Rules, Regulations & Policies
Conferring of Degrees
Loyola University Chicago
School of Law
J.D. Honors Policy
(effective Spring 2006)
The top 25% in each division will graduate cum laude.
The top 10% in each division will graduate magna cum laude.
Up to the top two students in each annual graduating class without regard to division (subject to the Dean's approval) may graduate summa cum laude.
Spring semester class ranks will be used to determine final honors status for all graduates. The final grade point averages of graduates from the previous January will be inserted into the spring semester rankings. The percentile designations will then be applied to all graduates. The honors status of summer graduates will be determined by their percentile rank after their final spring semester.
January graduates will receive a diploma that reflects their honors status based on rankings from the previous spring semester. In some cases, a January graduate's honors status will change after the following spring ranks are determined. In those cases, a final honors designation will be made and, if necessary, the graduate will be issued a new diploma that reflects her final honors status. The graduate must return the first diploma and may claim only her final honors status.
If a percentage for honors designation results in a fraction, eligibility for honors status will be determined by rounding-up the number of those eligible only if the decimal involved is .5 or greater. Therefore, if there are 50 students, the top 12.5 are within the top 25% of the rankings. Thirteen graduates will be awarded honors. If there are 49 students, the top 12.25 students are within the top 25% and honors status will be awarded to only 12 students.
For acknowledgment of honors status only, the percentile ranks will include both January and May graduates. The merge of classes is done for the purpose of determining honors status only. Final class ranks for January graduates is determined by their January class rank. Final class ranks for May graduates is determined by their May class rank in which January graduates are not included.
Wait until May - January graduates will receive a diploma reflecting honors status based on rankings after the previous May. Transcripts and revised diplomas (if necessary) will be issued with final honors status after the succeeding May.
Summer graduates' honors status will be determined based on the previous spring semester ranks.
To download an Adobe PDF file copy of the honors policy, click here. You will need a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader program installed on your computer in order to access the file. If you do not have a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader program, a free copy of the program can be downloaded from Adobe's website.
