Honors

The honors program at WCCCD promotes scholarship, leadership, and civic engagement. By participating in honors, you gain an exceptional educational experience alongside a diverse group of high-achieving students in an environment that nurtures your academic, social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

Honors at WCCCD recognizes and cultivates academic excellence through active participation in:

  • coursework
  • internships
  • mentoring
  • service-learning projects
  • seminars
  • study abroad opportunities

If you are selected for honors, you also have opportunities to present papers at local conferences and attend special events, including those sponsored by the International Honors Society for two-year colleges, PHI THETA KAPPA.

At WCCCD, students receiving a 3.5 GPA or higher are recognized for their academic success in several ways.

Students achieve high academic status in the fall or spring semesters by completing 12 or more credit hours and achieving a minimum term grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on the traditional GPA scale 4.0. 

Students who complete degree requirements and submit an application for graduation with exceptionally high scholastic averages are eligible to receive degrees with honors. Those who have earned an overall cumulative grade point average of:

3.75-4.00 graduate summa cum laude

3.5-3.74 graduate magna cum laude

3.25-3.49 graduate cum laude

To compute the grade point average, we consider all courses you take (with the exception of developmental courses) at WCCCD. Eligible students are invited to an Honors Convocation and receive a golden tassel.

Students meeting the requirements of organizations like Phi Theta Kappa and Beta Beta Beta should apply directly to those organizations by completing the application located under Student Organizations on our website.  Once admitted, those organizations hold an induction ceremony.  Students are encouraged to wear the stole or cords received at those inductions at the WCCCD graduation.

Students who complete degree requirements and a graduation application and meet the requirements for high academic achievement and voluntary activities while enrolled at WCCCD can complete the applications for Special Recognition. This is a competitive award; the selected recipients will be notified by mail. 

To be eligible for this award, you must have a 3.5 overall GPA or higher at the application date and have performed voluntary, non-paid work in the community and/or at WCCCD. 

The student must complete and sign the Biographic Questionnaire and the handwritten reply to both essay questions.

In addition, the student must have a letter(s) of verification for the voluntary, non-paid work from the community agency and/or from WCCCD. Letters must be on the organization’s stationery.