Fort Hays State University - Honors College 2018-19

FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY

HONORS COLLEGE 2018-19 HAYS, KS

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Fort Hays State University

WELCOME TO THE

Honors College WE FOCUS ON YOU AND YOUR SUCCESS.

The Honors College at Fort Hays State University was built from the ground up with one goal: you and your success. We deliver on that goal because we know students like you want to be challenged, deserve unrivaled personal and academic support, and demand unique opportunities.

Unlike many other programs, the FHSU Honors College was designed to give honors students immediate perks and benefits starting in their first semester, including unprecedented leadership opportunities, a flexible Honors curricular experience, and personal attention to growth and development.

As an Honors College student, you will have the opportunity to individualize your curricular

focus and design an academic program that truly represents your interests. And we’ll provide you with unrivaled support every step of the way, from scholarship opportunities to personal guidance from our expert teacher-mentors.

We know you’re far more than just a grade point average.

That’s why our admissions process is one that considers the whole person: your interests, experiences, passions, and inner drive – your unique, adventurous, and curious “you.”

If you have a passion, an insatiable inquisitiveness, and want to maximize your undergraduate experience, we invite you to explore the Fort Hays State University Honors College.

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With Honor Comes Opportunity

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FHSU HONORS COLLEGE MEMBERS ENJOY THESE BENEFITS Honors Curriculum and Priority Enrollment

required to live on the Honors floor.

Honors courses are offered in a variety of subjects every semester. These classes are smaller and filled with high achieving students like you – you’ll dive deeper into concepts and have a more enriched educational experience. Once on campus, students will have access to priority enrollment, allowing them to enroll in classes at the earliest possible date (this makes it more likely you get your first choice of classes).

Honors Study Space

Nationally Competitive Scholarships In addition to your academic advisor within your major, you will also have access to Honors College staff and advisors available only to Honors students. With this help, you can receive personalized support applying for nationally competitive scholarships (such as the Rhodes, Truman, and Gates/Cambridge scholarships).

Honors Housing In addition to Honors-specific study spaces, students live in McMindes Hall, on the Honors floor, with McMindes Cafe just a few steps away from their newly renovated rooms. First-time Honors College freshmen are

All Honors students have access to private study space in the basement of Forsyth library that offers students a successoriented environment.

Unique Leadership and Curricular Opportunities All Honors College students participate in the Personal Development Institute – a series of courses that relate to the four areas of focus represented in the Honors College mission statement (academic preeminence, engagement, leadership, and continuous growth.) Students can also join an Honors College Steering Council committee, which gives students the opportunity to work with respected faculty and administrators while contributing to decisions that impact the program.

Partnership with the Department of Leadership Studies and Center for Civic Leadership As an Honors College student, you will benefit from a special partnership we have with

FHSU’s award-winning Center for Civic Leadership and Department of Leadership Studies. From your very first semester you will have access to fun Honors College-only service and civic engagement activities that bring into sharper focus your potential for impact. You will also have the opportunity to explore a wide range of courses, certificates, and degree programs offered by our Department of Leadership Studies immediately- these can augment any other field of study/degree program and will markedly increase your appeal to future employers and graduate programs.

Partnership with the Institute for New Media Studies FHSU Honors College students are eligible to participate

in selective research and internship opportunities with the Institute for New Media Studies. The Institute for New Media Studies is dedicated to the transdisciplinary study of new media as it impacts human communication. New media studies is the intersection of culture, communication, and technology through a lens of disruption and convergence.

It is a transdisciplinary field leveraging a number of advanced methods that look at the complicated connections between people and technologies, both established and bleeding edge. The purpose of the institute is to serve Fort Hays State University’s strategic initiatives through the lens of new media. The institute is modeled after various internationally recognized research programs such as the MIT Media Lab, Electronic

Visualization Laboratory, and fusion centers such as those developed by the Department of Homeland Security.

