Students who have achieved high cumulative grade point averages wear medallions with colored ribbons at Commencement. Gold ribbons signify summa cum laude (3.8 to 4.0 grade point average), purple ribbons signify magna cum laude (3.5 to 3.79 grade point average), and purple and gold ribbons signify cum laude (3.3 to 3.49 grade point average.) Those who qualify for honors will receive an honor medallion courtesy of the Alumni Association.
Please Note the Following with Regards to Receiving Honors Distinction:
1. A student must have earned 43 semester hours from Minnesota State University, Mankato in order to qualify for graduation with university honors (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude). The credits must be earned BEFORE the term of graduation. For example, if a student is graduating during the spring term, the total MSU credits must be earned prior to the beginning of the spring term. Please consult the Undergraduate Bulletin for additional information.
2. A student must achieve the cumulative GPA requirement for the particular honors distinction BEFORE the term of graduation. For example, with a spring graduation the fall term GPA will be used to determine the particular honors distinction status.
In 1995, MSU launched a new Presidential Scholarship program to support some of the University's most talented students. MSU looks for top academic performance; strong leadership skills; and commitment to community involvement. These students benefit from scholarship dollars as well as leadership development opportunities throughout their careers at MSU. Funding for Presidential Scholarships comes from businesses, estates, and individuals through Minnesota and the nation. Graduating Presidential Scholars are listed in the Commencement program and will be asked to stand and be recognized at Commencement. Presidential Scholars are invited to have their picture taken prior to the ceremony. A special award will be available for you to pick up at the Office of University Development, 126 Alumni Foundation Center, during the week of graduation. Details will be sent directly to you as it gets closer to graduation.
University Scholars who are graduates of the University's Honors Program wear gold stoles. The mission of the Honors Program is to provide top students with opportunities to pursue alternatives to general education, to meet at least weekly in small groups with faculty, and to facilitate personal interaction between students and faculty. For further information, contact the University Scholars Advisor, Jasper Hunt at jasper.hunt@mnsu.edu.
Members of the Golden Key International Honor Society wear solid blue and gold honor cords. Membership in Golden Key is conferred upon students who exhibit exceptional scholarship and leadership potential. For further information, contact the Golden Key International Honor Society Advisor, Hahn Huy Phan, Professor of Ethnic Studies at hanh-huy.phan@mnsu.edu.
Committed to a constant observance of the injunction expressed in its motto, "Let the love of learning rule humanity", the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields of higher education. Being interdisciplinary, Phi Kappa Phi elects from all recognized branches of academic endeavor seeking thus to reward excellence wherever it can be identified in every institution that has a chapter of the Society. The constitution of Minnesota State University, Mankato's chapter, operating within the framework of the by-laws of the national society, specifies certain criteria and limits to be observed each year in electing new members. These conditions are summarized as follows: undergraduates in the last term of their junior year are eligible if they are among the top 7.5% of their class; graduating seniors are eligible if they are among the top ten percent of their class; graduate students who are determined to be in the top ten percent of those receiving their degrees during the year and have been recommended by their advisors and program leaders are also eligible for election to membership; and a limited number of faculty and staff who have distinguished themselves by scholarly and professional activities, as well as a limited number of alumni who have contributed to academic excellence in their careers since graduation, can be nominated for membership. If you are eligible under these criteria, you will receive a letter from us inviting you to join the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. During the graduation ceremony members of Phi Kappa Phi wear white satin ribbons decorated with an ancient Greek pattern to symbolize the classical roots of the society. For further information contact Dr. Ernest Boyd (phone: 507-389-1452, email: ernest.boyd@mnsu.edu) or Mr. Richard Wheeler (phone: 507-389-1011, email: richard.wheeler@mnsu.edu).
