Awards & Honors

 

UNM Awards & Honors

This page is intended to inform students of the University of New Mexico about university-wide honors conferred on students with outstanding academic records. Students should check with their individual departments and colleges for further information on departmental and college honors and awards. For further information, contact your academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar at (505) 277-8900. 

UNM Leadership and Involvement Award

The UNM Leadership and Involvement Awards recognize students who have excelled in leadership, as well as academic and co-curricular activities.  Applications are due in December and applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, minimum of 60 hours earned, campus co-curricular activities and leadership, and other contributions to the campus and surrounding communities.  Seniors and graduate students are eligible to apply as well. The application for this award opens in October each year.  

Baccalaureate Honors

Designations of cum laude (3.5-3.74), magna cum laude (3.75-3.89), and summa cum laude (3.9-4.0) are awarded to UNM baccalaureate-level graduates who have earned at least 60 hours in residence and the cumulative grade point averages listed in parentheses. Honors designations will be printed on the diploma, the Commencement program and the student's permanent record. Baccalaureate Honors are automatically awarded. No application is necessary. Only first baccalaureate degree candidates are eligible for graduation with honors. For further information, contact your academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar at (505) 277-8900. 

Clauve Outstanding Senior Award

This award is presented to outstanding seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the campus community through their outstanding leadership and involvement in student organizations and activities. Nominations are solicited in January with a deadline late February/early March each year. Usually, six to eight students are recognized at the April Recognition Reception. Contact the Dean of Students Office (doso@unm.edu) for more information. 

Dean's List

The Dean's list is based on a student's grade point average and is designated by the individual colleges of the University. Students should check with their college administration office for further information on departmental and college honors and awards.

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors may be awarded to students within a particular area of study. Interested students should contact the chairperson of their major department or the dean of their college regarding the availability of a program. Usually, students enter a departmental honors program in their junior year. Departmental honors confer the status of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude on graduating students. For further information, contact your academic advisor or department chair.

Honorary Chartered Student Organizations

There are numerous honorary chartered student organizations on campus, each requiring application. Please visit UNM's chartered student organization webpage to see the listing of honorary chartered student organizations.  We recommend searching both the Honorary and Academic/Departmental categories to find a group you may be qualified for. Some of them include:

  • Golden Key National Honor Society (General Honor Society)
  • Kappa Kappa Psi (Bandmembers)
  • Mortar Board (Senior General Honor Society)
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars (General Honor Society)
  • Order of Omega (Fraternity and Sorority)
  • Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society)

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is an honor society for those seniors with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and juniors with a 4.0 average after the fall semester of their junior year. Faculty review students for membership. For current information about the UNM Chapter, please visit the Phi Beta Kappa national website.

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all fields of higher education. Those elected to membership in Phi Kappa Phi include the upper 7.5% of last-term juniors and the upper 10% of seniors, along with outstanding graduate students, faculty, and alumni. To get more information about UNM's Phi Kappa Phi chapter, please visit their national website. 

Recognition Reception

This reception is held to honor students for excellence in academics, volunteerism, and leadership. A keynote speaker and refreshments highlight the program held every year in April. The reception is sponsored by the Student Activities Center. The following awards are presented at the reception:

  • Accessibility Resource Center Awards
  • African American Student Services Awards
  • Alumni Citizenship & Trailblazer Awards
  • American Indian Student Service Awards
  • Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center Awards
  • ASUNM Awards
  • Clauve Senior of the Year Awards
  • El Centro de la Raza Awards
  • Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards
  • GPSA Awards
  • LGBTQ Resource Center Awards
  • National Scholarship Announcements
  • Residence Hall Awards
  • Student Union Building Leadership Award
  • Women's Resource Center Awards

UNM Honors College

The UNM Honors College provides extra opportunities for high-achieving students.  The admission process is a holistic decision made after a review of the applicant’s high school curriculum and GPA, standardized test scores, and evidence of leadership and community involvement. To apply to the Honors College, incoming freshmen, current UNM students, or transfer students must fill out an application. Visit the department website or call 277-4211. 

 

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