THE HONORS PROGRAM

I. General

The Honors Program brings together highly capable students and dedicated faculty members in an atmosphere conducive to creative learning and intellectual exploration. The Program is intended for students with a personal interest in learning who will pursue intellectual and creative interests beyond the requirements of the particular courses in which they are enrolled. Well-qualified high school graduates are encouraged to apply at the time of their initial registration in the University. Students may also enter the Program after the freshman year; inquiries from interested students are welcome. Students in any College of the University may enroll in the Honors Program.

II. Administration

The Program is administered by a Coordinator and a University Honors Committee. The Honors Program has its own administrative apparatus and can adjust student programs to fit the needs and desires of individual students. In response to this relative freedom from restrictive requirements, Honors Program students are expected to demonstrate intellectual excellence in their own lines of interest, and to pursue learning beyond the usual limits. Opportunities to do so are offered in Honors colloquia, Honors tutorials, other special classes, Honors sections of regular courses, and regular courses taken in Honors mode. Most students graduate from the Program as "Scholars in the Honors Program" while taking a major in the Colleges, but the Honors Program also offers the option of majoring in Honors. The Honors Program is not merely a modification of already existing programs, but a different program with ends and means of its own.

III. Means

For beginning students in the Program, special introductory courses are available to familiarize students with the nature of the Program, and to acquaint the Honors faculty with the students. Advanced courses, colloquia, introduce students to the full range of the disciplines which make up the University.

The major requirements to graduate as a Scholar in the Honors Program are: (a) a minimum of 24 credits in Honors work including 8 credits of colloquia; (b) a Sophomore Honors Portfolio; and (c) a senior thesis and senior examination (with a grade no lower than "B") in some field of specialization. After successful completion of 9 Honors credit hours and submission of the Sophomore Honors Portfolio, the student will be considered for full membership in the Honors Program. To major in Honors, students are additionally required to develop, in conjunction with an Honors advisor, an academic program based around individual needs. This program of study must be approved by the Honors Program. The colloquia mentioned above are topical and, usually, interdisciplinary discussion courses, one semester in length, on topics chosen according to student and faculty interests. The Honors mode entails an extra credit of work in a regular course so a greater than usual depth and/or breadth of knowledge can be achieved in that course.

In addition, Honors Program students are expected to maintain a respectable academic performance. The present criterion is that a student should attain a 3.2 average by the sophomore year and maintain it. If this does not occur, the Honors Committee reviews the standing of the student.

IV. Advantages

Students in the Honors Program have many opportunities to develop their own ideas and their writing and research skills; they also benefit from close association with faculty and other students who share their intellectual interests. Honors Program course work encourages students to think independently, to express their thoughts clearly, and to forge connections among disciplines. Successful completion of the Program is a clear signal to prospective employees and graduate schools that the graduate is a serious, well-prepared, accomplished student.

. THE SENIOR HONORS SYSTEM

In the Senior Honors System (formerly known as Departmental Honors), students of marked ability may pursue in their senior year a voluntary program of supervised independent study leading to the bachelor's degree with honors in the major field of study. The purpose of this program is twofold: first, to give public recognition to the superior student; and second, to enable the student to broaden, deepen, and enrich the educational experience.

In order to be eligible, a student must have completed 75 hours of work by the end of the first semester of the junior year with a general grade point average of at least 3.2. Early in the second semester of the junior year the student must apply to the Honors Coordinator for admission to honors work. If he or she is certified by the chairperson of his or her major department, Academic Dean, and the Honors Committee, the student and his or her supervisor will then plan a course of independent study for the following year.

The credits in independent study shall total not less than six and not more than fifteen. At the discretion of the department and of the Honors Committee these credits may be either in addition to major requirements or in place of some requirements. Such a study may consist of honors courses, tutorial readings, projects of research, seminars, creative work, a thesis, or any combination of these which the department and the Committee may approve. This study, whatever its nature may be, will appear on the studentŐs record with the number 499 and the title "Senior Honors." The study may be either departmental or interdepartmental. To qualify for Senior Honors, the student must receive a grade no lower than a "B" for this work. Theses will be bound and deposited in the University Library. The student will be expected to meet the nominal charge involved.

The student must maintain a GPA of at least 3.2, make satisfactory progress in his or her course of independent study, and submit a progress report to the supervisor at the end of the first semester of the senior year. At that time, the student, the department, or the Committee may decide to terminate the student's honors work. At or near the end of the senior year, if the work is continued, the student will take a comprehensive oral examination at which a member of the Honors Committee shall be present.

An unsuccessful candidate for Senior Honors will receive the bachelor's degree with the usual General Honors if his or her record meets the grade-point requirements. A successful candidate for Senior (Departmental) Honors will receive the same distinction; the additional notation "with honors in (the major field)" will appear on the Commencement program and transcript.

