I got home yesterday and checked our voice messages and received a very pleasant surprise... there was a message from the president of the University of Alaska. This message was in response to a letter I had written on January 31st regarding Bethe's graduation with honors (see letter here). After receiving my letter the University reviewed Bethe's case and decided to graduate her summa cum laude instead of magna cum laude.
I never had any doubts that Bethe deserved summa cum laude myself, but I did have some doubts whether the University would agree or not. The established criteria at the Univerisy of Alaska for graduation with summa cum laude honors is to have received an A in all college level courses attempted, no matter where taken. Unfortunately Bethe took a career aptitude course in the early 90's at a community college in southern California, and because she openly disagreed with the results of her aptitude tests, the instructor gave her a B in the course. Honestly, I feel that a course of this nature should have been a pass/fail grade... there was no reason or basis for granting a letter grade. But because of this class, Bethe was initially given magna cum laude honors.
I sent essentially the same letter to the UA president, the UAF chancellor, and the chair of the UA board or regents. I received an e-mail within a couple of days from the chancellor's office telling me that they were going to review Bethe's case, but I had not heard anything else regarding the issue until I received the voice message from General Hamilton. He told me in the voice message that after review, they had decided to change Bethes graduation honors to summa cum laude, and he stated that he "was proud of the University for doing the right thing".
In the end this all works out very tidily... while Bethe actually graduated in December, UAF only holds one graduation ceremony a year, in May. So when Bethe walks in May, the announcement made will be summa cum laude. Bethe worked incredibly hard over the last five years, and deserves every bit of recognition she receives.
Bethe, the kids and I are so very proud of you! We love you.
