Honors Enrichment Program Guidelines

Honors Program Enrichment Program Guidelines

The character of notably engaged intellectuals reveals a capacity for introspection and curiosity. Honors requires students to make evident the quality of their inner lives through an engagement with activities that sets in relief this inner world. A signature feature of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program, then, is that it is designed to assist you in making independent choices beyond the classroom that showcase seriousness of intellectual purpose. Every student must make satisfactory progress to remain in the Honors Program.

Overview

·         Promote academic agency

·         Encourage intellectual sharing

·         Shape scholarly behaviors

 

Competencies Developed

·         Leadership

·         Career Exploration

·         Critical Thinking

·         Cultural Awareness

·         Effective Communication (oral/written)

·         Intellectual Curiosity (writing publications/critique works)

Activity Categories

·         Academic Enrichment

o   Engage in scholarly events like lectures, conferences, workshops, etc.

·         Cultural Exploration

o   Immerse yourself in diverse cultures through performances, exhibits, and community engagement.

·         Career Development

o   Explore career options through workshops, internships, and networking events.

Point System

·         Points are awarded for participation in various activities.

·         The specific point value for each activity may vary.

·         A minimum number of points is required each year to remain in good standing.

Satisfactory Progress Requirements

Grade Level	Bronze	Silver	Gold
Freshman	50 points	60 points	70+ points
Sophomore	50 points	60 points	70+ points
Junior	50 points	60 points	70+ points
Senior	50 points	60 points	70+ points

 

Bronze level meets minimum requirements, Silver level exceeds minimum requirements, and Gold level demonstrates exceptional engagement.

Tiered Criteria

Bronze Level (Minimum Participation)

·         Attendance at a minimum number of required activities.

·         Attendance at events with minimal intellectual engagement

·         Completion of basic reflective journal entries (e.g., summarizing activity, personal thoughts).

Silver Level (Increased Engagement)

·         Attendance at a higher number of more intellectually engaging activities.

·         Submission of more in-depth reflective journal entries (e.g., analyzing activity impact, connecting to course material).

·         Evidence of initial engagement in extracurricular activities related to specific program goals.

Gold Level (Advanced Achievement)

·         Exceptional attendance and participation in a variety of activities.

·         Submission of high-quality reflective journals demonstrating critical thinking and synthesis.

·         Active leadership or collaboration in program-related initiatives.

·         Evidence of applying knowledge gained from activities to academic or personal life.

 

Point Value Scale for Academic Enrichment Activities

General Guidelines:

·         1-2 points: Low-commitment activities requiring minimal time or preparation.

·         3-5 points: Moderate-commitment activities involving some research or preparation.

·         6-8 points: High-commitment activities requiring significant time and effort.

·         9+ points: Exceptional activities with substantial academic or intellectual merit.

Activity Categories and Point Values

•   Academic Enrichment

Bronze Level Engagement (1-3 points)

·        · Obtaining a library card: 1 point

· Checking out a book related to academic interests: 1 point

· Attending Study Abroad informational sessions: 2 points

· Researching and identifying potential scholarships and awards: 2 points

· Completing a library research tutorial or workshop: 2 points

· General museum visit and reflection: 2 points

· Attending author talks/book readings: 2 points

· Participating in book clubs/reading groups/poetry slams/spoken word events: 2 points

· Attending a general interest conference or workshop: 3 points

· Attending Honors Program events (lectures, workshops, social gatherings): 3 points

Silver Level Engagement (3-5 points)

· ·  · Participation in academic competitions (e.g., Model UN, debate): 3 points

· Leadership role in an academic organization: 3 points

· Completing an online course or MOOC to earn a credential: 3 points

· Participating in Honors Program leadership roles: 4 points

· Developing scholarship applications and essays: 4 points

· Creating a research bibliography or proposal using library databases: 4 points

· Competing in academic competition (QuizBowl, etc.): 4 points

· Winning a local scholarship or award*: 4 points

Gold Level Engagement (6+ points)

·        · Presenting a paper or poster at a conference: 6 points

· Placing in an academic competition: 6 points

· Undergraduate research project: 6 points

· Evidence of engaged participation in academic honors society: 6 points

· Participation in a research grant or fellowship: 7 points

· Winning a national scholarship or domestic award*: 8 points

· Publication of research findings in academic or scholarly journal: 9 points

· Organizing a conference or workshop: 9 points

· Winning a prestigious international scholarship or award*: 10 points

 

*Note: It's essential to consider the time commitment, level of competition, and prestige of the scholarship or award when assigning point values. For instance, a highly competitive national scholarship with a rigorous application process might warrant a higher point value than a local scholarship.