College of Education Honors in the Major Program Students pursing a degree in education also have the opportunity to participate in our new College of Education Honors in the Major Program, which is comprised of inspiring classes for highachieving students that focus on research, study abroad, and inquiry.

Additional Perks + Free on-campus parking tag + Free Encore Series tickets + A yearly dinner with the president of the university

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Fort Hays State University

Scholarships Regents Scholarship A select group of Honors College freshmen will be awarded the FHSU Regents Scholarship, which will cover 100 percent of costs for both in-state and out-of-state students.

This scholarship is only available for high school applicants. The award covers fulltime tuition up to 18 credit hours, complete room and board costs, and includes $450 per semester to cover the cost of textbooks.

It will also cover up to one Virtual College class per semester but will not cover any summer or intersession courses.

Applicants must demonstrate:

Tier 1 Honors College Scholarship A select number of newly admitted Honors College freshmen and/or transfer students will receive the Tier 1 Scholarship: $10,000 total award ($4,000 allotted to tuition and fees, $6,000 towards room and board, provided the student lives on the honors floor on campus). Applicants must demonstrate: + A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher + A minimum ACT score of 31 or SAT score of 1420

+ A minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher

+ Evidence of scholastic/community leadership, submitted via resume

+ A minimum ACT score of 32 or SAT score of 1450

+ Evidence of accomplished intellectual acuity and potential, as evidenced by four short-answer responses

+ Evidence of exceptional scholastic/ community leadership, submitted by resume + Evidence of exceptional intellectual acuity and potential, as evidenced by four short-answer responses

Tier 2 Honors College Scholarship A select number of newly admitted Honors College freshmen and/or transfer students

All students eligible for an Honors College scholarship must submit a short video that includes the following: a student introduction, three traits that best describe you, and why you feel the FHSU Honors College is a good match for you.

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will receive the Tier 2 Scholarship: $6,700 total ($3,500 towards tuition, $3,200 towards room and board, provided the student lives on the honors floor on campus). Applicants must demonstrate: + A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher + An ACT score of 30 or SAT score of 1390 + Evidence of scholastic/community leadership, submitted via resume + Evidence of accomplished intellectual acuity and potential, as evidenced by four short-answer responses

Werth Honors Scholar Scholarship Students who return signed acceptance commitments to our program who major in specified Science, Technology, or Mathematics disciplines may apply for a Peter Werth Honors Scholar Scholarship.

These are renewable scholarships that can provide exceptional candidates with a maximum of $5,000 per academic year.

Students with minors in STM fields may also apply for up to $2,500 in financial assistance. This application can be found in the Honors College section of the FHSU website.

National Award Scholarships The university offers several opportunities for full-cost scholarships for first time incoming freshmen who have received one of the following national awards. More information is available by contacting FHSU Admissions. + National Merit Semi-finalists and finalists + Recipients of National Achievement Award + Recipients of National Hispanic Recognition

Current FHSU student applicants are not eligible for the Regents, Tier 1, or Tier 2 Honors College Scholarships.

Eligible STM Departments: + Agriculture + Chemistry + Applied Technology + Geosciences + Biological Sciences + Mathematics + Computer Science + Physics

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Fort Hays State University

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The Honors College has encouraged me to push myself farther than I ever thought possible. Without such a supportive group of friends, I would have never taken the initiative to become the president of an on-campus organization and transform its impact, engage in undergraduate research, or attend a national leadership conference across the country.�

JENNA KLEIN, Senior Pre-Med Abilene, KS

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Scholarship Provisions The Regents, Tier 1, and Tier 2 Honors College scholarships are renewable for three additional, consecutive years for students admitted as freshmen. Transfer students admitted as juniors are eligible for scholarship renewal for one additional year. Renewal is contingent on maintaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA. All Honors College scholarship winners must maintain fulltime consecutive enrollment status in order to receive their financial award. Failure to meet this requirement will result in loss of award. All students in the program must receive a 3.3 cumulative GPA in order to remain in the program, regardless of scholarship status.

