James Scholars College Honors
Every college at Illinois has its own honors program. Students admitted to these programs are called James Scholars.
The James Scholar Honors Program in the School of Information Sciences recognizes the talents of academically outstanding students, promotes curricular/co-curricular growth, and helps prepare students to stand out in their future endeavors. James Scholars may also receive:
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Programming in areas such as undergraduate research, international experiences, career development, and co-curricular opportunities
Students Eligible to Join James Scholars:
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- Current School of Information Sciences students who have completed less than 75 hours, are included on the spring Dean’s List, AND who have at least a 3.50 overall GPA
- On-campus transfer students into the School of Information Sciences, who are certified by their previous college as James Scholar
- The top of the college’s incoming freshman class, based on a combination of a student’s ACT/SAT score, high school GPA, application essays and related involvement. Students are automatically considered for admission upon application to the University; there is no separate application
- Off-campus transfers with at least a 3.75 transfer GPA may request to join the program.
Please speak with your academic advisor if you have questions about the process.
James Scholars Requirements:
Students work with the iSchool Undergraduate Student Affairs Office to create an individual honors plan, selecting from academic and co-curricular experiences. In addition, students must meet the following requirements:
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- Maintain an Illinois semester and cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 (coursework from other institutions will not apply)
- Maintain full-time enrollment and complete at least 12 graded credit hours during the fall and spring semesters.
- Complete the required minimum number of honors courses and co-curricular experiences each academic semester.
- Should a student be found to have committed any infraction of the UIUC Rules of Academic Integrity, they would automatically forfeit their James Scholar membership and privileges.
Beta Phi Mu @ Illinois
Beta Phi Mu (BPM), the library and information studies honor society, was founded at the University of Illinois in August 1948 by a group of leading librarians and library educators to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among library and information studies students.
Our motto, Aliis inserviendo consumor, meaning 'Consumed in the service of others' was selected by the founders based on the concept of dedication of librarians and other information professionals to the service of others.
Undergraduate Student Requirements
Visit the Beta Phi Mu (BPM) @ Illinois Website and the Beta Phi Mu @ Illinois Undergraduate Website for more information.
Dean's List
The Dean's List is prepared each semester to honor all full-time students whose grade-point average (GPA) for that semester ranks in the upper 20 percent of their college. This list is typically compiled one month after final grades have been posted.
To be eligible for Dean's List recognition, students must complete at least 12 academic semester hours taken for a letter grade (A through F). This excludes courses graded credit/no credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, and test-based credit that is graded pass/fail. No consideration is given for the Dean's List until all final traditional grades are posted. Students with I, DFR, or missing grades who believe they should be placed on the Dean's List as a result of a grade change or a grade received more than a month after the end of the semester, should notify the iSchool BS/IS Office ischool-is@illinois.edu to ensure that corrective action is taken.
Students who are registered with the Center for Wounded Veterans (CWV) or with Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) who are enrolled less than 12 but a minimum of nine graded semester hours who are in the top 20 percent of their college are also eligible. Such students must sign a release with CWV or DRES indicating their consent for consideration for Dean's List eligibility and have submitted that consent to their home unit's academic affairs office (for iSchool students the release should be submitted to the iSchool Student Affairs Office) no later than Reading Day in the semester in which they wish to be considered for Dean's List. These consent forms are valid only for the semester in which they are issued, and students must submit by the deadline updated consent forms for each semester in which they wish to be considered for Dean's List.
Recognition of Dean's List
Students receiving this accomplishment will be emailed following our processing, which may take one or more months following the previous term's grades being posted. This will be noted on the official University of Illinois transcript and will be posted on the University of Illinois News Bureau’s web site at: http://www.news.illinois.edu
Previous semesters GPA cut-off for Dean's List:
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- Fall 2020: 3.94 and above
GPA varies each semester, based on the top ~20% of student GPAs in the iSchool meeting the criteria
Honors Distinction
Each college prescribes the conditions under which candidates for its degrees may be recommended for graduation with honors in recognition of sustained intellectual achievement throughout the student’s undergraduate career. These distinctions are noted on the student’s baccalaureate diploma, permanent University record, and official transcript. Student Code
School of Information Sciences awards "Honors" to the top 10-percent of the undergraduate graduating class each semester.
Bronze Tablet Honoree Distinction
The University of Illinois began the tradition of inscribing the Bronze Tablets with the names of students receiving University Honors in 1925. A new tablet is hung in the Main Library each year. Inscription on the Bronze Tablets recognizes sustained academic achievement and is exclusively for the top 3% of each college’s graduating class. The actual GPA is recalculated every year and is based on all work completed at the university through the academic term prior to their graduation. To be identified as a Bronze Tablet recipient, transfer students, in addition to meeting the general rules for qualification, must also have earned at least 40 semester hours at this university and have cumulative University of Illinois grade point averages as high as the lowest eligible students who completed all of their academic work on this campus.
The National and International Scholarships Program
Our program administers nationally competitive awards for University of Illinois students and alumni. Opportunities include undergraduate and graduate study, research, and teaching—often in foreign countries. We also provide advice and feedback for candidates throughout the application process, helping you to become more competitive for scholarships. https://topscholars.illinois.edu/
