HONORS SC H O L AR PROGRAM
GREETINGS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE HPU HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM What’s the purpose of college? You’re reading this brochure because you have some interesting answers to this question. For you, college promises thought-provoking interactions, academic challenges and life-changing experiences. It means opportunities to push yourself in uncharted directions, to take bold intellectual risks, and to try out new ways of thinking and acting in the world. Being an honors scholar means you want an education that engages your mind and body — one that confronts you with difficult problems and empowers you to build your own solutions. The HPU Honors Scholar Program offers an education you can embody. Honors Scholars apply their coursework to real-world issues. They have the time and space to tinker with ideas and materials, to figure out what works and what does not. They practice reflecting on their experiences and presenting their ideas in public. Our curriculum will introduce you to a broad array of inquiry strategies and put you in touch with our best teacher-scholars. Our professors will engage you in critical thinking, analytical writing, reflective practice and collaborative project building. Outside of class, you will encounter cultural, scholarly and social events designed to prompt introspection and inspire creativity. Yes, your grit will be tested, and your ideas will be debated. You will be challenged in ways that can be both scary and exciting. But that is the purpose of college! I encourage you to continue reading for further information. Remember: if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at nhedman@highpoint.edu. I look forward to working with you! Sincerely,
Dr. Nathan Hedman
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A QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT EDUCATION MISSION
PRINCIPLES
Steeped in the liberal arts tradition and powered by project-based learning, the HPU Honors Scholar Program teaches students to be creative, adaptable
The Honors Scholar Program has five principles that inform its scope, structure and delivery:
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• That the value of a liberal arts education should be continually, rigorously and publicly analyzed by students and faculty.
• That a university should value diversity and inclusion while creating a climate conducive to the intellectual and emotional development of all; • That a liberal arts education should empower students to be agents of their own learning, in school and throughout life; • That a core curriculum should teach the habits of mind that are indicative of a liberal arts education: critical thinking, inquiry, synthesis, contextualization and reflection; • That core courses should invite multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives so as to teach students to recognize preconceptions and biases, tolerate ambiguity, consider ethical concerns and cultivate compassion;
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HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM BENEFITS DISTINCT HONORS CURRICULUM Honors students complete their own core curriculum, one that provides discussion-based courses, hands on projects and cross disciplinary research. At 39 credits, the core curriculum gives honors students more space to explore their academic interests and the opportunity to start their major courses sooner.
CULTURAL & SOCIAL EVENTS The Honors Scholar Program regularly invites and sponsors renowned scholars and artists to speak at High Point University on a variety of topics. Honors students receive priority access to these events, as well as to other on- and off-campus cultural events. The Odyssey Club is the social organization for all students enrolled in the Honors Scholar Program at High Point University. It is composed of and directed entirely by honors students. The Odyssey Club encourages a healthy balance between social affairs and academics.
PERSONALIZED E-PORTFOLIO Honors students work with faculty mentors to develop professional websites that showcase their knowledge and abilities. Students can use these sites while applying for jobs and graduate school.
SCHOLARSHIP & TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES Honors Scholars will receive a $3,000 scholarship, renewable annually based on academic performance and continued participation in the program. This is in addition to any Presidential or High Point Scholarship. Scholars must meet GPA and professionalism requirements to be awarded continuation of this award into the next academic year.
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Honors students also receive funding for travel to national and regional conferences to present their own research and creative works. The program also awards one annual scholarship to a rising senior with a high GPA, evidence of student leadership and active membership in the Odyssey Club.
ALL UNIVERSITY HONORS The ultimate benefit of the Honors Scholar Program is the chance to graduate from High Point University with the designation of “All University Honors.” This is the highest academic designation a student can receive upon graduation from HPU.
PRIORITY REGISTRATION Honors students receive priority registration for courses every registration period. This enables honors students to build schedules that best fit their honors and major classes while also allowing time to consider cocurricular and extracurricular activities.
HONORS HOUSING Honors Scholars form a tight-knit, supportive community in Finch Residence Hall, which is located in the heart of campus, and is home to our Faculty-inResidence. For their first two years, honors students use Finch Hall as their “home base,” engaging in cocurricular and extracurricular activities such as intercultural events, group meals, project building and study teams. The common spaces include a full kitchen, a workshop space and two collaboration rooms.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS Every year, many honors students work closely with esteemed faculty across disciplines on research projects. Their studies often lead to presentations at regional and national conferences as well as disciplinary publications.
