Dr. Scott Boltwood, Director
The Honors Program, epitomizing the university motto, "Increase in Excellence," recruits students who want an academic experience more challenging than the traditional Emory & Henry University experience. The Emory & Henry Honors Program is designed to meet the expectations set down by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the nation’s largest Honors organization. Upon enrollment, this select group of students is offered competitive academic, co-curricular, and service opportunities; they also enjoy such benefits as priority registration for classes, community in the Honors residence hall, increased funding, and opportunities to participate in Honors conferences. This allows Honors Scholars to take their academic and/or creative talents to exceptional levels of achievement both in and out of the classroom.
Honors Scholars work closely with the Director of the Honors Program during the advisement process in order to select courses and co-curricular experiences that will help them achieve their goals. Honors courses are noted on the college transcript, and Honors Scholars who complete the Honors curriculum receive additional recognition upon graduation as graduating with an Honors degree sanctioned by the National Collegiate Honors Council.
High school seniors interested in applying to the program should have a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 (4.0 weighted). Standardized test scores are not required, but if available, either a 1250 SAT or 27 ACT is the standard minimum score for automatic consideration. Exceptions may be made for applicants who exhibit an extraordinary talent in a specific discipline but otherwise do not meet these minimum requirements. Eligible students will be invited to interview for admission to the Honors Program. Following the interviews, a select number of students will be offered admission to the Honors Program based on a submitted essay, high school GPA, letters of recommendation, and interview performance. A committee of faculty members and current honors students, chaired by the Honors Director, will make recommendations for invitations to the Honors Program to the Associate Provost and Provost.
Emory & Henry University students with outstanding academic performance (GPA of 3.5 or above) in their first semester may be considered for the Honors Program based upon nomination by university faculty or staff. After a review of nominations, grades, and courses, the Honors Director will invite the best qualified students to interview for In Course Admission to the Honors Program. Following consultation with members of the Faculty Honors Committee, the Honors Director will recommend students for In Course Admission to the Associate Provost and Provost before a select number of students are offered admission to the Honors Program.
For continued participation in the Honors Program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required at the end of each academic year. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.5 will be placed on probation for the following semester. The student will then be required to make academic progress to remain in the program. Students who fail to demonstrate adequate progress toward the minimum program standard GPA and/or the completion of the requirements for an Honors diploma may be removed from the program on recommendation of the Honors Director (in consultation with the Faculty Honors Committee) and confirmation by the Associate Provost and Provost. See the Honors Program Handbook for details.
Curriculum components: The Honors Program incorporates special colloquia, independent Honors projects, independent research, and Honors Thesis. Special sections of core courses are tailored to the needs of the Honors program, and students may petition for Honors credit in regularly offered sections of 300- or 400-level courses. Honors sections of Core Curriculum courses are indicated by an HR after the course number. Under certain circumstances, students with excellent academic records may be admitted to honors sections (with the permission of the instructor) even if they are not members of the Honors Program. Honors sections of courses amplify the challenge of traditional courses with greater depth, greater emphasis on student participation, and more discussion of applicable theories.
Honors projects and course enhancements: All students in the Honors Program are expected to complete an Honors Thesis during their senior year. Upon application to the Honors Director and their academic advisor, students complete an honors thesis that demonstrates greater depth and rigor than normal capstone projects within their majors. Honors committees for interdisciplinary honors projects should include faculty from the relevant discipline as well as the Honors Director.
In addition, focused projects for Honors credit, known as Honors Contracts, may be completed to supplement the content in conventional courses on the 200 or 300 level. Honors-enhanced courses include an in-depth project or projects to be worked out in association with the instructor of a course in a major or area of strong interest. Details are available in both the Honors Handbook and in the Honors Contract form. Honors credit is awarded to students who make a grade of B+ or above in any Honors-enhanced courses. Students who make below B+ do not receive Honors designation on the transcript. Approval of the course instructor, Honors Director, and Provost is required for each Honors Contract.
Current first-year students and students transferring to Emory & Henry University who are interested in joining the Honors Program should contact the Director of the Honors Program.