Theme
Service to the College and Community, Service to the Nation and the World, Through an Engaged Community of Scholars
Motto:
“Servio” (“I Serve”)
Professional Affiliations
National Association of African American Honors Programs, National Collegiate Honors Council, Forum on Education Abroad
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society
In 1986, Benedict College established the Honors Program to increase the academic rigor and enrichment opportunities for Honors Scholars. With the goal of contributing to greater scholarship for the entire campus and local community, the Program meets twenty-first century challenges facing the College, state, nation, and the world. Its mission is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, social, spiritual, global, and career opportunities for highly selected, motivated, enthusiastic and critically inquisitive students. The Honors Program achieves its mission by providing exceptional stimulation and challenges to the participants, thus expanding their global horizons and academic expectations. Honors Scholars are expected to study, conduct research, and participate in academically challenging experiences, domestic and international. The distinguished Honors faculty from each academic department design all Honors courses to include a program of study that is writing and research intensified, technologically enhanced, and globally focused.
Honors Scholars Profile
The Honors Program is uniquely designed for students who are interested in honing his/her academic skills in preparation for graduate school or careers in their specific discipline. Honors scholars generally possess the following characteristics:
- A seriousness of academic purpose through active engagement.
- A desire to surpass passive learning.
- An intellectual curiosity that supersedes an obsession with grades.
- The courage to demonstrate superior, ethical leadership.
Benefits of Honors Program
In addition to participating in enriched courses with others of a similar scholastic attitude, honors scholars may receive or take advantage of the following:
- Special honors designation on diplomas that will attract attention from graduate schools and employers
- An exclusive Capstone commencement recognition
- Special Honors stoles to be worn with graduation regalia.
- Distinguished recognition and Bronze Medallion for Scholars Paw Meritorious Engagement
- Special Honors pin to be worn at formal Honors and Convocation activities
- Individualized guidance in preparing resumes and/or applications for fellowships and postgraduate study
- Eligibility for scholarships and internships
- Participation in professional and/or cultural engagement opportunities
- Recognition during convocation and commencement
Expectations of the Honors Scholar
Students are expected to be engaged scholars through four-tiered options offered by the Honors Program that enhance the regular university experience:
- Academic Engagement to nurture students’ intellect
- Experiential-Leadership Engagement to cultivate a learning community and foster ethical leadership
- Cultural-Global Engagement to raise levels of introspection regarding cultural heritage and cultural immersion
- Professional Engagement to showcase post-graduation through capstone commitment
Admission
The Honors Program admits freshmen during the second semester of their enrollment based upon the criteria below achieved during the fall semester. Students from other levels of classification and transfer students may apply for admission based upon the same criteria and their feasibility to complete honors the requirements by graduation.
- Minimum grade point average of 3.4
- Completion of 13 semester credit hours at Benedict College
- Completion of 10 hours of service-learning
- Enrollment in Purple Briefcase with a completed resumé
- Completion of Honors Program Application Packet
- Essay completion indicating interest, qualifications, and engagement
- Submission of Recommendation Forms from two faculty members
Requirements for Graduation
To graduate with the distinction of an Honors Program Scholar, a student must complete requirements in the following four categories indicating Engaged scholarship:
I. Academic Engagement
- Maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA (granted one semester of probationary status below 3.4)
- Complete 24 Semester Credit Hours of Honors Courses
Honors course credit hours are earned via Honors designated or Honors Contract Courses:
- Honors Designated Courses
- Honors Designated courses are Honors sections of general education courses and/or Honors cross-disciplinary courses with the “H” designation (i.e., ENG 131H).
- Honors Contract Courses
- Honors Contract courses are regular sections of general education sections not designated as Honors and/or departmental courses in the scholar’s discipline for which students seek the agreement of faculty to expand the academic learning components to meet the Honors course criteria. One required contractual course is the research course in each scholar’s discipline where a senior thesis or project is completed. It is required that each scholar incorporates appropriate Honors course criteria into the Capstone Senior research. Internship courses are excluded as contract courses.
- Academic Teams, Study Abroad, or Study Away
- Courses are attached to participation in the following experiential opportunities: Honda Campus All-Star Academic Team, Model United Nations, Debate/Oratorical Teams, Study Abroad and Study Away. If unable to enroll in the requisite course, students can earn 3 SCH’s of Honors internal credit.
Honors Course Criteria
The Honors Program at Benedict College recognizes the importance of varied experiences in education by offering its students intentional engagements in lieu of a sole focus on academic acceleration. Honors courses are not simply classes made more difficult. They are enriching and analytically engaging through the integration and emphasis on any combination of the following
Honors course criteria:
- Writing/Research
- Technology
- Service-learning
- Globalization
II. Experiential-Leadership Engagement
- Maintain a current status in Purple Briefcase
- Complete LATTE Initiatives: Literacy through Activism, Texts, and Technology Engagement Initiatives 4 per year (a minimum of 12 for graduation)
- Participate in at least one local, national, regional, or state conference, including Honors Conferences.
- Complete 40 hours of engagement in Honors related service
III. Cultural-Global Engagement
- Attend Black Intelligentsia Collegiate Honors Series (A minimum of 4 for graduation)
- Pursue one of the following co-curricular experiences: Study Away, Study Abroad, or Internship beyond the required major course
IV. Professional Engagement
- Present a Senior Honors-level Electronic Portfolio of the summative Honors Experience
- Take at least one graduate or professional school entrance examination
- Proof of application to any one of the following: graduate schools (two), professional schools (two), an employer, or branch of the military
Waivers for Honors Requirements
- Evidence of Study Abroad will count as a waiver for any one of the criteria: (one) honors course, a graduate or professional school entrance examination, or one graduate school application.