Alpha Mu Gamma is a national collegiate honor society for students majoring
or minoring in world languages. It was established in 1931. MSUs BETA ZETA chapter
was chartered in 1961. The purposes of the Society are to recognize achievement
in the field of world-language study; to stimulate a desire for linguistic attainment;
to encourage a continuing interest in the study of world languages, literatures,
cultures and civilizations; and to foster sympathetic understanding of other
peoples and international friendship. Students invited to join Alpha Mu Gamma
have completed upper division coursework in their language with superior grades
and hold a minimum overall GPA of 3.3. For further information contact the advisor:
John J. Janc
Armstrong Hall 227
507-389-1817
john.janc@mnsu.edu
Alpha Phi Sigma is the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Law Enforcement
and Correction (i.e., Criminal Justice) majors must exhibit exceptional scholarship
and leadership qualities, maintain an overall GPA of 3.2, a 3.2 GPA in
"criminal justice" classes, and be in the top 35% of their class in
order to be conferred as Alpha Phi Sigma members. For the graduation ceremony,
Alpha Phi Sigma members may wear one of the following: Gold and blue honor cords,
a gold sash with blue lettering, or a gold and blue medallion. Alpha Phi Sigma,
Alpha Delta Chapter's local website is: http://krypton.mnsu.edu/~apsd/.
Alpha Phi Sigma, Alpha Delta Chapter Advisor:
Dr. Tamara "Tami" Tucker Wilkins
E-mail: tamara.wilkins@mnsu.edu
Office location: Morris Hall 109
Office phone number: (507) 389-1118
Fax number: (507) 389-6377
Mailing address: 109 Morris Hall, Mankato, MN 56001
This international honor society recognizes the outstanding academic achievements
of students enrolled in collegiate business and management programs accredited
by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Membership in the Society is the highest recognition a business student anywhere
in the world can receive. Members of the Mankato Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma
wear blue and gold honor cords.
Websites: National - http://www.betagammasigma.org
Or contact the advisor at:
Dr. Ann Kuzma
MH 120
507-389-2318
ann.kuzma@mnsu.edu
Members of Delta Sigma Pi, America's Foremost Professional Business Fraternity
for Men and Women, wear the solid gold and purple cords. Membership is conferred
upon Business or Economics majors only. Delta Sigma Pi promotes professional
competency and achievement within its field as well as its social life.
Websites: Local - http://kr.mnsu.edu/~deltasig
National - http://www.dspnet.org
Or contact the advisor at:
Joseph Reising
Morris Hall 251
(507)-389-5336
Joseph.Reising@mnsu.edu
The International Geographical Honor Society was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. Regular members of GTU have completed a minimum of three geography courses, have a B or better grade point average in geography, rank in the upper 35% of their class and have completed at least three semester of college course work. GTU honor cords (one each of blue, gold, and brown) represent the three domains of geography: brown for the Earth, light blue for the Sea, and gold for the sunlight in the Sky. GTU activities support geography knowledge and awareness.
Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). Founded in 1985, Lambda Pi Eta stands for Logos (logic and reasoning), Pathos (emotion) and Ethos (personal ethics and character). These are the ideals the Lambda Pi Eta upholds. Lambda Pi Eta seeks to:
Lambda Pi Eta honor graduates wear scarlet and white honor cords as symbols
of their commitment to scholarship and their demonstrated leadership in communication
studies. For more information, contact MSU's Lambda Pi Eta advisors:
Kristen Treinen 389-5535
Christa Brown 389-2367
Or check out our department at http://www.mnsu.edu/spcomm/Communication/SpCommHP.html
Members of the Maverick Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary wear royal blue and white honor cords. These graduates have made outstanding contributions to the residence halls at Minnesota State University, Mankato during their college careers. For information, contact the National Residence Hall Honorary Advisor, Meagan Hagerty at meagan.hagerty@mnsu.edu or 111 Carkoski Commons.
The purposes of Phi Alpha, the National Social Work Honor Society, are to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. Students maintain a minimum 3.3 grade point average for membership in the Eta Alpha Chapter at MSU, M and participate in service activities during each semester of membership. Students wear gold honor chords to celebrate their academic accomplishments at graduation. For information, contact the Phi Alpha Advisor, Robin Wingo at robin.wingo@mnsu.edu.
