The Most Frequently Asked Questions of the Honors Program |
| | 1 | Can Sophomore Honors credits be used to meet graduation requirements?
No. Between 16-18 Honors credits are needed towards the Sophomore Honors award. Students need an additional (12) 2000 level or above Honors credits in their major or related fields to graduate, (3) of the twelve must be toward their thesis work. These 12 credits may not have been previously used towards the Sophomore Honors award. | |
| | 2 | Are Honors students more likely to receive scholarships?
Many Honors students receive merit scholarships, but membership in the Honors Program does not automatically entitle a student to merit aid. All incoming first-year students are considered for both merit and need-based awards by the Office of Admissions when they apply. For information on scholarships, please visit the Financial Aid web site at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/cnt-scholarships/schol_info.php. | |
| | 3 | How do I apply for the Honors Program as a current UConn student?
Current UConn students and transfer students who meet the requirements (click here for requirements) can view a checklist and print out application forms at http://honors.uconn.edu/academics/forms.php. Applications need to be submitted to the Honors Office, CUE 419, by the deadlines listed on the applications. | |
| | 4 | I filled out a conversion form to convert a non-honors course to an Honors course, but when I check in PeopleSoft, it doesn't show up as having Honors credit. What should I do?
Conversions are not complete until after the work is finished, a B- or above is earned and the grade is posted, and the professor approves the conversion in the Honors Conversion system.
The "Honors Credit" notation should appear below the course on your transcript (not in the PeopleSoft grade report) within 2-3 weeks after the end of semester. If you check your transcript and the credit still has not been awarded, call the Honors Office at 486-4223 or send an email to honors@uconn.edu for assistance. | |
| | 6 | Where will I live as an Honors student?
Honors housing provides the opportunity to live in an academic environment that supports the social, emotional, and personal growth of Honors students. Living in Honors housing will facilitate a stronger sense of community within the program and will encourage and promote your academic success and personal development while enriching your college experience.
First year Honors students beginning in fall 2009 will be assigned to live in Buckley Hall, which is the First-Year Honors Residential Community. We strongly believe that this leads to a better sense of community within the Honors Program as well as contributing to students’ academic success. This placement provides incoming Honors students with the benefits of living, studying, and socializing together and the opportunity to participate in the rich array of programs and events designed specifically for our first-year students. Honors students are frequently invited to meet in small venues with governmental leaders, noted authors, and acclaimed scientists visiting the campus.
For 2009-2010 Honors students may request either other Honors students or non-Honors students as roommates. Students may meet another Honors student at Orientation, whom they decide to request as a roommate. Providing both complete the housing application and submit the request to be roommates by the July 15, 2009 deadline, the Department of Residential Life will do its best to accommodate roommate requests. Priority for placement in Buckley will be given to students admitted to the Honors Program. After Honors students, non-Honors roommates will be placed on a first come, first serve basis according to the application receipt date of the Honors student requesting a non-Honors roommate.
Waivers of the First Year Honors Residential Community housing requirement may be granted in very rare circumstances for students wishing to live in another Living Learning Community only if the student presents a compelling case for his/her interest in living in another Living Learning Community. Written request for waivers should be submitted to Rebecca Gates, rebecca.gates@uconn.edu, Honors Program Coordinator, by July 15, 2009.
After the first year, honors students may choose from the wide variety of housing options offered by the Department of Residential Life that may be available during room selection. Honors students may also choose to continue living in Honors housing. Second year Honors students may apply to live in the Sophomore Honors Community in Brock Hall. Honors students may also apply to honors housing in Wilson Hall, which is a state-of-the-art, suite-style residence hall in South Campus. Traditionally, Wilson Hall has housed juniors and seniors in the Honors Program. While honors housing may be available for interested students, space is limited, and housing in an Honors community after the first year is not guaranteed nor does Residential Life or the Honors Program guarantee on campus housing.
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| | 7 | Can I still be invited into the Honors Program if my GPA or SAT scores are not as good?
Yes. Invitation to the Honors program is based on a holistic review of the student's UConn application (the Honors program does not have a separate application) including SAT score, class rank, GPA, leadership and extracurricular activities. While the program is quite competitive, we look to create a class of incoming students that embodies diversity of all sorts - including geography, academic interests, cultural backgrounds, leadership, and special talents. | |
| | 8 | What are the benefits of taking a First-Year Experience Course?
First-year Experience courses are a hallmark of a UConn education for entering students. They are designed to assist students in the transition from high school to college life. With less than 20 students per class, FYE courses enable first-year students to connect on a personal basis with a faculty or staff member, aid them in making friends, creating study groups, and learning about all that UConn has to offer. | |
| | 9 | What are the differences between a regular FYE course and INTD 1784, the Honors First-Year Seminar?
INTD 1784 is available ONLY for Honors students. It meets twice a week. One day per week it is taught by a full-time faculty member, selected from among the best professors at UConn. On this day the class revolves around a theme of the professor’s choosing. At least twenty different themes are offered each year, with choices that appeal to students of every interest. On the second day the class is taught by upper class Honors student facilitators. On this day, the class focuses on transition to college issues, such as mentoring, selecting courses and majors, and balancing school work and social life. | |
| | 10 | How is my advisor chosen?