Additionally, all students must be enrolled in school full-time and meet all supplementary requirements of the Honors College. Students who are on probation for a semester may receive their scholarship during the probationary semester but will lose the award if removed from the program.

Students who are admitted into the Honors College that do not receive any of the Honors College scholarships are still

eligible to receive university scholarships, such as the FHSU Presidential Award of Distinction or University Scholar Award. These are automatic awards that do not require a separate application process. Students who receive either the Tier 1 or 2 scholarship are not eligible for these awards but are able to accept departmental awards that will be awarded at the discretion of the applicant’s department of major. Any student is allowed to combine Honors College and/ or University scholarships with non-FHSU scholarships up to any amount.

Room and board awards in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 scholarships are only available to accepted students who live on the Honors floor in McMindes Hall. If the student moves to another residence hall, or to an offcampus location, that portion of the scholarship will be forfeited.

Recipients of the Regents Scholarship may live in any of the residential buildings on campus and receive their full housing scholarship.

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Admission Guidelines

THE FINAL DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETE APPLICATION IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE HONORS COLLEGE IS MARCH 8, 2019.

THOSE WHO APPLY BY NOVEMBER 15 (PRIORITY DEADLINE) WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE.

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Admission for the Honors College program is highly competitive.

To maintain our focus on a personalized approach to academic and personal development, approximately 35 slots for new students will be available each year. Admission is open to high school seniors and transfer students from other higher educational institutions. A select number of Honors College spots will be available to current FHSU students that have at least two full academic years remaining in their degree at the time of application.

Academic Standards

Resume

The minimum requirements for admission to the Honors College are an ACT score of 28 or a SAT score of 1310, and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for high school applicants. University or transfer applicants must display a total college cumulative GPA of 3.5 and submit their ACT/SAT score for reference purposes only.

All applicants must submit a resume. Within that resume students should list awards, work, academic, extracurricular and community service experience, as well as any leadership roles held by the student. Please describe in detail any leadership experience that clearly impacted the organization positively.

Essays All applicants must respond to the following essay prompts in 300 words or less: What two goals do you have and how will the FHSU Honors College help you achieve them?

One in four children live in poverty and one in three children live on the poverty line. What do you think is the best way to address these issues?

What leadership experience has had the greatest impact on you?

Is there any additional information not covered in the application that you feel the committee should know?

Reference Information Please provide contact information for at least one reference who can speak in detail about your qualifications and potential.

Additional Applicants may choose to submit a URL for original creative work, research, performances and/or accomplishments, though this is not a requirement for admission.

Once admitted, all Honors College students must maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA, which is 3.3. Students must also fulfill general program requirements.

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Being in the Honors College has provided me with a stable foundation during my time at FHSU. I know that because of the friendships I have made through the Honors College, I will always have intelligent, wellrounded, positive influences in my life, and I strive to be that influence for others as well. It is truly an honor to be part of the Honors College at FHSU.�

SAMANTHA MONTGOMERY, Senior Pre-Med Topeka, KS

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The mission of the FHSU Honors College is to develop student scholar-leaders that are engaged in their communities as a result of an edifying and stimulating collegiate environment of continuous growth and academic pre-eminence.

Find Out More TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE — THE PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGHACHIEVING STUDENTS — VISIT:

FHSU.EDU/HONORSCOLLEGE TO SCHEDULE A VISIT, OR FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT: Matt Means

Kathay Johnson

Michael Musgrove

Ryan Schultz

Director, Honors College Associate Professor of Music Forsyth Library, Room 74 mmeans@fhsu.edu 785-628-4748 Welfare and Events Coordinator fhsuhonorscollege@fhsu.edu

Administrative Specialist Forsyth Library, Room 72 kljohnson2@fhsu.edu 785-628-4744

Marketing, Publicity & Outreach Coordinator raschultz3@mail.fhsu.edu