• Cultural Expansion

Bronze Level Engagement (1-3 points)

·       · Visiting galleries/museums (beyond dedicated category): 2 points

· Attending exhibitions/festivals: 2 points

· Attending cultural festivals or celebrations: 2 points

· Attending performances (theater, musical, concerts, opera, dance): 2 points

· Attending documentary film screening: 2 points

Silver Level Engagement (3-5 points)

·       · Taking art classes/workshops: 4 points

· Creating original artwork: 5 points

Gold Level Engagement (6+ points)

·       · Traveling to culturally significant locations: 6 points

· Participating in a performing arts group or ensemble (per year): 6 points

· Studying abroad: 8 points

• Career Development

Bronze Level Engagement (1-3 points)

·        · Career counseling or advising session: 2 points

· Attending a career-related workshop or seminar: 2 points

· Volunteer work related to career goals (per year): 3 points

· Attending professional networking events: 3 points

 

Silver Level Engagement (3-5 points)

·       · Job shadowing or informational interview: 4 points

· Completing an internship: 5 points

· Presenting at a career-related workshop or conference: 5 points

· Developing a professional mentor relationship: 5 points

 

Gold Level Engagement (6+ points)

·       · Obtaining a professional certification: 6 points

· Preparing for and taking a professional certification exam: 6 points

**Remember: These point values are suggestions and can be adjusted based on the specific requirements and goals of the Honors Program. The quality and depth of involvement when assigning points will be determined through an assessment of the reflections.

Reflective Prompts for Each Activity by Tier

Bronze Level (Minimum Participation)

·         Basic summarization: What activity did you attend? Who was involved? What was the main topic or theme?

·         Personal reaction: How did you feel about the activity? What did you find interesting or challenging?

·         Connection to coursework: Can you connect any of the ideas from the activity to a course you are taking?

Silver Level (Increased Engagement)

·         Deeper analysis: What were the key points or arguments presented in the activity? How did these ideas challenge or expand your thinking?

·         Personal growth: How did this activity contribute to your personal or academic development? What did you learn about yourself?

·         Application: How can you apply what you learned from this activity to a real-world situation or problem?

Gold Level (Advanced Achievement)

·         Critical evaluation: What were the strengths and weaknesses of the activity or event? How could it have been improved?

·         Synthesis: How does this activity connect to other experiences or knowledge you have gained? Can you identify any patterns or trends?

·         Impact: How has this activity influenced your goals and aspirations? What steps will you take to build on this experience?

 

 

Distinctions

Starting with the graduating class of 2024, honors program students can graduate with distinction levels: Honors with High Distinction (Gold), Honors with Distinction (Silver), or Honors (Bronze). These levels will provide greater clarity regarding any student’s investment in the goals and ambitions of the honors program and thus reflect the quality of a student’s participation. The following chart offers guidance on how the quality of a student’s participation will be evaluated. Note: the chart is still being developed. Greater refinement will follow.

 

Honors Program Criteria	Honors with High Distinction (Gold)	Honors with Distinction (Silver)	Honors (Bronze)
Guest Speakers	Takes lead in inviting	Participates on committee	Attends event
Academic Discussions	Plans focus of (public event)	Participates in (public event)	Attends (public event)
Programmatic Collaboration	Spearheads	Participates in articulating	Attends events (may complete surveys)
Awards and Recognition	Wins domestic/international fellowships	Wins local/private/corporate prizes	Applies for scholarships, fellowships, and other prizes
Internships	Completes research project, product/service development, presentation, recognition/awards, leadership role	Secures an internship experience	Applies for an internship
Communication	Communicates effectively in writing, and otherwise, with polish and positive impact	Communicates effectively with polish and positive impact	Communicates effectively with polish and positive impact
Research	Presents research at undergraduate conferences	Submits research for consideration to an undergrad conference body	Attends research conference
Civic Engagement	Engages as a leader in civic life	Actively participates as a political actor with some leadership responsibilities	Votes and values political engagement
Independent Reading	Broadly reads independently selected books and articles	Reads independently selected books and articles within the scope of a discipline	Reads and can communicate its value
Coursework	Routinely enrolls in high level courses and exceeds minimum Honors course requirements	Takes Honors Courses beyond requirements	Meets Honors course requirements
Study Abroad	Studies abroad	Studies abroad	Holds a passport, applies for study abroad
Arts	Routinely discusses, produces, and/or supports the Arts	Discusses, produces, and/or supports the Arts	Recognizes the value of the Arts
Science	Routinely uses Science/Scientific methods to support claims	Uses Science/Scientific methods to support claims	Accepts Science/Scientific methods to support claims
Enrichment	Uses the ARCHE/Domestic Exchange to take courses for enrichment to advance thought	Takes courses through Cross Registration in the AUC or through the ARCHE to support academic interests	Is aware of the opportunities for furthering studies using the ARCHE or AUC Cross Registration

 

Students will be asked to rate the quality of their participation per semester and the honors program will share this data with department chairs.