University Honors Program

Mission

The mission of the Honors Program is to provide an enhanced and supportive learning environment for academically gifted undergraduate students. The mission will be accomplished through the active involvement of faculty recognized for their excellence in teaching small Honors seminars, and through opportunities for research. The Honors Program is a unit with its own budget and a Director who is administratively responsible to the Vice Chancellor/Provost through the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Director works in close cooperation with a University Honors Council and to establish and review policies and procedures for the Honors Program.

The Honors Program is designed to challenge students with high academic potential at an accelerated rate and to provide them with exposure to a wide variety of in-depth academic, social, cultural, and international experiences. The Honors Program is committed to fostering achievement at superior levels so that by graduation students will:

1. demonstrate skills in research, writing, and oral presentation;
2. design, develop, and present documented works which demonstrate critical thinking skills;
3. apply knowledge gained in the classroom and in community service activities;
4. display exceptional proficiency in the command of both written and oral communication; and
5. exhibit awareness of literary, cultural, social, and community service behaviors and be able to assess the values of such as behaviors through reflection and demonstration.

Strategies

In addition to the high quality of instruction that students gain in their regular course work, Honors sections of many core courses have been developed in the General Education area. In an Honors section of a course, the course work is not only more advanced, but more in-depth.

The heart of the Honors Program is the colloquium concept, which is designed to improve students’ communication skills, both oral and written. Using this concept, the University is able to meet the needs of its academically talented students.

A program of cultural and social activities is provided for Honors students. These activities may include field trips, plays, concerts, tours, and workshops. Honors students are expected to represent the University at Honors conferences nationally and regionally through debate, quiz bowl, poster and other competitions. Honors activities are intended to increase student interest and improve the retention rate among Honors students.

To ensure that adequate recognition is given to these students, the Honors Program will (1) award a certificate of participation as students successfully complete each year in the Program, (2) institute a structured series of forums under the aegis of the Honors Program, (3) initiate an Honors Newsletter/Arts Magazine, (4) identify Honors students at graduation by a specific visual symbol, and (5) record "Honors Program Graduate" on the diploma and on the transcripts of students who successfully complete the Honors requirements.

The Honors Program sponsors a peer tutoring program in which upper-division Honors students assist lower-division students in the core courses in the General Education area and in the major disciplines.

The Honors Program sponsors a Junior Mentor program that allows juniors to serve as ombudsmen to freshman Honors students.

The Honors Program supports debate exercises to give students opportunities to think critically and to solve problems.

Objectives

The Honors Program’s major objectives are:

1. to develop a unified program of rational and creative thinking, writing, verbal, and reading skills through the colloquial concept in an effort to improve students’ skills;
2. to promote Honors seminars designed to facilitate dialogue between Honors students and faculty without the pressure of grades;
3. to participate in career workshops for Honors students in a variety of fields;
4. to arrange internships in cooperation with the Cooperative Education Program, International Program, and academic departments;
5. to enhance the overall quality of the University’s academic programs and the academic climate of the Institution; and
6. to promote international study and travel experiences.

Admission Requirements

Admission for first semester freshmen into the Honors Program is determined as follows:

1. Students who are National Merit Scholarship finalists will automatically be admitted to the Program;
2. Students with a 3.50 grade-point average (un-weighted) for their four years of high school will be considered for admission to the Program, if they have satisfactory SAT or ACT scores and if they have followed the academic track in high school. Furthermore, students will become eligible for admission to the Program only after satisfying additional criteria. These criteria may include the successful completion of an interview with the Director and/or members of the University Honors Council, teacher recommendations, a writing sample, and university placement tests.

Admission for other students into the Honors Program is determined as follows:

1. Second semester freshmen or first semester sophomores are considered for admission to the Honors Program if they meet the admissions criteria for Honors in addition to having demonstrated outstanding performance in individual university-level courses. With approval from the Director of the Honors Program the students must also:
   1. have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25;
   2. present well-written essays of interest, intent, and commitment to participate in the Program.
2. Transfer students are welcome to apply for the Honors Program. They must present an official transcript demonstrating high academic achievement and it will be evaluated by the director of the Honors Program.
3. ECSU students who are classified as juniors may join the Honors Program, provided they enroll in Honors Seminars for the two years prior to graduation and are able to meet minimal requirements for Honors.

