n I, too, agree that the administration’s change of the Latin honors system is commendable and a step in the right direction to solve the continuous problems of grade inflation/deflation and differences among the colleges (“Latin honors change smart,” pg. 10, Feb. 26).
However, the administration’s change has one fatal flaw: The change was made across the board and without regard for those students who worked hard and planned ahead. I am, of course, referring to students who, because of their high grade point averages, planned and undertook a work for distinction in order to graduate summa cum laude.
Under the old system, still effective as of last May (when work for distinction applications were due), to graduate summa cum laude, a student needed a 3.75 GPA and to have received a B+ or better on a work for distinction, a major undertaking requiring a full year of research and writing and counting for eight credits. As of this year, a work for distinction does not count toward Latin honors. No hint at this upcoming change was mentioned at the informational sessions for work for distinction applicants last year.
In short, the administration has turned a blind eye to its top students by refusing to grandfather in those who planned ahead to get their chance at the highest of Latin honors. And I think it’s a shame that administrators at such a prestigious university would show such blatant disregard for the efforts of their students.
Jessica Alexander
CAS ’04