HONOR SOCIETIES

Alpha Eta Rho (1966) is an international aviation fraternity.
Alpha Kappa Delta (1966) is open to all students who have an interest in current social issues and a willingness to discuss feasible solutions and participate in activities which address those issues.
Alpha Lambda Delta (1950) aims to interest freshmen in the pursuit of learning and in high scholastic achievement.
Alpha Omega Alpha (1978) elects to membership from junior and senior medical students on the basis of their scholastic grades.
Alpha Phi Omega (1947) is a National Service fraternity of former Boy Scout members.
Alpha Psi Omega (Xi Alpha) (1981) is a national honorary dramatic fraternity for those performing a high standard of work in theatre arts.
Alpha Tau (1921) is the student organization of industrial technology.
Beta Gamma Sigma (1926) elects to membership a limited number of academically outstanding students from the primary disciplines in Business Administration.
Beta Alpha Psi (1923) elects from junior, senior and graduate students in accounting. Election is based on scholarship and promise in the field.
Delta Pi Epsilon (1963) is the national honorary graduate fraternity for students of superior scholastic achievement in business education.
Delta Psi Kappa (1948) is a professional fraternity endeavoring through its elections to recognize merit in the fields of health, physical education and recreation.
Delta Sigma Rho (1911) limits membership to students who have distinguished themselves in public speaking activities.
Delta Theta Phi promotes awareness of the role of the lawyer in the community and to further the objectives of the fraternity.
Epsilon Pi Tau is the international honorary professional fraternity for education in technology.
Eta Kappa Nu (1962) elects to membership a limited number of academically outstanding students in electrical engineering from the School of Engineering and Mines.
Gamma Theta Upsilon (1948) a professional fraternity, has for its purpose the recognition of merit among those enrolled in the study of geography.
Golden Key National Honor Society (1996) recognizes and awards academic achievement for upperclassmen.
International Honorary for Leaders in University Apartment Community (IHLUAC) recognizes exceptional apartment leaders.
Magna Iota provides social as well as academic outlet for graduate students in the counseling department.
Mortar Board (1932) aims to foster the ideal of service and to promote leadership and scholarship.
Omicron Delta Epsilon confers distinction for academic excellence in economics.
The Order of the Coif (1925) elects its members from the upper 10 percent of the third-year class in Law School.
Order of Omega (1984) is a society which recognizes service to community and academic achievement among members of the Greek system.
Phi Alpha (1962) elects to membership academically outstanding students of at least junior status who are majoring in social work.
Phi Alpha Delta (1911) is a fraternity in the School of Law.
Phi Alpha Theta (1948) aims to recognize excellence among those enrolled in the study of history.
Phi Beta Kappa (1913) elects to membership a limited number of academically outstanding students from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Phi Beta Lambda (1970) is a national organization for students enrolled in business, office, or business teacher education programs.
Phi Delta Kappa (1924) elects those in the Center for Teaching and Learning on the basis of scholarship, personality, and professional ability.
Phi Delta Phi (1911) is an international fraternity in the School of Law.
Phi Epsilon Kappa (1949) is a national professional fraternity for those engaged in teaching health, physical education, and recreation.
Phi Eta Sigma (1929) elects to membership sophomores on the basis of high scholastic achievement as freshmen.
Pi Lambda Theta (1923) elects outstanding students in the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Pi Omega Pi (1951) aims to promote scholarship in business education.
Pi Sigma Alpha (1982) is an honorary society for political science and public administration.
Pi Theta Epsilon (1968) junior and senior students majoring in occupational therapy selected on the basis of scholarship.
Psi Chi is an honorary society in psychology.
Sigma Alpha Iota (1916) endeavors to uphold standards of music education.
Sigma Gamma Epsilon (1950) is a professional fraternity dedicated to the advancement of its members in the earth sciences, geology, mining, metallurgy, ceramics, and petroleum engineering.
Sigma Iota Epsilon (1996) is a national honorary society for students in the field of management.
Sigma Theta Tau International, Eta Upsilon (1984) promotes and supports scholarship, leadership, and research in nursing.
Sigma Xi (1919) chooses its members from the faculty and graduate students on the basis of their aptitude in scientific research. Undergraduates are eligible for associate membership.
Society of Professional Journalists (1922), formerly Sigma Delta Chi, encourages the maintenance of high standards for journalists.
(National Student) Speech-Language-Hearing Association (1966) for majors in the area of speech pathology and audiology.
Tau Beta Pi (1974) (formerly Sigma Tau) elects to membership a limited number of academically outstanding students from the School of Engineering and Mines.
Upsilon Pi Epsilon (1987) recognizes outstanding students in the field of Computer Science.