The assembly approved a measure Tuesday proposing the use of Latin terms such as Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude in place of the English graduation honors used by the university.
“It makes the (honor) degrees look more prestigious,” said Steve Lovelace, a university undergraduate division representative for the assembly who introduced the bill. “It also eliminates confusion of graduating with honors and graduating with college honors.”
ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Both the university’s general and college recognition for the top 20 percent of graduates use the reference of graduating with “Honors” or “High Honors.” If the measure is passed in its current form, it would not affect college honors, Lovelace said.
But some university officials aren’t sure if a change is needed.
“I don’t believe we have ever used Latin,” said Linda Stanford, MSU Registrar. “If you looked at other schools I don’t think you would see a pattern (in the use of Latin terms).”
While Stanford says Latin terminology may seem more attractive to some, graduating with honors is a great accomplishment in any language.
“I don’t think it really means anything when you graduate from a prestigious school like Michigan State,” she said. “I think if it is with honors, it shouldn’t matter.”
Still, Stanford says that the proposal can be intriguing.
“It’s an interesting idea,” she said. “I would be interested in hearing the students’ perspective on it.”
Because the bill was approved by the Academic Assembly, it will now be passed on to the University Committee on Academic Policy for further consideration and a possible vote by the Academic Council.
But Jon Sticklen who represents the College of Engineering on the committee says that he is unsure what type of discussion will take place among UCAP on the subject.
“I don’t want to pre-guess what the members of UCAP will discuss,” Sticklen said. “I would consider it, it would be something good to do.”
One reason MSU may keep everything in English is the university’s reputation as an institution, says Charles McHugh, Academic Assembly chairperson.
“It’s an institutional idea,” McHugh said. “MSU always has to be cautious about its idea of being a more casual university.”
