To be eligible for the Associate in Arts degree (A.A.), the Associate in Science degree (A.S.), or Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), students are recommended by the faculty if they:
• Complete at least 60 credits (excluding developmental courses) of passing work.
• Fulfill course requirements established in the selected program of study.
• Earn a G.P.A. of at least 2.0 in work taken at the College applicable to their program.
• Complete at least 25 percent of the semester hours applicable to their program at the College.
• Students may transfer back up to 45 credits with approval of the pertinent academic program/department in order to complete a degree, the Continuous Enrollment Policy notwithstanding.
Valedictorian
Each year, the College confers the honor of Valedictorian for one graduating student who demonstrates academic and service excellence. S/he gives the Valedictory address at the Commencement ceremony and is a member of the Commencement Platform Party. Students who will graduate with the highest grade point averages among all graduating students will be notified and invited to apply for the honor during the spring semester. Those who are interested in applying will be asked to submit an essay and a list of College activities and services. These submissions and the candidate's academic record at Bristol Community College are used to select finalists for consideration.
Graduation honors
Associate degree students who maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2 to 3.49 will graduate “Cum Laude,” a G.P.A. of 3.5 to 3.79 “Magna Cum Laude,” and a G.P.A. of 3.8 or higher “Summa Cum Laude.” “Cum Laude” designations at graduation are based on academic performance through the Fall semester prior to the June graduation ceremony. Final “Cum Laude” designations include all coursework and are printed on the student’s official College transcript.
Graduation as a Commonwealth Honors Scholar
Students who successfully complete the Commonwealth Honors Program will be designated a “Commonwealth Honors Scholar” at graduation and will be recognized by the president at Commencement. Students will be distinguished by the wearing of the gold honors cord. “Commonwealth Honors Scholar” will be printed on the student’s transcript.
Community Service Leaders
Students who participate in service-learning or community service, attend leadership training, plan a community service project that meets a real need in the community, and recruit, help train, mentor, and supervise peers performing service for the project are designated as Community Service Leaders. They wear a red cord and are publicly recognized at Commencement.
Academic Achievement Awards
Students who maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 4.0 will receive an Academic Achievement Award when all program requirements are met.
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa is the national honor society of American community and junior colleges. Bristol’s chapter is known as Beta Eta Phi. The purpose of this society is to recognize and encourage scholarship, fellowship, service and leadership among community college students. Candidates are selected in the fall and spring of each academic year. They must be currently enrolled in a degree program at the College and have accumulated 18 or more Bristol credits with a 3.5 or better cumulative average. Membership qualifies students to apply for special scholarships at many four-year institutions.
These area colleges and universities offer PTK scholarships to transfer students: Boston University, Bryant University, Clark University, Emerson College, Harvard University Extension School, Lasell University, Lesley University, Northeastern University, Regis College, Smith College, Salve Regina University, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Western New England University.
Graduation requirements for Commonwealth Honors Scholars
To graduate with an associate degree as a Commonwealth Honors Scholar, a student must:
• Meet all requirements for an associate degree in major/program.
• Earn a minimum 3.5 cumulative G.P.A. while at Bristol.
• Earn a minimum of 30 credits completed at Bristol.
• Participate in a minimum of four honors experiences (10 honors credits), with a grade of at least “B.” These honors experiences could either be honors courses or honors component courses. At least two of these honors experiences (6 honors credits) must be taken at Bristol.
In the honors credits, a student must:
• Take at least one interdisciplinary honors course (3 credits), for honors-level students only.
• Take a minimum of one writing-intensive honors experience (3 credits).
• Complete an honors project (or possibly a thesis), directed by a faculty member, involving independent research.
• This one-credit culminating experience could grow from one of the three honors experiences, but it does not have to follow that path. Students may be required to present their projects as part of an honors day seminar.
• Earning credit outside the classroom