Retention Requirements

To remain in the Honors Program, students must maintain overall 3.25 grade point averages during the freshman year. Students are expected to attend regular meetings of colloquia, or as called by the Director. Failure to attend these meetings or adhere to any of the requirements documented by the University Honors Council may result in dismissal from the Program.

Honors Program Probation and Reinstatement

After the freshman year, students will be placed on probation if their overall grade point average drops below 3.25. If students’ grades improve to the acceptable level by the end of the next semester, they are reinstated. Student requests will be considered by the Director and/or the Honors Council. Students who are on probation more than twice will not be eligible for reinstatement. Students who make Ds while maintaining the appropriate average must repeat the courses, but they will not be put on probation.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with the Honors Designation, a student shall have completed 24 credit hours of Honors courses by HON designation or by contract. The student must complete and defend an Honors Thesis. Upon completion of degree requirements, the overall grade point average must be 3.25. Honors Program graduates must make no less than a B in all Honors courses and cannot have a grade below a C in any course.

Students may take 6–12 semester hours in their major discipline by contract or Honors Option.

• An overall grade point average of 3.25 for Honors courses.
• A grade point average of at least a B earned in Senior Colloquia.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.25 in all University courses.

HON 201/HON 202 Sophomore Honors Seminar (3; 3) (F/S)

The Honors Seminar is a facilitated course that can be taught by multiple faculty members. The course will have an interdisciplinary theme. The Honors Seminar is designed for all sophomore-level or above Honors Program students.

Faculty members propose the theme of the course and outline the format of the class. In addition, faculty members organize the course, invite guest lecturers, lead primary discussions, give assignments, and evaluate students. The course must include intensive reading, writing, and research.

HON 301/HON 302 Junior Honors Seminar (3; 3) (F/S)

The Honors Seminar is a facilitated course that can be taught by multiple faculty members. The course will have an interdisciplinary theme. The Honors Seminar may be taken by all sophomore-level or above students and transfer students. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor or of Honors Program Director.

Faculty members propose the theme of the course and outline the format of the class. In addition, faculty members organize the course, invite guest lecturers, lead primary discussions, give assignments, and evaluate students. The course must include intensive reading, writing, and research. As a requirement of the course, an oral presentation of the research work of this course must be presented at an on-campus research forum.

HON 399/HON 499 Honors Independent Study (3; 3) (F/S)

Study of special topic(s) in consultation with, and completed under the supervision of a member of the Honors faculty, or other faculty upon approval of the Director of the Honors Program and Honors Council. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in the Honors Program.

Honors Credit by Contract

Honors credit by contract will enable students to receive honors credit in regularly scheduled courses in their majors.

H-option courses will likely include one or more of the following criteria:

• reading in addition to that normally required for the course, attested to either by oral presentation or written work;
• guided research involving either data from primary sources, a laboratory investigation, or field research resulting in a creative presentation or an individual report with annotated bibliography and other features normally incorporated into an advanced-level-report; and/or
• class or peer presentations which are prepared, designed, and delivered to a standard that will qualify for Honors credit.

Regardless of the individual structure of H-option contracts, they are all likely to share one or more of the following characteristics:

1. provision for additional consultation between student and instructor;
2. inclusion of data sources or a laboratory investigation beyond that routinely required in a course;
3. evaluation methods which are specific and rigorous; and
4. choice of subject matter, project, or laboratory problem within the sphere of interest of the student and instructor.

Students pursuing H-option credit are responsible for all regularly scheduled work in a course in addition to any special H-option requirements.

University Honors Program Governance

The Program is headed by the Honors Program Director, who works in conjunction with the University Honors Council. The ECSU Honors Program is a member of The National Collegiate Honors Council, The Southern Regional Honors Council, and The National Association of African American Honors Programs.