- Evidence of a Job Offer will count as a waiver for graduate or professional school entrance examination and two graduate school applications.
Other Program Requirements
Honors scholars are required to participate actively in Honors program meetings and Honors related activities, including, Fall Convocation, Founder’s Day Convocation, Annual Honors Induction Ceremony, and other scholarly activities as communicated by the Director.
The Capstone Ceremony
Students who successfully satisfy the requirements of the Honors Program will participate in the Annual Capstone Commencement Ceremony and will graduate with the distinction of Honors Program Graduates. The inaugural Capstone Ceremony was held on May 9, 1990. During all Capstone Ceremonies, the Torch of Knowledge is passed to a representative from the rising senior class, and Honors Program graduates receive Encomiums of Excellence and a Benedict College Honors stole to be worn with their academic regalia on Commencement Day. Honors Program graduates give special recognition to their parents who receive Encomiums of Parental Excellence and a yellow rose.
The Scholars Paw Bronze Medallion for Meritorious Engagement
Established in 2020, the Scholars Paw was developed to represent Honors scholars who commit to leaving their “footprints of excellence” with the Program by surpassing the minimum graduation requirements. These scholars are eligible to receive a Bronze Medallion for Meritorious Honors Engagement, and their names will be printed on a plaque in a distinct area at the College.
Scholars Paw Criteria
- Maintain a minimum of a 3.8 Grade Point Average
- Participate in the full scope of career readiness and/or Honors approved leadership development trainings
- Complete a minimum of 100 service hours dedicated to the advancement of exemplary Honors engagement and leadership - beyond the academic requirement of service-learning.
- Fulfill consistently all the Other Program Requirements criteria for the Honors Program
The Honors Program Curriculum
The major focus of the Honors Program curriculum is to engage Honors students and faculty in deeper intellectual inquiry than found in the traditional classroom setting. Honors courses ensure that each student experiences a greater degree of writing, technology, research, leadership. And internationalism. Honors courses afford students active participation in specific structural service learning and leadership development programs in the local community.
Honors Courses at Benedict College are often writing-intensive, thus acculturating Honors Scholars to the graduate and professional academic world. Such rigor prepares them to conduct research and make intellectual contributions to their chosen fields. Technology-intensified courses connect Honors Scholars to the emerging digital spaces within the global society. Lastly, service-intensified courses provide opportunities, on a campus-wide, local, state, national, and international level, for students and faculty to engage and have proactive participation in the critical dialectic of international issues.
The Honors Programs employs an interdisciplinary approach to systemically engaging students and faculty in research projects that require scholars to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate from multiple perspectives. The purpose is to provide an integrated understanding of the great themes of human inquiry and expression in science, politics, economics, social thought, the literatures, and the arts.
Honors Program Curriculum
Analysis and Communication
- ENG 131H - Analysis and Argumentation Credits: 3
- ENG 132H - Information Literacy and Research Credits: 3
- ENG 237H - Oral Communication Credits: 3
Global and Intercultural Learning
- ENG 231H - Literature for Life Credits: 3
- ENG 232H - Masterpieces of World Literature Credits: 3
- HIST130H - African American History Credits: 3
- HON 230 - Argumentation and Debate I Credits: 3
- HON 233 - Introduction to Global Knowledge Credits: 3
Quantitative Literacy
- MATH 132H - General College Math Credits: 3
- MATH 134H - General College Math II Credits: 3
- MATH 138H - College Algebra Credits: 3
- MATH 140H - Precalculus Credits: 4
- MATH 141H - Business Calculus Credits: 4
- MATH 143H - Calculus I Credits: 4
- MATH 144H - Calculus II Credits: 4
Honors Program Campus Activities and Organizations
Freshman Honors Immersion Program
Scholars who receive the Founders, Trustee, and Presidential Scholarships, upon admission to Benedict College, are automatically placed in Honors courses. These students have excelled in their academic performance prior to entering Benedict College and rank in the top 20% of their class. The Director of the Honors Program (or a designee) will guide their Honors immersion for the first year and upper-class Honors scholars will mentor the freshmen to help manage their transition to college. After earning 13 hours of course credits and a cumulative 3.4 grade point average at Benedict College, these freshmen students will be duly inducted into the Honors Program in their spring semester.
Honda All-Star Challenge Team
The Honda All-Star Academic Quiz Bowl Team is a group of students who represent the College in academic competitions and showcase their ability to answer questions in categories including science, current events, literature, history, and general knowledge.
Honors Student Association
The Honors Student Association (HSA) provides a collective voice for scholars of the Honors Program through meetings and initiatives. Scholars are provided leadership service opportunities on the Honors Executive Leadership Council. HSA is designed to promote community amongst scholars primarily through the development of student-led initiatives that address issues related to Honors education locally, nationally, and internationally.
Honors Academic and Outreach Programs
Collegiate Ambassadors
This program seeks to engage Scholars and enhance their visibility in college-sponsored programs where students are required to serve in leadership and coordination roles.
In the Spirit
In the Spirit provides prayer and worship opportunities for Honors Scholars. Scholars have the latitude to facilitate collective prayer meetings, Bible study, worship services or other spiritual activities.
Project Reach/Project Impact
The Honors Program, in partnership with the Student Success Center Tutoring Services, supports Honors Scholars as they provide tutorial services to the college and wider community.
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