Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines
Honors Guidelines
Our Honors College guidelines for the 2022-23 academic year are available below. Guidelines from current and prior years can be downloaded as .pdf documents.
For students who entered Fall 2022/Spring 2023
For students who entered Fall 2021/Spring 2022
For students who entered Fall 2020/Spring 2021
For students who entered Fall 2019/Spring 2020
For students who entered Fall 2018/Spring 2019
Honors Participation Guidelines for all students (effective Fall 2020)
COURSE COMPLETION STANDARDS
Honors Concentration
- Students must pass a minimum of eight (8) Honors courses with a grade of C or higher, ideally including four (4) interdisciplinary courses and/or Honors courses outside one’s major. Students must maintain full-time student status for the duration of their time in Honors, with the exception of their final semester prior to graduation.
- Honors classes are pro-rated so transfer students (internal & external) and those graduating early are not penalized; the total is calculated at a rate of one Honors class per semester with a minimum requirement of four (4).
- Students must take at least one (1) Honors course the first semester they enter the Honors College.
- Alternative course experiences (e.g., Internships, Study Abroad, Research/Creative Experience, Senior Privilege) may be counted toward Honors course requirements with prior approval through an application process. A reflection paper is required at the conclusion of the experience. Non-Engineering majors may earn up to three (3) alternative course experiences, while Engineering majors may earn a total of two (2). *Study abroad experiences will count as one (1) alternative course experience, yet students can apply for up to two Honors course equivalents that would not count against the allowable maximum.
- Students who do not continue to progress toward meeting course requirements will be contacted by the Assistant Dean, who will request a plan for course completion. If the plan is either not feasible or no plan is submitted, the student will be removed from the Honors College.
- Students are required to enroll in Honors sections of Comp I, Comp II, & Public Speaking* (Honors FEC I & II as well as SEC I & II [for Engineers]) unless they have placed out of the course, have transferred the credit prior to matriculation, or have received permission from the Honors Advisor or the Assistant Dean to enroll in another section.
Honors Concentration with Distinction
- Beginning Fall 2021 for entering Freshmen and students with 2 years in the program, Honors will be offering a new concentration – Honors Concentration with Distinction. Students need to declare their intention to complete the concentration before the spring semester of their junior year.
- This experience provides students with the opportunity for more breadth across disciplines and depth in their chosen area of study. It culminates in a capstone project to enrich their overall experience.
- Students must complete a total of 12 honors-designated courses including Honors sections of Comp I, Comp II, & Public Speaking (Honors FEC I & II as well as SEC I & II [for Engineers]), a year-long Honors capstone project with a faculty mentor, and final portfolio reflecting on their Honors experience and all their classes. HONR 05301 Honors Capstone Proposal, HONR 05401 Honors Capstone Project, and HONR 05402 Honors Portfolio count towards the required number of courses. Courses are pro-rated for students who join the program later, at the rate of (1) course per semester. Transfer students with a completed Associate’s Degree take a total of eight (8) courses.
- Alternative course experiences (e.g., Internships, Study Abroad, Research/Creative Experience, Senior Privilege) may be counted toward Honors course requirements with prior approval through an application process. A reflection paper is required at the conclusion of the experience. Non-Engineering majors may earn up to three (3) alternative course experiences, while Engineering majors may earn a total of two (2). Study abroad experiences will count as one (1) alternative course experience, yet students can apply for up to two Honors course equivalents that would not count against the allowable maximum.
*Honors Interpersonal Communication is being offered in lieu of Public Speaking in response to COVID-19 and can be used in substitution during this time.
PARTICIPATION STANDARDS
- Honors students must participate in three (3) types of events/activities from a pre-approved list of offerings each fall and spring semester:
- Think: Two (2) academic events/activities;
- Thrive: Two (2) social, wellness, and leadership events/activities; and
- Share: Four (4) service events/activities
- Among Think, Thrive, and Share selections for the semester, students must incorporate one (1) diversity, equity, and inclusion event/activity that enhances an individual’s understanding of and respect for non-dominant cultures and one (1) arts and culture event/activity that contributes to their comprehension and appreciation of creative and artistic expression.
