball State by maintaining a 3.5 GPA, but don't graduate with any honors because they didn't quite make the 3.6 GPA.
Arguably, making the Dean's List for eight semesters in a row is quite the academic accomplishment. The issue isn't whether or not people should be recognized for academic excellence - the debate is about lowering standards to graduate with a respected honor.
Students with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 would rejoice if the plan went through, because they would graduate with academic honors. Students who have a GPA between 3.6 and 3.799, however, have reason to be upset that students who had a much lower GPA were receiving the same honor at graduation.
Traditionally, there are three distinctions for graduating with academic honors. The use of these phrases in academia can be traced back to the 1800s. The highest achievers graduate summa cum laude (with highest honor), then magna cum laude (with great honor) and lastly cum laude (with honor).
Any of these achievements look great on a resum+â-¬ for a possible employer, and making the Dean's List throughout a college career can also be a high point on any resum+â-¬.
If the proposed plan went through, however, graduating from Ball State cum laude wouldn't have as much prestige. The title would be the same, but the requirements would be significantly lower - meaning students with lower GPAs would reap all the benefits.
Tradition is hard to amend. If Ball State lowers the requirement for graduating cum laude, this high honor stands to lose value.
SGA might be looking out for those students who achieve a 3.5 GPA, and graduate without honors, but the prestige and tradition involved in graduating with academic honors is something that has withstood the test of time.
The university should recognize this proposal for what it really is - a ploy to allow students with lower GPAs to reap the rewards of higher-achieving students.
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