Each Honors student who has selected a major is assigned to a faculty Honors advisor in that major. The faculty Honors advisor has been specially trained to know the requirements of the Honors Program as well as the requirements of the student’s major. Undecided students and pre-professional students in Pharmacy, Nursing, and Education are assigned a professional advisor from the Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES). Students can find the name of their Honors advisor by accessing their PeopleSoft account. Students wishing to change Honors Advisors must come to the Honors Office to request the change. | |
| | 11 | When do I get to sign up for classes?
To find your individual registration times, log on to the PeopleSoft Student Administration System and link to SA Self Service > Learner Services > Academics > View Enrollment Appointment. Then select the term. The enrollment appointment times indicate when you are able to register during the registration period. | |
| | 12 | How do transfer students apply to the UConn Honors Program?
Qualified transfer students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Honors Program after admission to the University. A transfer student must meet the requirements listed here (click for requirements) and submit an application to the Honors Program by deadline listed on the application. Click here for a checklist, application and forms. | |
| | 13 | I was accepted into the Honors Program at UConn and I decided to go to a different school. If I transfer to UConn, will I be automatically accepted into the Honors Program?
No. Transfer students are not automatically admitted to the Honors Program, even if admission was previously offered. Students must reapply to the Honors Program. Applications may be found at: http://www.honors.uconn.edu/academics/forms.php. | |
| | 14 | What are Honors Events?
Honors Events are events that are sponsored by the Honors Program and that count toward the Sophomore Honors award. Official Honors events are noted in the weekly electronic newsletter, Updates in Honors and are noted on the Honors events calendar with "This Counts as an Honors Event". Honors Council events do not count as Honors events unless otherwise noted. | |
| | 15 | Are Honors events mandatory?
Students planning to apply for the Sophomore Honors award must attend at least (5) Honors Events and turn in the required Journal Forms within two weeks of the event and also attend (1) Thesis workshop, in order to qualify for Sophomore Honors. Students not planning on completing Sophomore Honors are encouraged to attend events and workshops, but are not required to fill out journal forms. | |
| | 16 | Is working towards the Sophomore Honors award mandatory?
No. Completing the requirements for Sophomore Honors is not required to graduate with Honors. | |
| | 17 | How small are Honors classes?
Honors classes generally have an average of 15-25 students. | |
| | 18 | What is the Honors Mentor Program?
Peer Allies Through Honors (PATH) is the Honors Peer Mentoring Program designed specifically with first-year students in mind. PATH provides positive and engaging opportunities through mentoring for all students to successfully transition to college life. Students will develop academically, socially, and personally by networking among their peers in a supportive and motivating community. Incoming first-year honors students are paired with an Honors mentor who is a continuing UConn student, usually with the same major or related field as the first-year student. Mentors and mentees will receive contact information for each other prior to the start of the fall semester and will meet during the PATH-a-palooza event hosted by the Peer Allies Through Honors student coordinators. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend PATH and Honors events together throughout the academic year. Participation with the PATH program is voluntary and first-year students can sign up during the Honors presentation as part of summer orientation. For more information, please see http://honors.uconn.edu/community-housing/index.php?p=mentor | |
| | 19 | Do Honors students receive any special benefit or privileges?
In addition to Honors housing and the academic benefits of being in the Honors Program, such as smaller classes and more individualized attention, Honors students also receive privileges in regard to registration and library loans. Honors students automatically receive priority registration, enjoy flexibility in course credit loads, and receive graduate student / faculty borrowing privileges for books at the Babbidge Library and regional campuses. | |
| | 20 | When should I begin my Honors Thesis?
The recommended schedule for honors thesis work varies tremendously by discipline. The best thing to do is to consult with your Honors advisor about the Honors thesis in the sophomore year or, at the latest, early in your junior year. All students should begin formulating ideas for Honors theses and discussing their ideas with faculty members who may become their thesis advisors during their junior years. To ensure that they have access to laboratories for their research, students in the sciences may wish to find placements in laboratories in their sophomore or even freshman years. To graduate as an Honors Scholar, the Honors thesis must be submitted before graduation. For more information, click here. | |
| | 21 | Where is the Honors Program Office located?
The Honors Program Office is located in the Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE), Room 419. Our address is:
University of Connecticut
Honors Program
CUE 419
368 Fairfield Way, U-2147
Storrs, CT 06269-2147
You may find us on the interactive campus map: http://uconn.edu/map/ | |
| | 22 | When is the Honors Program Office open?
The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed when the University of Connecticut is closed (due to major holidays or inclement weather). | |
| | 23 | Who do I contact to reserve space in the Honors Conference Room (CUE 420)?
The Honors Program conference room may be used by Honors-affiliated groups if the room is available. The room seats up to 14 people and has a projector, a screen and hookups for a laptop. No computer is provided. Users should provide their own technical assistance. | |
| | 24 | What Honors courses are offered at UConn?
The Honors course list changes by semester. A current list of available courses may be found at http://honors.uconn.edu/academics/courselist.php | |
| | 25 | Where do I turn in my Honors forms?
You may turn in your forms to the Honors Program office, CUE 419, between 8:00 and 5:00 on or before the day they are due. | |