- Students must provide an account of participating in these activities at the end of each semester.
- Students in their first semester in the Honors College will fulfill all Honors participation requirements for that semester through active participation in the BLAST mentoring program
- For each semester in which they serve on the HSO or BLAST, officers/mentors fulfill all Honors participation requirements.
- The following students are not required to complete Honors Participation in that given semester: Education majors in their final, full-time clinical practice semester; students who are studying abroad for a full semester, and students in a full-time cooperative education (co-op) experience.
- Students who do not fulfill Honors Participation requirements will not be considered for funding for research assistantships, study abroad, conferences, or service activities.
- One (1) semester of an incomplete, loss of, or late Honors Participation submission will result in forfeiture of priority registration for classes. Two (2) semesters without meeting Honors Participation requirements will result in removal from the Honors College.
*** If a student has extenuating circumstances that might explain their shortfall of hours, they can appeal to the Assistant Dean, who may bring the matter before the Dean and Honors Faculty Advisory Board.
GPA STANDARDS
- Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (beginning with the Fall 2020 entering class)
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 to remain in good standing with the Honors College, keeping in mind the graduation standards.
- Honors offers first-semester GPA forgiveness. Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.3 at the end of their first semester in the Honors College will be placed on probation and receive email notification. Probationary students must meet with the Honors Advisor or the Assistant Dean to come up with an academic success plan.
- Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.3 at the end of their second semester will be removed from the Honors College. These students will receive a dismissal email.
- Students who earn a cumulative GPA above a 3.3 but below a 3.5 will receive reminders of the graduation standards. If students cannot achieve either or both GPA requirements by graduation, they should have the Honors Studies Concentration removed before applying to graduate.
*** If a student has extenuating circumstances that might explain their unsatisfactory performance, they can appeal to the Assistant Dean, who may bring the matter before the Dean and Honors Faculty Advisory Board.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR STANDARDS
- As citizen scholars, Honors students are expected to uphold ethical standards of behavior upon which social and academic communities rely.
- Academic integrity and Student Code of Conduct violations serve as a cause for dismissal from the Honors College.
- Academic Integrity
- When violations are Levels I and II, as defined by the University’s Academic Integrity Policy, the student may appeal to the Honors Faculty Advisory Board. The final decision will be made by the Assistant Dean and Dean of Honors.
- When violations are Level III or IV, the student will be immediately dismissed from the Honors College without the right of appeal.
- Student Code of Conduct
- Violations that pose a risk to the safety and well-being of others in the University and/or Glassboro community will result in immediate dismissal from the Honors College.
- Discriminatory acts—including but not limited to those based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and (dis)ability status—will not be tolerated. Students found in violation of bias-motivated offenses per the Student Code of Conduct will be immediately dismissed from the Honors College.
- Academic Integrity
- Honors students, staff, and faculty may report unethical behavior to any member of Honors staff or administration who will make the appropriate referrals to designated offices that oversee reporting and investigation of such matters.
HONORS BENEFITS
- Priority registration
- Honors housing (optional)
- Having the Honors Concentration or Honors with Distinction listed on the student’s diploma
- Enrolling in educationally enhanced and/or unique Honors classes
- Use of the Honors lounges and the Whitney Center’s computer lab (includes free printing)*
- Funding to attend theater, art exhibitions, concerts, and invited speaker presentations
- Funding to participate in unique all-Honors activities
- Funding for educational activities abroad
- Competitive funding for Research Assistantships for independent research/creative projects with Rowan faculty
- Competitive funding to travel to conferences, approved research and service activities (e.g., alternate spring break activities) within the United States
- Extended library borrowing privileges
*Please note: Our computer lab is for Honors students’ use only. Facilitating entry of non-Honors students is strictly prohibited.