HONOR POINTS

The Honors Program's system of Honor Points is designed for the use of both the Honors Council and the Honors Student Association to promote active participation and involvement of Honors Program students in the several areas of extracurricular life that will contribute most to their overall development as scholars, citizens, and leaders.  Honor Points will also provide a quantitative basis for:

• allocation of new scholarships
• assessment of continued eligibility for scholarships
• qualification for Honors Program Graduate status
• evaluation of requests for research and study grants
• assessment for special achievement awards. 

 The Honor Points system will be applied to the conferring of Honors Program Graduate status beginning with students entering the Honors Program in the Fall 2002 semester.   Students entering the Program prior to this date must fulfill hours and GPA requirements only. 

The Honor Points system will be applied in the allocation of new scholarships and in the evaluation of requests for research and study grants beginning with applications from continuing students received in the Spring semester of 2003.

The Honor Points system will apply immediately to assessing continued eligibility for scholarships only insofar as it provides a quantitative measure of elements in the original scholarship agreement.  Specifically, it provides a mechanism of evaluating the scholarship recipient's agreement to "participate fully in all Honors Program activities."  Special achievement awards also will be based on an assessment of Honor Points in relevant categories.  The categories of activity are as follows:

 SERVICE

Minimum of 25 points expected for Honors Program Graduate status.
Target: 5 points/semester

Definition of Activity:  Two categories of service will be recognized:
 §         DIRECT service – Engagement in an activity that directly benefits the target population (e.g., food kitchen, home building, tutoring)
 §         INDIRECT service – Engagement in support activities such as committee work, organization and fund raising. 
Accrual of Points: 
 §         One hour DIRECT service = 1 point
 §         One hour INDIRECT service = 0.5 point
Documentation:  A form describing the activity and indicating the number of hours worked must be signed by an activity supervisor.

LEADERSHIP

No minimum points required.

Definition of Activity:  Two categories of leadership are recognized:
 §         Elected office
 §         Appointed office
Accrual of Points: 
 §         Elected office in student organization - 2 points per semester
 §         Appointed office - 1 point per semester
Documentation:  A form will be provided on which the student describes the position and organization;  indicates whether it is elective or appointive; and secures the signature of the appropriate organization sponsor.

 CULTURAL EVENTS

Minimum of 20 points expected for Honors Program Graduate status.
Target: 5 points/semester

Definition of Activity:  Cultural events may include lectures, concerts, performances,  plays, and art exhibit openings.
Accrual of Points:  Each activity = 1 point
Documentation:  Student must submit ticket stubs or programs from the events, along with a cover sheet summarizing the events attended.

 HONORS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Minimum of 25 points expected for Honors Program Graduate status.
Target: 5 points/semester.

Definition of Activity:  Honors Program activities include attendance at meetings, receptions, field trips, parties, etc.
Accrual of Points: 
 §         Meeting attendance = 1 point each meeting
 §         Committee participation = 1 point each meeting
 §         Attendance at receptions, events = 1 point each event
Documentation:  Students will sign in on official sheets at each event.  No further documentation is necessary.

 SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

No minimum points required.

Definition of Activity:  Scholarly activities include the presentation of papers at academic meetings; publication in recognized scholarly journals; receiving competitive awards, internships or fellowships; induction into academic honorary societies.
Accrual of Points:  number of points depends on details, with value to be assessed by members of Honors Council with the Honors Director.
Documentation:  Student must submit evidence of each activity qualifying in this category - e.g., copy of meeting program, photocopy of publication, letter of notification of award received or acceptance into academic honorary.

 EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES

            No minimum points required.

Definition of Activity: Employment activities include any activity or event that shows excellence in the workplace including, but not limited to employee of the month, recommendations for improvement implemented by management, and customer recognition of a job well-done.
Accrual of Points: number depends on details, with value to be assessed by members of Honors Council with the Honors Director.
Documentation:  Student must submit a written statement of each activity qualifying in this category.  The statement must be signed (for verification purposes only) by the student’s direct supervisor.

A minimum of 70 total Honor Points will be required to become an Honors Program Graduate.  This will be in addition to the standing requirement of 23-26 hours of Honors classes and a 3.25 GPA.  Transfer students may submit a resume of activities during their enrollment at another institution, which will be evaluated by the Honors Director, with Honor Points being allocated according to the same criteria indicated above.

Documentation (on official forms) of activities qualifying for Honor Points must be submitted to the Honors Program Office before the last class day of the semester in which the points were accrued.  Materials on Service, Leadership, and Cultural Activities will be assessed by the Executive Committee of the Honors Student Association.  Materials on Scholarly Activities will be assessed by the Academic Committee of the University Honors Council, in cooperation with the Honors Program Director.          (Revised 10/2007)