The Columbus Torah Academy Chapter of the Cum Laude Society is a fraternity operating on the premises of CTA and utilizing the staff and/or faculty to run the chapter. However, the chapter is not under the jurisdiction of CTA. Rather, the chapter is mandated by the rules of the Cum Laude Society. However, the definition of what constitutes an honor record and the determination of how to select members is left to the individual chapter. The Faculty Members of the Chapter are: Mrs. Eliza Delman (Secretary), Mr. Steve Guinan (President), Dr. Matthew Kennedy and Mrs. Chaya Morris.

As mandated by the Cum Laude Society, each chapter may elect as student members not more than 20% of the graduating class who have demonstrated academic excellence in the college preparatory curriculum. The 20% is to be determined by Grade Point Average as it is calculated by CTA. The Columbus Torah Academy Chapter will induct each class upon high school graduation.

An academic record that will be considered for membership in the Columbus Torah Academy Chapter of the Cum Laude Society must reflect the values of CTA as well as the highest level of academic performance. These include the fulfillment of Ohio’s requirements for graduation as well as:

• An additional year of science
• An additional year of math
• Four years of Hebrew Language
• Three Judaic Studies courses each year

In cases where a student opts to take a course at a local college or summer school, the course should provide the student with an academic opportunity that CTA could not provide (i.e. if a student took AP Physics in 11^th grade and Physiology at Columbus State in 12^th grade).

Students must have completed at least three years at CTA, including grades 10, 11, and 12. If a student completed 9^th grade elsewhere, his/her GPA from the previous institution will be taken into consideration but will not be computed in the CTA Grade Point Average. The ninth grade report card, in such a case, should show grades competitive with other prospective Cum Laude members who were at CTA for ninth grade. If the ninth grade year was spent at a school without a Judaic curriculum, then the student must demonstrate some time spent outside of school to make up some of that lost time involved in Judaics courses. It will be up to the discretion of the Chapter what will qualify as making up the lost time in Judaics courses.

Conforming to the idea that students inducted into the Columbus Torah Academy Chapter of the Cum Laude Society must reflect the values of CTA, these students should exhibit fine middot (character traits). Students who are combative or disrespectful to faculty, staff, and/or other students do not reflect the values of CTA. Additionally, students who are involved in disciplinary measures with local police or other officials will not be inducted (i.e. a student who is caught shoplifting or trespassing outside of school).

Also at high school graduation, 20% of the junior class will be “designated”. This will allow them to use Cum Laude Society on their college applications. However, these may not include the same students who will actually be inducted at their graduation, the following year, as grades and rank may change. These Juniors who are designated may not claim to be members of the Cum Laude Society until they have been inducted at their high school graduation.

For more information check out the Cum Laude Society website.