On Feb. 20 of this year, the faculty and the Committee of Six charged the CEP "to bring forward several alternative motions for a College-wide honors system no later than the end of the fall semester, 2001."
"It had been established that the current system was inadequate," said CEP member Jake Kaufman '02. "The goal of this whole process is to try to find a system that is as satisfactory as possible for as many faculty members as possible."
At the CEP meeting on Oct. 16, the five faculty and three student members voted on several alternatives to the current system. Option IV received the highest rating. This proposed alternative "attaches Latin honors at all levels to the completion of a senior independent project in a major and a specified grade point average qualifies candidates for receiving summa, magna or cum laude degrees," explained CEP member and Professor of English and Russian Dale Peterson. "Alternatively, students may choose to become candidates for English honors (high distinction or distinction) based on performance in courses during the four years."
Option IV is just a skeletal framework for what could be the new honors system. The details of Option IV, should it be chosen, would be finalized after further discussion and votes from the faculty.
"There will be set qualifications for such candidates to be decided on the basis of grade point average or class rank and/or distribution across the curriculum," said Peterson. "These specifics will be decided by faculty vote on proposed amendments."
In a letter addressed to the faculty, CEP chairman and Professor of Biology Patrick Williamson described the current honors system. "Latin honors are conferred on the basis of Departmental work, i.e., a thesis or comparable independent work, as well as College honors," Williamson said. "In effect, each form of honors acts as a pre-requisite for recognition of the other."
"The current system allows for some students to receive both English and Latin honors," added Peterson.
Even if the current system is kept, it will probably be modified. "The current system, if retained, will also be subject to a series of proposed amendments which could change requirements significantly," said Peterson. Next week's faculty vote on this issue is definitive in terms of establishing the framework for the system.
According to CEP member Stacey Kennard '03, the criteria for getting honors could possibly change if faculty members present motions following the decision. Class rank or an increase in the requisite grade point average are two of the criterion that could change.
College honors are based on criteria applicable across the entire College. Currently, College honors are based simply on cumulative grade point average. Departmental honors are based on criteria determined by a particular department. These criteria are a senior thesis or similar types of independent work. Latin honors are the traditional designations of summa, magna and cum laude. English honors are the new designations (distinction, high distinction) which were created when the current honors system was devised.
"For some, the Latin honors are sacred and have more meaning than the English honors," said Kennard. "Some feel strongly about the basis of conferring those honors."
Dean of the Faculty Lisa Raskin, who also serves on the Committee of Six, said that she hopes "the faculty agree to tighten the standards for honors whichever way they decide to distribute them."
Last year, 71 percent of the class graduated with some level of honors. This was a major cause of concern among some members of the CEP.
"Honors are supposed to be special," Kaufman said. "If the number of students graduating with honors is a majority, it cheapens the value of their recognition."
Raskin is optimistic about next week's faculty meeting with the CEP. "[At the last meeting,] Williamson elegantly brought us through the CEP's proposed system and [Professor of Geology Jack] Cheney clearly explained the merits of each procedure," said Raskin. "It was interesting and fun and I think most everyone was engaged."