The recent changes to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List requirements have caused uneasiness among some students who worry they will not be able to meet the new standards.
In January, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution requiring students to take at least 15 hours of coursework to be considered for the Chancellor’s Honor Roll or Dean’s List.
The current requirement is 12 hours of coursework per semester. Although the University is increasing the number of required hours, the grade point average requirements will remain the same. Students will need to have at least a 3.5 GPA for the Dean’s List and a 4.0 GPA for the Chancellor’s Honor Roll.
Vince Wilson, a professor in the School of the Coast and Environment and chairman of the Faculty Senate’s Admissions, Standards and Honors Committee, said he was not entirely surprised about the unrest among some students.
Wilson said University administrators took several factors into consideration when making the decision, including students being required to spend several hours each week in lab classes.
Wilson said although some administrators had mixed feelings about the change, the committee decided to increase the requirements partly because doing so was consistent with the University’s Flagship Agenda goals of improving undergraduate education and the graduation rate.
In addition, Wilson said increasing the requirements will increase the value and distinction of the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s Honor Roll.
Karen Denby, assistant vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said she has been keeping track of student comments in Reveille letters to the editor, and thinks the opinions have been balanced.
“I’ve been kind of surprised that letters seem to be so even,” Denby said. “Right now, I have three for the change and three against.”
Colleen Landry, a graphic design junior, said in a Feb. 2 letter the requirements were unfair because students who must take lab classes are in class for more than 12 hours each week.
Scott Dunbar, a biological sciences sophomore, also said in a March 31 letter that taking 15 hours each semester may be too time-consuming for students who must balance classes, work and other obligations.
Denby said she thought it would take a couple of years to see how the adjustment works out, and she is curious to see how the change plays out over the next few semesters.
Despite some students’ uneasiness about the change, other students said they did not have a problem with the new requirements.
J.I. Shin, an accounting freshman, said Monday that although taking more hours means spending more time studying, he does not think the change is unfair or unreasonable.
“I think they’re doing the right thing,” Shin said.
Carrie Causey, an English sophomore, said she thought the new requirements would help students graduate in a more timely manner.
“It’s not unreasonable because you have to graduate, and taking 15 hours a semester will help you graduate in four years,” Causey said.
Naille Smith, a mechanical engineering sophomore, said she did not think the change was unfair, and she is used to to taking 15 hours each semester anyway.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Smith said. “It’s good to improve the distinction.”