Academic & Graduation Honors
We celebrate your academic achievements. In addition to the dean’s list and graduation with honors, academic honor societies reward your hard work.
The Dean’s List recognizes undergraduate students for outstanding academic achievement during each semester. Students achieving a 3.400 or higher grade point average while carrying at least 12 credit hours for a grade (excluding courses taken pass/fail) shall be named to the Dean’s List at the end of each semester.
Students with an incomplete grade will not be awarded Dean’s List. If, when all incompletes are resolved, the student meets the Dean’s List criteria, they may submit a request to be added to the Dean’s List through the Registrar’s Office.
After completing a minimum of 60 calculated credit hours of residence work, students completing a bachelor’s degree may qualify for graduation honors. The honors to be conferred are summa cum laude for grade point averages of 3.750–4.000, magna cum laude for grade point averages of 3.600–3.749, and cum laude for grade point averages of 3.400–3.599.
Students who successfully complete the honors program will be awarded College Honors. See the Undergraduate Curriculum section for eligibility criteria and curricular requirements.
All undergraduate major programs provide the opportunity for departmental honors work during the junior and senior years. For specific information, interested students should contact the appropriate department chair. The minimal requirements for departmental honors are a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000, at the time of application and at the time of graduation; a written thesis; an oral presentation; and approval by a majority vote of the full-time members of the department.
This project is undertaken on a subject of the student’s choosing under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The opportunity to do creative work also exists. A maximum of 9 hours credit may be earned in departmental honors.
Honor Societies and Associations
Alpha Kappa Delta is the international sociology honor society. Students who maintain a 3.000 average in Sociology and a 3.300 average overall are eligible to be inducted into the honor society at a ceremony during their senior year. Inducted students will be awarded a teal honor cord to be worn at Commencement.
Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society whose aim is to recognize the special achievements of non-traditional students who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. To become a member, students must be at least 24 years old, currently enrolled in a matriculated program, seeking an initial undergraduate degree, have completed 24 credits at LVC, completed 12 credits in the liberal arts and sciences, earned a minimum 3.400 overall GPA, and be ranked in the top 20 percent of students meeting the above criteria.
Beta Beta Beta, a national biological honor society, is open to majors in the biological sciences by invitation. To become a member, one must have completed three courses in Biology with a GPA of 3.000 in Biology and 3.000 overall.
Delta Alpha Pi is an international honor society for students with disabilities. Established in 2004, Delta Alpha Pi presents an opportunity to change negative perceptions of persons with disabilities by recognizing those with exemplary academic records. Undergraduate candidates must have completed a total of 24 credits and earned a cumulative average of 3.100.
Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society for undergraduate and graduate business program students demonstrating exemplary academic achievement in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, and International Business & Policy. Qualifications for undergraduates include those who have achieved junior or senior status, with a department GPA of 3.400 or better, and who are in the top 20 percent of their college class in cumulative average grades. Qualification for graduate students include those who have completed at least three-quarters (i.e., 27 credits in a 36-credit program) of the work required for the master’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.800 or better, who are eligible to participate in commencement activities in the current academic year, and who are in the top 20 percent of their college class in cumulative average grades.
Gamma Sigma Epsilon is a national honor society for students achieving high standards of excellence in the study of Chemistry. Active members of the chapter shall be composed of students who have completed a minimum of 20 credit hours in Chemistry or Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, at least three credit hours at the 300 level, with a minimum grade point average of 3.300 in all Chemistry or Biochemistry & Molecular Biology courses, and at least a 3.000 overall grade point average.
Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society for Education students dedicated to promoting excellence in the profession through the advancement of scholarship, leadership, and service. Membership is open to students who have completed at least 30 credit hours with a minimum of 12 credits in professional education courses.
Leadership abilities and a cumulative GPA of 3.600 are also required.
Kappa Pi is an international collegiate art honorary fraternity founded in 1911. It is open to any student who has a talent for or supports visual art. Requirements for membership are the completion of 12 credit hours of art courses, a 3.000 GPA in art courses, and a 2.000 overall GPA.
Kappa Pi
The NSSLHA is a national organization for pre-professionals studying Communication Sciences and Disorders recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students who maintain a 3.300 cumulative GPA are eligible to be inducted in the national organization
Phi Alpha Epsilon (the Greek initial letters of the words, “lover of learning and finder of truth”), the College’s honor society, was established in 1935 and recognizes undergraduate academic achievement and service to others. To be eligible for this award, students must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.600, complete at least 45 credits of coursework at LVC, and achieve the “bronze” level of service hours (as determined by the Office of Service and Volunteerism) after the fall semester before graduation. Inductees are formally welcomed into the society at a spring banquet.
Phi Alpha Theta is a national honor society dedicated to the study of History through research, teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas. Membership is awarded to undergraduates who have completed 12 credits in History and achieved a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 in History and 3.400 overall.
Phi Sigma Iota is an international honor society that recognizes outstanding ability in the field of language studies, literature, and cultures. It promotes international communication and understanding and is the highest academic honor in the field of Languages. Selection is made by the Languages faculty.
Members are selected from language majors and minors with a department GPA of 3.000 or higher and a College GPA of 3.000 or higher.
Pi Mu Epsilon is a national honor society dedicated to the promotion of Mathematics and the recognition of students who successfully pursue mathematical understanding.
Pi Sigma Alpha is the honor society for Political Science. Members qualify for graduate school scholarships in Political Science and tuition reductions for certain Washington internship programs. Undergraduate candidates must have completed 60 credits, at least 10 of which are in Political Science, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.400 or higher.
Affiliated with the American Psychological Association, Psi Chi is the national honor society for students who are Psychology or Neuroscience majors or Psychology minors. Students must have a College and departmental GPA of 3.200 or higher.
Sigma Iota Rho is an honor society for International Studies. It promotes and rewards scholarship and service among students of International and Global Studies. Members must be of junior standing, have completed at least 21 credits toward a major or minor in Global Studies, and have participated in an approved study abroad program. Students must have at least a 3.300 GPA in Global Studies and 3.200 overall.
The national physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma, recognizes outstanding scholarship in Physics and promotes an attitude of service. Members must have completed 45 credit hours, 12 credits of Physics coursework, and have at least a 3.500 GPA in Physics and 3.400 GPA overall. All members must rank in the upper third of their college class.
Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society, is open to sophomore, junior, and senior English majors and minors who achieve a cumulative GPA and GPA in English coursework of 3.500 and obtain faculty approval.