Awards and Honors
Presented to Recipients of the Bachelor's Degree
Distinguished members of the graduating class are eligible to receive a number of awards and honors, including the following:
Graduation Honors — Undergraduates completing their course of study with a minimum of 30 semester hours earned at Aurora University are eligible to graduate with academic honors. Graduation honors require the following cumulative grade-point average:
- Summa Cum Laude: 3.90 to 4.00
- Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 to 3.899
- Cum Laude: 3.50 to 3.749
Gold Ivy Leaf Award — Undergraduates with superior scholarship who have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours for a letter grade at Aurora University and are graduating with at least a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average (Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude honors) receive the Gold Ivy Leaf Award.
Final honors reflected on students' academic transcripts and diplomas will be based upon all of their undergraduate academic coursework completed at Aurora University. Graduation honors are signified by a blue and white cord that candidates wear as part of their regalia. The Gold Ivy Leaf Award is signified by a gold medal that students may wear.
Omicron Delta Kappa — Membership in the National Leadership Honor Society is given to undergraduates who are juniors and seniors and based on established national guidelines, which include ranking in the upper 35 percent in scholarship and showing leadership in at least one of five areas of campus life, such as scholarship, athletics, community service, journalism, and the arts.
Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society — Eligibility for membership in the Freshman Honor Society is based on first-time, full-time university attendance and a term grade-point average of 3.50 during the freshman year.
Undergraduates who were members of an honors society may receive an honor cord symbolizing achievements throughout their academic career. Please check with the organization to see if they provide honor cords.