The Honors Program: Questions and Answers

Who is eligible to participate in the Honors Program?

Student are eligible to participate in the Honors Program if they

• have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher and have completed 12 semester hours of 100 level or above courses.
• are Presidential Scholars.
• are newly admitted students who bring a bring a 3.5 GPA from high school or are transfer students who bring a 3.5 GPA from their transfer college.
• have their instructor's permission to enroll in an Honors Program course or make an Honors contract even though their GPA is below 3.5.

How can a student participate in the Honors Program?

Students may participate in the Honors Program by taking an Honors course, by enrolling in an independent study Honors course, or by entering into an Honors contract with a faculty member who is teaching one of their current courses.

What is an Honors course?

An Honors course is a specially designed section of an already existing Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) course. Honors courses differ from existing NMC courses by being academically enriched. Honors courses are designed to help the student develop knowledge and skills which go "above and beyond" the normal expectations of NMC classes while stretching and extending the student's intellectual capabilities. Honors courses cover the same material as the "regular" course, but require different and higher quality work, not necessarily more work. Honors courses may play the same melody, but they play it in a higher key.

What is an independent study Honors course?

An independent study Honors course is a specially designed one-time-only independent study course which is granted an Honors designation. It meets the same standards of academic rigor as the regular Honors course.

What is an Honors contract?

An Honors contract is an agreement entered into by a student and a faculty member in which the parties agree to the creation and completion of an Honors quality project. With the faculty member serving as mentor, the student undertakes a project in an area of special interest. Honors projects come in many forms - research papers, creative writing or artistic expression, analytical surveys of the community, special class presentations or projects - almost anything that relates to and enriches the work of the class can become an Honors contract. An Honor contract must require work which is above and beyond the normal expectations of the course. Like the Honors course, the honors contract plays the melody in a "higher key".

What are the elements of an Honors contract?

An Honors contract must contain the following elements:

• A clearly stated goal accompanied by a detailed description of the content of the project.
• A description of the specific ways in which the project holds the student to a standard of performance which is "above and beyond" the normal expectations of the course.
• An explanation of what the student will have to do to complete the Honors project.
• A description of the standards and methods the faculty member will use to evaluate the project.

How does a student obtain credit for work done in the Honors Program?

A student who receives a 3.5 grade in an Honors course or independent study Honors course or who successfully completes an Honors contract and earns a 3.5 or above grade in a regular 100 level or above NMC course will, upon the report of that achievement to the Honors office by the faculty mentor, have an "H" indicating completed Honors work, entered on his/her transcript by the Student Records Office.

What happens if the Honors course or contract was not completed successfully?

Students are not penalized for failing to complete an Honors Contract.

What are the benefits of participating in the honors program?

Participating in the Honors Program

• provides students with the opportunity to work more intensely in an area of special interest.
• allows students to pursue an interest in greater depth than normal in a sixteen week semester
• makes it possible for students to work one-on-one with a faculty member in an area of his/her special expertise.
• opens the door to future scholarships at NMC.
• leads a student to becoming a graduate of the Honors Program and receive public recognition of his/her academic achievements.

Is there financial aid for NMC Honors students?

NMC offers $2000 scholarships for full-time students and $1000 for part-time students who have accumulated at least 20 but not more than 50 NMC credits, have taken at least 3 credits in the Honors program, and maintained at least a 3.5 GPA. Students who meet these standards and who complete an Honors Scholarship application form and return it to the Honors Office by the deadline may receive an Honors Scholarship.

How does the Honors Program recognize the achievements of Honors students?

Honors program participants are recognized in the following ways:

• A student who receives 3.5 grade in an Honors course or a course in which an Honors contract was successfully completed will have an "H" placed next to the grade for that course on their transcript.
• Students who meet that standard will receive a special certificate of achievement.
• Honors Program graduates will be recognized at the Honors Convocation and will receive a special certificate for their achievement at that event.
• Honors Program graduates will be recognized at a special spring recognition event.
• Honors Program graduates may wear an Honors Program stole at graduation and will be recognized in the program.
• Honors Program graduates will receive a special seal on their degrees.

How can a student become a graduate of the Honors Program?

Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA and accumulate at least 16 Honors Credits are eligible to graduate from the Honors Program. Application must be made to the Honors Office by a designated date.