Recognition of Academic Achievement

Crimson Scholars Program: Crimson Scholars is a benefits and recognition program for students of exceptional academic achievement who have a cumulative 3.5 GPA and are taking three or more credits per semester1. Crimson Scholars receive a number of benefits, including:

  1. automatic eligibility of all Honors Courses,
  2. early registration,
  3. extended library check-out privileges,
  4. notation on college transcript,2
  5. recognition in the commencement program3, and
  6. a lapel pin4.

Students do not need to apply to be a Crimson Scholar. At the beginning of each qualifying semester, students will receive an email message confirming their status.

To be eligible for the Crimson Scholars Program, students must be degree-seeking.

New Freshmen (27 credits or less) are eligible with: a minimum ACT standard composite score of 26 or better OR a minimum SAT score of 1240 or better OR a 3.75 or better high school GPA.

Transfer students must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA from their previous institution(s) to be eligible and must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA to continue in the program.

Currently enrolled students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 for 75% of the credits1 at NMSU (Main Campus or one of the Community Colleges).

To maintain Crimson Scholar status:

  • Freshmen entering on an ACT score must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and complete three or more credits per semester to continue in the program.
  • Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and be currently enrolled in a total of 3 or more credits1 per semester at NMSU or any NMSU community college to retain their Crimson Scholars status.
  • Crimson Scholars whose GPA drops below the required cumulative 3.5 or drops below the three credit minimum will be dropped from the program. If in the following semester, the student’s cumulative GPA and credits again meet the minimum requirement, the student will automatically be reinstated.

Additional information is on the Honors College web page at  https://honors.nmsu.edu/for-students/crimson-scholars.html.

Honors College: The Honors College provides motivated undergraduate students with opportunities to broaden and enrich their academic programs. In small classes taught by master teachers, honors students engage in lively discussion and collaborative investigation of interdisciplinary topics. By taking honors courses, students may also work toward completing general education requirements and disciplinary requirements in their major.

NMSU-A Academic Honor Roll: Following the close of the spring and fall semester, each college dean or community college president publishes a list of students who have achieved honor standing in grades for the previous semester. To be eligible, a student must have been enrolled in 12 or more semester credits with a computable grade in each. The top 15 percent of eligible students by college for that semester will be recognized for this academic achievement.

Meritorious Graduate: The designation Meritorious Graduate is awarded to the top 15 percent of the students receiving associate degrees within each college in any one academic year; the students must have completed 45 or more credits with computable grades at NMSU.

1

Does not include I grade, N grade, or audit course designations at NMSU.

2

For an Associate Degree:  Students who complete 45 credit hours as Crimson Scholars and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 or above at the end of their last semester will have “Crimson Scholar Graduate” printed on their final transcript.

3

For an Associate Degree: To be designated in the commencement program as a Crimson Scholar graduate, a student must complete a minimum of 38 credit hours as a Crimson Scholar and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above (calculated the semester before graduation).

4

For an Associate Degree: Students who complete 24 credit hours as Crimson Scholars and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 receive a lapel pin.