Freshman who have been identified as potential Honors students based
on their high school record and SAT scores, transfer students from other honors programs,
and incumbent students who have earned a cumulative QPA of 3.25 or higher are invited to
join the Honors Program. Students must enroll in an honors course on a regular basis
(at least every other semester) and maintain a minimum QPA of 3.25 to remain eligible for
the program.
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The Honors Program awards several merit-based scholarships worth
$500.00 a year and renewable for three years. All incoming freshmen who have joined
the program are automatically considered for a scholarship without submitting an
application. Incumbent students must submit an application to be considered for an
award. The Honors Office will notify the recipients.
The Gordon and Rose Lee Goldberg University Honors Scholarship
is a merit-based award worth $1000.00 and given yearly to a Junior in the program.
The selection criteria involves: 1) the intent to complete the Honors Program, 2)
community or volunteer service to the Honors Program, and 3) the maintaining of acceptable
academic performance. Applications are available in the Honors Office.
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An Honors Diploma is awarded to those students in the program who
have met all college requirements, completed at least twenty-one credits in Honors course
work with a grade of "B" or better, attained a minimum cumulative quality point
average of 3.25, and completed the service component. A grade of "C" (or
lower) will not count toward Honors credit. You are not required to pursue an Honors
Diploma to take a class although it is strongly encouraged.
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- Enroll in a specially-designed honors course.
- Enroll in a regular course and earn honors credit through contract.
- Complete an additional project as part of an internship in one's
major.
- Enroll in an independent study course for Senior Honors Thesis.
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Honors Club
Membership is open to all students at the university who have paid
their student activity fee. All students in the Honors Program are automatically
enrolled in the club. The following officers are elected yearly: President,
Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In addition, there are offices for a
Student Representative to the Honors Council, and a Publicity Chair. The club holds
monthly meetings and plans fund-raisers, trips, and speakers.
Honors Council
The Honors Council is the governing body of the Honors Program.
Membership includes the Honors Director, the Dean of the college of Graduate
Studies, one faculty member from each of the four colleges, and two student
representatives (one of whom is the President of the Honors Club). The Council holds
monthly meetings and makes decisions regarding all academic issues concerning the program.
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Perks
Priority registration, small classes, specialized classes, close
student-faculty relationships, and scholarships.
Privileges
Extended library privileges, graduation with Honors Diploma.
Special Opportunities
State System of Higher Education Summer Honors Study Abroad Program, participation in national
Collegiate Honors council conferences, membership in Honors Club, exciting activities such
as hikes, lectures, socials, trips to New York and Washington, DC.
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The twenty-one (21) Honors credits also count toward the 128 credits
for graduation. Students may earn these twenty-one (21) Honors credits through a
variety of methods, including:
1. Honors Courses - Honors courses are
available in numerous disciplines, and all honors courses are open to students in the
program, regardless of the students' major fields. A few preliminary general
education courses are enhanced, designated Honors sections. However, the majority of
Honors courses are specially designed upper-level courses, and while being advanced
courses, they are not so narrowly specialized in content or method as to necessitate
prerequisites. All courses emphasize challenging themes, stress critical thinking
and synthesis, and require Honors students to exhibit proficiency and exercise
intellectual initiative. A minimum of 12 credits of honors course work using this
method is required.
2. Internships - The various Colleges offer
credit for internship experience. The Honors Program will consider granting up to
three (3) Honors course credits for internship work that is enhanced beyond the regular
required work for the internship. ***
3. Course by Contract - Most regular courses
carry three (3) credits. By means of an Honors Contract with the professor teaching
an upper-level course (200, 300, or 400 level, including independent studies), an Honors
student will be permitted to undertake additional assignments beyond those ordinarily
required in the course in order to receive Honors credits for the course. In advance
of taking the course, the Honors contract must be approved by the professor teaching the
course and by the Honors Director. An honors student may choose to take three (3)
credits (one course) through an Honors Contract, if he/she also selects a three credit
internship experience. Without an internship, he/she may chose up to six credits
through contracts. ***
4. Independent Study Course/Thesis - A
distinctive feature of the Honors Program is a thesis, which is considered to be the
culminating accomplishment of every student in the program. The topic and scope of
the thesis will be determined by the student in consultation with the Honors Director and
the professor who supervises the thesis. Completion of the thesis will be noted on
the student's record. The thesis requirement must be fulfilled through a three (3)
credit independent study course (HON 395 courses). ***
*** Supplementary directions and forms for this type of course work
are available in the Honors Office and should be completed prior to
registration
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In addition to honors course work, students in the Honors Program
also complete two (2) units of service which carry no academic credit, one for service to
the community, one for service to Kutztown University. First, service opportunities
in the community will be offered through a variety of official university sources under
the auspices of the Kutztown University Volunteer Center. For the second unit,
students may select from a variety of services to the University. Service activities
will be approved by the Director of the Honors Program and the Honors Council in advance
of student participation. Generally, the service component of the Honors Program
should begin in the student's sophomore year at Kutztown University.
1. Service to the Community - Off-campus
service, for such agencies as the Kutztown Senior Neighborhood Center, Kutztown
Neighborhood Girl Scouts, the Literary Council of Reading, etc., would fulfill this
service unit. for the most current list of community service opportunities, contact
the campus volunteer Center. a minimum of thirty (30) hours devoted to a community
agency/organization fulfills the unit of community service.
2. Service to the University - Service on one
of the University Committees (refer to the Committee Membership List) may be used to
fulfill the second unit of service. Also, serving as an officer of any recognized
club or representing Kutztown University at a national or regional conference would
fulfill this unit of service. In addition, students will assist (generally in one
3-hour session), with recruitment of prospective Honors students, through the activities
of the Admissions Office.
Other service activities of the Honors student's choosing may also
be acceptable once they are reviewed by the Honors Program Director and the Honors Council
by submitting a brief proposal describing the service.
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There is no application. The Honors Office notifies eligible
incoming freshmen. Interested freshmen must return the interest form which
automatically enrolls them in Honors Composition for their first semester. Once a
year, the Honors Office invites eligible incumbent students to join the program.
These students must sign an interest form and enroll in an honors course of their
choice. All other interest students may stop by the the office for more information.
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Students may withdraw from the program for any reason.
Withdrawal from the program requires written notification from the student to the
Director. A student whose cumulative quality point average drops below 3.25 will be
notified, following one "make-up" semester, that he/she is ineligible for the
program. Students may be reinstated in the program after the required minimum QPA of
3.25 is attained. A "C" (or lower) will not count toward Honors credit.
A second "C" (or lower) in an Honors course will lead to automatic
dismissal from the program. A student may not enroll in an Honors course on a
Pass/Fail option.
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Miscellaneous
Undergraduate students who are not members of the Honors Program may
take an Honors course if they have a quality point average of 3.0 or higher in fifteen
(15) credits taken at the University. These students will not received Honors
credits for the course. Permission of the Honors Program Director is required.
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Dr. Judith Kennedy, Director
University Honors Program
Old Main 108
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA 19530
(610) 683-1391
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