Honors
Dean's List Recognition
Students who qualify for Dean’s List status at the end of the fall and spring semesters and summer session will be notified by letter. The student will be honored by the college (College of San Mateo, Cañada College, or Skyline College) from which the majority of the units in any given semester are earned.
Full-time students must complete twelve (12) or more units of letter-graded classes and achieve a term GPA of 3.30 or better in any given semester or summer session.
Part-time students must initially qualify by accumulating twelve (12) or more letter graded units at a college or colleges within the District. Once qualified, in a subsequent semester the part-time student must enroll in and complete at least six (6) units but no more than eleven and one-half (11.5) units with a term GPA of 3.30 or better in any given semester or summer session.
Once a student has qualified for either the full-time or part-time Dean’s List, the student may go back and forth between the full-time and part-time Dean’s List status, depending upon the number of units completed in any given semester.
Honors at Graduation
Honors are awarded at graduation (A.A./A.S. degree) as follows, based upon GPA in all degree-applicable courses taken at College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College, together with GPA of degree-applicable coursework completed at other accredited institutions.
| 3.30 - 3.49 | Cum Laude |
| 3.50 - 3.99 | Magna Cum Laude |
| 4.0 | Summa Cum Laude |
Students are required to submit all official college transcripts to Admissions and Records for GPA calculation and determination of honors at graduation.
In every case, the student’s cumulative GPA in degree-applicable courses taken only at College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College must equal or exceed the minimum required GPA for the honors category for which the student is being considered.
Honor Societies
Alpha Gamma Sigma
College of San Mateo is affiliated with the California Community College Honor Scholarship Society, Alpha Gamma Sigma. The local chapter is the Eta Chapter. Alpha Gamma Sigma maintains academic standards for induction, continued membership and permanent membership. Membership during a semester in AGS is based upon the student's GPA as of the previous semester at CSM or elsewhere. New members must have completed a minimum of 12 graded college units and achieve a semester GPA of 3.30 or higher to be invited to join the local chapter. Continuing members must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. There is no unit requirement for continuing membership. There are two avenues to permanent membership: 1) a 3.25 cumulative GPA, 60 units and two semesters of local chapter membership; or 2) a 3.50 cumulative GPA, 60 units and at least one semester of local chapter membership. For more information, contact Fauzi Hamadeh at hamadehf@smccd.edu or visit the Alpha Gamma Sigma website (Center for Equity, Leadership and Community Building 17, Room 112E, (650) 574-6349).
Phi Theta Kappa
College of San Mateo is affiliated with Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of the two-year college, which recognizes the scholarly achievements of over 1.5 million students throughout all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada, and Germany. The local chapter is the Beta Xi Eta Chapter. Phi Theta Kappa maintains academic standards for both induction and continued membership. New members must complete at least 12 credit hours and attain a GPA of 3.5 or better. Continuing members must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. For more information, contact Jennifer Howze-Owens at howzeowensj@smccd.edu or visit the Phi Theta Kappa website (College Center Building 10, Room 442, (650) 574-6173).
