Honors Program

Dr. Don Tomas, PresidentDr. Thomas Brooks, VP for Instruction & Student Services Cheryl Contino-Conner, Director - Student Support

The League of Innovation ConferenceMarch 10-13, 2013 Success in Action: Developing a Successful Community College Honors ProgramToday we will discuss:How to Create an Honors ProgramEstablishing an Honors Review CommitteeMission and Benefits of The Honors ProgramGuidelines for Proposal ReviewGranting Honors Credit/Transcript NotationSecuring University Honor Program PartnershipsProgram ExpansionsLessons LearnedYour BLUEPRINT for start-up

Member of the North Carolina Community College System 58 institutions strongFounded in 19643,606 curriculum students5,558 continuing education studentsParticipate in NC Comprehensive Articulation Agreement

What you are about to hear happened without forming a new committee. Yes, you read this screen correctly.

We created an Honors Program WITHOUT a, rally the troops how-to, investigative, design, brain-storming, trouble shooting, process discussion, process review, re-convene, implementation committee.

How to Create an Honors Program

Decision: Create an Interdisciplinary Honors Program to:

Afford transfer students full University Honor Program/College opportunities;

Cultivate high achieving students (at SCC) in all disciplines;

Extend teaching and learning to advanced levels;

Re-energize faculty with studentmentorship and research.

Determining Applicant Eligibility requirements:Who can participate?

High School graduate/first semester attending SCC:A high school weighted GPA of 4.00 or higher, or;A high school class rank in the top 10%, or;An SAT of 1875 or an ACT of 30 or higherAll other SCC studentsA 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA with at least 12 semester hours of college level coursework.

In the Fall of 2008, SCC offered students and faculty the opportunity to engage in the Honors Program. Four contracts were approved.

In 2009, in addition to Southwestern, five additional NC Community Colleges responded positively to the NCCCS survey regarding Honors Programs.

Establishing an Honors Program Review CommitteeThe Review Committee provides program oversight with regards to:Mission, Benefits and Marketing of the Honors Program; Review of proposals for approval, recommendation, or denial;Assistance in Institutionalizing Honor Program goals;Edit, revision or implementation of new policies and procedures, as necessary.

SCCs Honors Program Review Committee (eight members) is composed of:

Vice President for Instruction and Student ServicesDean of Arts and Sciences Dean of Career TechnologiesDean of Health Sciences Dean of Student Services Dean of the Macon Campus Director of the Honors Program President of Faculty Senate

Mission of The Honors Program at Southwestern Community College:

Challenge high achieving and highly motivated students to purposefully engage in Honors coursework. Honors coursework is designed to enrich and expand the expectations of the traditional college course.Intentionally focus on academic excellence including critical thinking, communication skills, and academic inquiry. Honors coursework generally will be more writing, research and/or project intensive.Engage students and faculty across all disciplines.Encourage and support Honors students in leadership and service to the college and the community.

Benefits of the Honors Program at Southwestern Community College:Opportunity to participate in the highly motivating and academically challenging Honors program;Honors designation on transcripts and degree/diploma;Special recognition at graduation and honors medallion;Enhanced transfer opportunities; Invitation to honors luncheon/forum with SCC Executive Cabinet;Increased emphasis on communication and critical thinking skills;Direct link to University Honor Programs/Colleges;Leadership and mentoring opportunities.

Honor Program Seal

Guidelines for Honor Proposal Review

The proposal review process consists of the Review Committee feeling confident the applicants (student and faculty mentor) thoroughly explained all questions on the application.

SCC Honors Contract

Are you graduating this semester?Sample of Honor Project Topics:CJC Initiate contact with an elementary school and secure permission to complete a set of inked fingerprint impressions/current student photos.MAT 271 Southeastern math competition at Gainesville State College.PTA 120 In depth evidence based research of the anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder girdle with the activity of weight lifting.SPA 111 English to Spanish medical directory for local health departments, approximately 100 entries.CHM 131 Residential radon testingMAT 151 Literature review of Freakonomics by LevittEDU 216 Ethnograph examining sociocultural aspects of public elementary school within our service area.ACC 121 Research into how forensic accounting was used to prosecute and convict German World War II officials and companies of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Granting Honors Credit /Transcript Notation

15 class calendar days to submit

Students who successfully complete the course in which an honors proposal was approved with a grade of A or B by semesters end earn honors credit. Credit is awarded based on the credit hour for the approved class.Credit is awarded on the STNT mnemonic per positive outcome.

IF:Successful completion of program of study with a 3.5 or higher GPA;Successful completion of a minimum of 12 hours of HP credit.

Honors Program designation on the Degree/Diploma is provided with an Honors Program seal.

Honor Program Stats:

What the stats represent:172 students and 194 approved contracts;

Honors contracts have been developed in 82 classes;

35% of approved contracts have been mentored by adjunct faculty;

63 instructors involved;

13 Honor Program graduates.

Semester# Projects AcceptedSuccessfully Completed ProjectsSuccess %Fall 084375%Spring 09252080%Summer 093133%Fall 09201155%Spring 1011655%Fall 101414100%Spring 111313100%Summer 114125%Fall 11262288%Spring 12413175%Fall 1212866%Spring 1321Securing MOUs with NC Universities

University# of SCC Honors credits acceptedWCU12ASU12UNCC12NC State6UNCW9UNCG12Mars Hill9UNC Pembroke9UNCA9Lees-McRae College9-12

Lessons Learned:Location, location, and relationship helpful with first MOU.Friendly university competition helps with second MOU10 days too soon for contract/proposal submission.Summer contracts - not successful.Scheduling honor luncheon forums in subsequent semesters does NOT produce good student attendance.Faculty need an opportunity to have dialogue regarding the contract proposal process/standards.If it feels like extra credit it is not worthy of honors credit.Student notation on graduation program may require an early deadline for projects.

Program Expansions

Student Appeals ProcessFirst Honors Class (Math 273) - Spring 2012Encouraging interest from faculty to offer Honor Classes in: BIO 111, BIO 169 and ENG 113.Honor Guard Honors Program LoungeFunding for student projects

Honor Guard Plaque

YOUR BLUEPRINT for start-up:

1) HP catalyst: ______________________________2) Executive HP champion: _____________________3) Existing committee:_______________________4) First faculty mentor:_______________________5) First MOU will be signed with: _________________

http://www.southwesterncc.edu/honors-programFor information about The Honors Program, please contact:Cheryl Contino-ConnerSouthwestern Community College, Sylva NC(828) 339-4245Cheryl@southwesterncc.edu