The Yale College Faculty has charged the Committee on Honors and Academic Standing to act for it and with its authority in matters of academic rules and standards. A chief role of the Committee on Honors and Academic Standing is thus to enforce, interpret, and apply the academic regulations of Yale College. It also has the responsibilities of administering the award of General Honors and Distinction in the Major, awarding academic prizes at Commencement, and of considering proposals for Special Term Courses and Special Divisional Majors.

From 1926 to 1981, both academic and disciplinary matters were handled by the Yale College Executive Committee. In 1981 the Yale College Faculty changed the name of the Committee on Honors and Special Projects to the Committee on Honors and Academic Standing, committing to it all of the academic business previously delegated to the Executive Committee. The Yale College Executive Committee is now solely a disciplinary committee. More information on the Executive Committee as presently constituted is available here.

The Committee on Honors and Academic Standing meets about twice a month during the regular academic year. A good deal of the routine business of the committee is delegated to the chair, but the full committee decides any matter that raises a question of academic policy, would establish a new precedent, or that is in some other way unusual. The chair of the committee, Associate Dean, Joel Silverman, is, in general, the person to consult about any of the academic regulations of Yale College. All questions about General Honors, Distinction in the Major, Special Divisional Majors, or Special Term Courses may also be referred to Associate Dean Silverman.

Topics in this section:

• Special Academic Problems
• Routine Matters
• Grading Disputes
• Honors and Distinction
• Special Divisional Majors
• Special Term Courses