Members of Phi Upsilon Omicron, an Honor Society in Family Consumer Science, wear purple, yellow, and white honor cords. Membership in Phi Upsilon Omicron is conferred upon Family Consumer Science majors who exhibit superior scholarship and leadership potential. For information, contact the Phi Upsilon Omicron Advisor, Betty Young at betty.young@mnsu.edu..
Pi Delta Phi was founded as a departmental honor society at the University
of California, Berkeley, in 1906. The Mankato chapter, NU ALPHA, was installed
on November 9, 2001. This honor society recognizes outstanding scholarship in
the French language and its literature, increases the knowledge and appreciation
of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and
stimulates and encourages French and francophone cultural activities. Regular
members include graduate and undergraduate students who shall be nominated in
recognition of their academic achievement in at least one semester or quarter
of upper division French, with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in French. Graduate students
who are candidates for an advanced degree in French are eligible for regular
membership. Dues for regular members are $35.00. Each member receives the official
key, a certificate and a card indicating life membership in the organization.
Students wear a red, white, and blue honor cord at graduation. To order a graduation
honor cord or for more information about MSU's chapter, please contact:
Dr. John Janc
218N Armstrong Hall
507-389-1817
john.janc@mnsu.edu
Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honorary society for undergraduate and graduate students in political science. Founded in 1920 at the University of Texas at Austin, Pi Sigma Alpha now has over 550 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States. MSU's Upsilon Alpha chapter has become a very active student organization in the Department of Political Science/Law Enforcement. Since 1999, the chapter has sponsored career days, hosted initiation banquets with keynote speakers (in 2003 and 2005), traveled to the Midwest Political Science Undergraduate Research Conference in Kansas City (2003), Omaha (2004) and Morris, MN (2005), and hosted the same conference at MSU in March 2006. Pi Sigma Alpha students traveled to Washington, D.C. in October 2006, and to Chicago to attend the Midwest Political Science Association conference in April 2007. Upsilon Alpha won seven Chapter Activity Grants from the Pi Sigma Alpha national office between 2000 and 2007 to support these projects and activities. Pi Sigma Alpha is a Recognized Student Organization at MSU. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of major. For undergraduates, membership requires completion of 10 or more semester hours of coursework in political science, including at least one course at the 300 or 400 level. For graduate students, membership requires completion of 9 or more semester hours of graduate level coursework in political science. For all students, an average grade of B or higher (GPA of 3.0 or higher) in political science courses is required. A 3.0 GPA overall is not required. To join Pi Sigma Alpha, please contact Dr. Fred Slocum, Chapter Advisor (389-6935, or frederick.slocum@mnsu.edu). A one-time fee of $30 is required, and this confers membership for life. Website: http://sbs.mnsu.edu/psle/clubs/psa.html.
Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, at MSU, Mankato encourages, stimulates, and maintains excellence in scholarship as it endeavors to advance the science of Psychology. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS). Membership in Psi Chi is open to eligible graduate and undergraduate students for whom psychology is one of their major interests. Students may attend a Psi Chi/ Psychology Club meeting or email msupsichi@hotmail.com for additional information and application materials. To signify their membership in Psi Chi, graduates wear gold cords during commencement. For more information, contact Jeff Buchanan, Professor of Psychology, at jeffrey.buchanan@mnsu.edu or 507-389-5824.
Eligibility for undergraduate Psi Chi membership includes:
Eligibility for graduate Psi Chi membership includes:
Members of the School of Nursing Honor Society Chapter of Sigma Thete Tau International, (STTI), wear orchid and white honor cords. The mission of STTI is to improve the health of people worldwide through the development of nursing knowledge and nurse leaders. Criteria include high grade point average and class rank, academic integrity, and professional leadership potential. Advisors for Mu Lamba Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International are Kathleen Sheran and Patricia Earle. For information, contact Kathleen Sheran at kathleen.sheran@mnsu.edu.
