In addition to Fellowships and Scholarships and Research/Creative Activity Awards, graduate students may be honored through nomination to the Graduate School's Cratis D. Williams Society. Some programs offer recognition through discipline-specific honorary societies.
Please note: All graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, so there are no Latin honors (cum laude, etc.) for graduate students.
The Cratis D. Williams Society
Each year, the Graduate School seeks nominations for students to induct into the Cratis D. Williams Society. This society is designed to recognize the top 2% of graduates from the School of Graduate Studies each year. Inductees are chosen from among the nominees based upon their academic performance, their engagement in their discipline, and their potential for leadership.
Nominations are accepted each Spring and Fall semester. Lists of eligible students are sent to departments shortly after the application for graduation deadline (November and April). Nominations are limited to one per degree program.
Specifically, nominees must:
- be on track to complete a graduate degree (master's, specialist, doctoral) in December, May, or August;
- be outstanding academically, with a graduate GPA of 4.0;
- have engaged in or completed a project related to research, creative activities, practical professional experiences, OR service as a significant part of their program of study;
- have shown clear potential to be leaders in academic, workforce, or community life.
The nominating department chair, graduate program director, or program faculty mentor will be asked to provide a statement that addresses specifically how the nominee's performance in the program was outstanding, as well as evidence for the nominee's leadership potential.
Cratis D. Williams Society inductees will be honored with a medallion that may be worn at commencement, and will be recognized at the Spring Graduate Student Awards Reception.
Nominations will be limited to one per program. Selection will be made without regard to or quota for program, department, or college.
Discipline-Specific Honor Societies
Discipline-specific honor societies are a great way to seek recognition in your field. Many also offer award and scholarship opportunities. Please contact your program director for more information about the options available for your field of study.
- Beta Gamma Sigma (MBA, Applied Data Analytics, Accounting)
- Gamma Theta Upsilon (International Geographic Honor Society)
- Phi Alpha (Social Work)
- Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society)