HPU HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM CURRICULUM The Honors Core Curriculum consists of 39 credits amassed through twelve courses over seven semesters. It includes EXP 1101 President’s Seminar, taught by HPU President Nido Qubein, and a modern language course. All courses engage students in project-based learning and entail direct writing instruction. This Honors Core Curriculum is in place of the General Education Requirements. The Foundations Courses (HNR 1100–2500) introduce five areas of the liberal arts: humanities, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and arts. Scholar Seminars (HNR 3600) explore interdisciplinary topics and give students the opportunity to lead 40–60% of class activities. The Qualifying Signature Project (HNR 3700 & 3800) is the defining piece of the curriculum; students work in multidisciplinary teams to plan, propose and complete a project related to a public issue or problem. The capstone course HNR 4900 Life, Work and the Liberal Arts assists students with connecting their liberal arts education to their personal and professional goals. Students are required to take each course listed. AP/IB/ Cambridge credits do not replace these requirements, though they can count toward prerequisites and graduation depending on departmental policies. Substitutions are available to students who join the Honors Scholar Program at the start of their sophomore year.
YEAR 1 FIND YOUR PLACE • Humanistic Inquiry • Social Scientific Inquiry • Quantitative Reasoning • President’s Seminar YEAR 2 HEAR YOUR CALLING • Scientific Reasoning • Aesthetic Inquiry YEAR 3 LAUNCH YOURSELF • Methods, Proposal and Planning • Qualifying Signature Project • Scholar Seminar YEAR 4 BUILD YOUR LIFE • Life, Work and the Liberal Arts • Scholar Seminar
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HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM GUIDELINES TO ADMISSION HOW DO YOU KNOW THE HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM IS FOR YOU?
ADMITTANCE TO THE HONORS SCHOLAR PROGRAM
• One of your core beliefs is “Education should empower students to change the world.”
Students may apply to the Honors Scholar Program at two points: with their initial application to High Point University or in the spring of their freshman year. Applications require additional essays, which are reviewed by the Honors Committee. Accepted students who applied before their fall enrollment will have earned, an un-weighted GPA between 3.5-4.0 in high school and either an SAT score between 1300-1600 or an ACT score between 27-32.*
• You learn best when you are engaged in hands-on projects. Research and collaboration do not scare you. • Challenges and even failures help you learn. You don’t give up easily. • You have a growth mindset. • You enjoy interactive class discussions and activities. Debates and deep conversations are fun! • A community of scholars would motivate you to expand your thinking. • You enjoy connecting ideas from one class to another. • Learning is something that happens all the time for you, not just in the classroom.
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It is important to note that the scores and GPAs are averages, not minimums, and that the application essays (and letters of recommendation) play a deciding factor in admittance decisions. * Test scores will be waived for students entering in the fall 2021 who were unable to access the SAT or ACT.
The Honors Scholar Program is a way for you to be with intellectual students who want to push each other to become better scholars and better individuals. Being an honors scholar gives you the opportunity to branch out intellectually and learn more about how and why the world works. EVAN WHITE ’21
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B.S.B.A. Business Administration, HPU Honors Scholar Program
HOW TO APPLY To be considered for membership into the Honors Scholar Program as a new student, you must first submit your High Point University undergraduate admissions application. Log in to your Panther Page to submit your application by May 1. WWW.HIGHPOINT.EDU/PANTHERPAGE
REBECCA ULRICH ’18 B.S. Biochemistry, HPU Honors Scholar Program Awarded placement into the NIH OxfordCambridge Scholars Program. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Illinois. Major: Biochemistry Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Unique Opportunities: “Being an Honors Scholar has
set me apart as an academically exceptional student, which made faculty eager to take me on as a research student my freshman year. This prepared me for summer research programs on campus, in the United Kingdom and in Iowa, of which the latter two were funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.” Preparation for the Future: “Being an Honors Scholar
has taught me how to critically analyze things and to synthesize different pieces of information from different areas into a cohesive piece. It has helped me learn how to examine different aspects of an issue and be open-minded, but analytical and critical. I know I will stand out to future employers because of my broader worldview and unique skill set as a result of being an Honors Scholar.”
PRIORITY DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1 WWW.HIGHPOINT.EDU/HONORSPROGRAM
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL UNIVERSITY HONORS aComplete the Honors Core Curriculum with a 3.0 GPA.
aEarn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2. aCurate and reflect on a portfolio of your academic and cocurricular achievements.
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At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. ÂŽ
If you have any questions, please contact: Dr. Nathan Hedman, Director, University Honors Scholar Program 336.841.9076 | nhedman@highpoint.edu www.highpoint.edu/honorsprogram