HONORS

Wittenberg recognizes the overall academic achievement of students by conferring Academic Honors (Honors in Course) at three levels to students who are qualified by virtue of their grade point averages. Students may be granted Departmental Honors upon completion of a project that meets the department’s standards for honors. Students awarded University Honors will have completed a minimum of two Honors Seminars and an acceptable Honors Thesis or Project in an academic department. This achievement will be recognized in the Commencement Exercises Program and on their permanent transcripts by the notation, Recipient of University Honors.

HONORS IN COURSE
(By Faculty action, June 3, 1975; Amended by Faculty action, June 1, 1994)

To be eligible for honors in course a student must have completed the residence requirements for a degree at Wittenberg. The student’s scholarship quotient for work taken at Wittenberg and elsewhere must fall within the ranges specified. Students whose grade point average is between 3.50 and 3.699 receive their degrees cum laude; those whose grade point average is between 3.7 and 3.799 receive their degrees Magna cum laude. A student who achieves a grade point average of 3.800 or above receives the degree summa cum laude.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

Departmental Honors are aimed at those students who could benefit from an in-depth exposure to the methodology of a field to an extent greater than would be appropriate for most other students. Departmental Honors offers the student the opportunity to engage in a unified, scholarly project. The project includes a written component and an oral examination.

A student does not have to be a member of the Wittenberg University Honors Program to receive Departmental Honors. In general, the student applies for Departmental Honors at the end of the junior year. The student should have a record of demonstrated high academic ability and self-discipline. In particular, the student needs a 3.50 cumulative GPA to be considered for Departmental Honors. In addition, the student should have demonstrated an advanced level of competence in the department of interest, which should include having completed half of the credits required for a major in the department.

After appropriate departmental evaluation of the proposal, a three-person committee, chosen by the department, evaluates the completed project and conducts the oral examination. Ordinarily, one member of the committee serves as project supervisor. The student may undertake a project without enrolling for credit hours or may enroll in the project for up to 10 semester hours, which will be granted for a satisfactory project, whether or not the Departmental honors are awarded. Upon the recommendation of the project committee, the student is awarded Departmental Honors at graduation.

THE UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM
(By Faculty action, April 9, 2002)

The University Honors Program is designed to encourage intellectual curiosity at the highest undergraduate level through emphasis on five fundamental areas of development.

• academic creativity
• service to campus and community
• innovative research
• collaborative inquiry and mentorship
• social interactions and community building

Candidacy in the program is determined in two ways:

1. All students entering the University with the Smith Scholarship and a number of those receiving Matthies Scholarships are automatically admitted to the University Honors program.

2. All students who earn a 3.50 GPA or above in their first semester of full-time coursework will be eligible to apply for admittance to the program in January of their first or second years at Wittenberg. The Honors Program Committee will consider all the applications and choose those worthy of induction.. Sophomores and juniors who achieve a 3.50 GPA later in their careers may also apply for admission to the program on a case-by-case basis.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION WITH UNIVERSITY HONORS

membership in the Honors Program

cumulative GPA of at least 3.50

successful completion of two honors Seminars (which also fulfill General Education and writing intensive learning goals)

successful defense of an Departmental Honors thesis/project in major

Department chairs must give permission for any honors thesis/project work to be undertaken. Students completing these requirements will be designated as recipients of University Honors on their permanent transcripts and in the Commencement Exercises Program.

HONORS PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIVILEGES

In return for membership in the program, student members are asked to assume leadership roles in their classes and to promote the values of intellectual curiosity and academic excellence on campus. They are asked to represent the program with integrity.

HONORS PROGRAM COMMITTEE AND THE DIRECTOR

The Honors Program Committee admits students to the Program, advises the Director about policies and procedures, and oversees the assessment of student achievement of the goals of the program.

The director of the program will ensure the Honors Seminars are scheduled at least one year in advance so that adequate advising can be provided for all University Honors students.