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Faculty Honors

To be eligible for the faculty honors list in a semester, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

  • achieve a semester grade point average of at least 3.667 with no individual letter grade below B-

  • complete a minimum of 4 course credits and receive letter grades for at least 4 course credits in courses taught or supervised by Trinity College faculty (or 3 graded course credits concurrent with pursuing the first semester of a 2-credit senior thesis)

  • have no courses for the semester in which the final grade is pending

  • have no disciplinary notation for academic dishonesty on the transcript

The honors list will be determined at the end of every semester and a notation will be entered by the registrar on the transcript of each recognized student.

An IDP student who is enrolled part time for both semesters of an academic year shall be eligible for the faculty honors list if, at the end of the academic year, the student has satisfied the above requirements by a combination of the two semesters. No course that has been counted toward a previous honors list may be counted a second time.

Honors at Graduation

The excellence of a student in the general work of college courses or in the work of individual departments is recognized at graduation with honors.

The two members of the senior class having the highest standing are designated, respectively, valedictorian and salutatorian. Students with letter grades in fewer than 18 course credits taught or supervised by Trinity College faculty are not be eligible for these designations.

Students will be awarded Latin honors based on their cumulative grade point average:

  • A grade point average between 3.667 and 3.799 will earn cum laude.

  • A grade point average between 3.800 and 3.899 will earn magna cum laude.

  • A grade point average of 3.900 or higher will be awarded summa cum laude.

Letter grades in a minimum of 17.5 course credits taught or supervised by Trinity College faculty are required for eligibility for these honors. Students with an incomplete on their records are automatically excluded from consideration.

Departments and programs may recommend honors for students who have achieved excellence in eight or more designated courses. Special examinations and a satisfactory thesis may be required. Students are advised to consult with the departmental chairs or program directors concerning specific requirements.

Honors in the major are awarded at graduation and are noted on the Commencement program of the year in which they are awarded. Honors in the major are awarded on the basis of all of a student’s work completed through and including the general examination (if required in the particular major). All courses taken after matriculation are normally used to determine a student’s eligibility (see Grades).

Honors in Liberal Arts

Undergraduate students who matriculated in the fall of 2021 or later, and who achieve a 3.667 average in two majors from different divisions with no more than three courses in common, may receive Honors in Liberal Arts.

Honors in Graduate Scholarship

To be eligible for Honors in Graduate Scholarship, a master’s candidate must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.750 or higher. In addition, the master’s thesis or final project must earn a grade of A- or higher. For students whose transcripts include both letter grades and the earlier grades of Distinction, High Pass, Pass, etc., honors will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to the grading scale under which the majority of the student’s grades were earned. In these cases, any grade lower than High Pass will disqualify a student for honors regardless of the cumulative grade point average. Honors in graduate scholarship are awarded at graduation and are noted on the student’s official transcript and in the Commencement program of the year in which they are awarded.

Honor Societies

Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is an honor society dedicated to humane scholarship. Members are elected from among those students who have achieved highest general scholastic standing. On the basis of its charter, the chapter stipulates that persons elected to membership shall be men and women of honor, probity, and learning. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is widely regarded as a mark of highest distinction. The Trinity chapter, known as the Beta of Connecticut, was chartered by the Yale chapter, the Alpha of Connecticut, on June 16, 1845, and is the eighth oldest chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in the United States.

Pi Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honor society, was founded in 1914. The Trinity College chapter, Connecticut Delta, received its charter in 1995. Pi Mu Epsilon is an organization whose purpose is to promote scholarly activity in mathematics among students in academic institutions. Mathematics majors who have done outstanding work in mathematics and are in the top one-third of their class in their general college work are eligible for membership.

Delta Phi Alpha, the national German honorary society, was founded in 1929. The Trinity chapter, Delta Upsilon, was chartered on March 7, 1958. Delta Phi Alpha seeks to recognize excellence in the study of German and to provide an incentive for higher scholarship. In so doing, it aims to promote the study of the German language, literature, and civilization, and endeavors to emphasize those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value. To qualify for membership, students must distinguish themselves scholastically both in German and in other courses and must give evidence of continuing interest in the German language and German culture.

Psi Chi national honor society was founded in 1929 for the purpose of advancing the science of psychology and encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining scholarship of the individual members. Trinity’s chapter was reactivated in 1982 after an earlier chapter, formed in 1959, had become inactive. Members are elected for above-average performance in psychology.

Beta Beta Beta is an honor society that seeks to encourage scholarly attainment in the biological sciences. The society provides scholarships and awards for student research and encourages students to publish their work in the journal BIOS. Membership is reserved for those for those who indicate special aptitude and major interest in the life sciences. These students must have completed at least three courses in biology with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in those courses and be in overall good academic standing.

Nu Rho Psi, a national honor society in neuroscience, was founded in 2006. The purpose of Nu Rho Psi is to encourage professional excellence in scholarship; award recognition to students who have achieved excellence in scholarship; advance the discipline of neuroscience; encourage intellectual and social interaction among students, faculty, and professionals; promote career development in neuroscience; increase public awareness of neuroscience and its benefits for society; and encourage service to the community. Eligible students must have declared the neuroscience major, have completed at least three neuroscience-related courses, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in neuroscience courses.

Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society, was founded in 1921; the Trinity chapter was established in 1949. Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.5 who have completed at least four courses toward the physics major and have an A- average in physics courses taken at Trinity are eligible for membership.

The Moran Scholars are the first, second, and third year students with the highest grade point averages in their class in the prior academic year.

The Holland Scholars are the first, second, and third year students with the second highest grade point averages in their class in the prior academic year.

The Deans’ Scholars are the full-time first-year students with the 25 highest grade point averages at the end of the first year. Membership in the company of Deans’ Scholars is intended both to recognize outstanding academic achievement and to encourage continued academic excellence. Students remain Deans’ Scholars through the end of their sophomore year. The program began in 1999-2000.

The Society of President’s Fellows was created in 1974 to recognize outstanding student achievement in the major. Its membership consists of one academically accomplished senior in each major offered at Trinity. The fellows, who are nominated by their respective departments and programs, meet four times a year with the president of the College to discuss academic and other topics. In 1981-1982, eight fellows initiated The Trinity Papers, an annual journal of undergraduate scholarship, and members of the society continue to constitute the editorial board of The Papers.