Students pursuing undergraduate degrees are eligible to be awarded Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude) based on fixed overall GPA requirements established by each academic unit (college/school). These GPA requirements will be reviewed annually by each academic unit (college/school), and any changes must be submitted in writing to the Registrar by February 1 each year for inclusion in the next academic catalog.

Students pursuing a first professional degree (i.e., MD, JD, PharmD, DDS, DNP) are eligible to be awarded Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude) in accordance with standards established by the applicable academic unit (college/school). Each academic unit will determine the criteria used to award honors for professional degree programs and must submit any revisions to the Registrar by February 1 each year for inclusion in the next academic catalog.

Anticipated Latin Honors

Latin honors published for commencement purposes are considered anticipated until the degree is officially conferred. A student’s full academic record will be reviewed before the degree is conferred to determine the final Latin honors distinction earned.

Undergraduate Degree Latin Honors

For undergraduate degrees, the calculation of Latin honors will be based on the GPA earned in a minimum of the last 60 credit hours completed at UMKC, as determined by the academic unit (college/school), including all credits earned during the semester in which the student reaches or exceeds 60 hours.

Once the semester in which the student reaches the 60-credit-hour threshold is identified, all courses from that semester through the student's intended graduation semester are included in the GPA calculation. Students may not select which courses or credit hours within that period are counted.

Multiple Undergraduate Degrees

Because Latin honors are calculated using a single institutional GPA, only one Latin honors designation may be awarded to a student, regardless of the number of undergraduate degrees earned. The honors designation will be determined based on the student’s primary degree program.

First Professional Degree Latin Honors

For first professional degrees, Latin honors eligibility and designation will be determined according to the standards established by the applicable academic unit (college/school). Such standards may include overall GPA, professional program GPA, class rank, or other academic performance measures as determined by the academic unit.