Student Handbook
H O N O R S
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Welcome to the Honors College Congratulations on your admission to the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College! We are delighted you have chosen Valencia to continue your education. As Honors Director, I want to welcome you to a dynamic community of faculty and students dedicated to excellence in the classroom and beyond. Though the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College is only two years old, the honors tradition at Valencia College is over twenty years old and was founded to provide students the opportunity for academic and personal growth in a unique environment where intellectual exploration and quality teaching are the primary goals. You now become part of that tradition. You will be expected to challenge your own presumptions, to think creatively, to be audacious in your acts and ideas. In short, you will be expected to be exceptional. Still, we do not expect you to do this alone. Fellow honors students will offer encouragement; some will become lifelong friends. Honors faculty will eagerly focus on your success as they constantly assess your potential. Advisors and staff will assist and offer direction when needed. Even after graduation, the honors alumni network will form the basis of your continuing commitment. As part of this extended honors community, you too will be expected to lend vitality to the whole by participating in service and leadership opportunities, by being engaged in the classroom and in the college—by being not just an honors student, but also an honorable individual. I have no doubt you will meet this challenge and exceed your own expectations. Again, I offer a warm welcome and congratulations as you embark on this exciting journey of self-discovery; and I look forward to working with you with great anticipation.
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Best Wishes
Valerie Burks
Director, Honors College
The vision of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College is to discover potential in students and inspire excellence.
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Honors Program Staff Honors Office Phone: 407-582-1980 Fax: 407-582-1671 Email: honors@valenciacollege.edu Valerie Burks, Director West Campus, 3-137, 407-582-1373 East Campus, 4-117A, 407-582-2659 Email: vburks1@valenciacollege.edu B. Clyburn, Honors Program Assistant West Campus, 3-136, 407-582-1729 Email: bclyburn@valenciacollege.edu
Honors Counselors/Educational Advisors East Campus
Lorraine Amos, 5-210F
407-582-2394 lamos@valenciacollege.edu
Jeff Orlando, East 5-210
407-582-2843 jorlando1@valenciacollege.edu Osceola Campus
Celeste Henry, 2-140B
407-582-4840 chenry19@valenciacollege.edu West Campus
Tullio Bushrui, SSB-132
407-582-1126 tbushrui@valenciacollege.edu Winter Park
Linda Villar Firmani, WP 209
407-582-6887 lfirmani@valenciacollege.edu
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Webpage:
valenciacollege.edu/honors
Facebook:
facebook.com/valenciahonors
twitter.com/valenciahonors
Twitter:
Contents Expectations of Honors Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Honors College Program Tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Honors Courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FAQs about Honors Classes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Scholarship Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Graduation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Honors Student Advisory Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Making the Most of Your Honors Experience
Service Learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Study Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Perks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Become Involved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
BayCare Student Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Alumni Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Planning Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Honors Resource Centers As a Seneff honors student, you will have access to the Honors Resource Centers on East, Osceola and West campuses. The Honors Resource Centers provide a place for honors students to study, access computers and meet with fellow honors students. On East Campus, the resource center is located in the library, room 117; there are two desktop computers and students may check out laptops reserved for them at the Audiovisual Services desk. At Osceola, the resource center is located in the new building 4, room 206 (in the library); there are two desktop computers and a large wall monitor to which a laptop can be connected. On West Campus, the resource center is located in the library, room 201B; there are three computers for student use. 1
Student Expectations Students of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College are members of a community that embraces diversity and individuality while sharing a common commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. In this spirit, these expectations have been set forth: • Students are expected to exemplify academic and personal integrity by being familiar with and conscientiously adhering to all aspects of the Valencia Student Code of Conduct (see valenciacollege.edu/pdf/ studenthandbook.pdf). • Students are expected to abide by accepted standards of academic originality and creativity, to conduct themselves honorably in collaborative and group work, and to refrain from resubmitting work prepared for one course in another without permission of both professors. • Students are expected to demonstrate respect for fellow students and for faculty at all times and to contribute meaningfully to a productive classroom environment. • Students are expected to be ambitious learners, exhibiting academic enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity. • Students are expected to participate in the well-being of the honors community by regularly attending meetings and events, by taking part in service activities, by keeping informed of program happenings, by behaving appropriately in the Honors Resource Centers, and by contributing to the development of the program. • Students are expected to understand their role as exemplars, to act accordingly both on and off campus, and to refrain from activity that may be detrimental to the reputation of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College, to Valencia College, or to other honors students. • Students are expected to hold fellow honors students accountable when these expectations are not met.
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Honors College Program Tracks Interdisciplinary Studies The INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TRACK is designed to create an integrative, holistic education experience that empowers a global and diverse perspective. The courses are team-taught by four faculty members from several disciplines and provide students with a strong background in liberal arts. The program has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges as one of the best general education programs in the country. Students who complete the Interdisciplinary Studies Track will be able to: • Apply principles of dialogic argument in written and verbal communication; • Compare, contrast and explain the significance of different historic ages; • Compare, contrast and integrate knowledge of diverse cultures and disciplines. To satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Studies Track, students must complete a total of 24 credits of Honors coursework in the following courses: IDH 1110
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I (6 credits)
equates to
Freshman Composition I (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Humanities (Non-Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
OR IDH 1112 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education (6 credits) equates to
Humanities (Non-Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
AND IDH 1111
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II (6 credits)
equates to
Freshman Composition II (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Natural Science (Non-Laboratory, 3 credits)
(offered only in spring term)
AND
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IDH 2120
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III (6 credits)
equates to
Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Social Science (3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
AND IDH 2121
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV (6 credits)
equates to
Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Natural Science (Non-Laboratory, 3 credits)
(offered only in spring term)
In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include international travel experience, field trips to cultural locations, colloquia, reading circles, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege. edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your campus honors counselor.
Leadership Track The LEADERSHIP TRACK is designed to create citizen scholars—individuals whose action is informed by theory. Students who complete the Leadership Track will be able to: • Develop a working, evolving and individual leadership theory or style; • Practice leadership principles through their campus activities and continued community involvement; • Identify opportunities to make social change. To satisfy the requirements of the Leadership Track, students must complete a total of 23 credits of Honors coursework in the following courses: A. SLS 2261H – Leadership Development – Honors (3 credits) B. At least two of the following courses (6 credits)
1. SPC 1608H – Fundamentals of Speech – Honors
2. ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors
3. ENC 1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors
4. Any Honors Gordon Rule writing courses (to see a full list of Gordon Rule honors classes, students should consult the current Valencia catalog)
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C. At least one of the following courses (3 credits)
1. POS 2041H – U.S. Government – Honors
2. INR 2002H – International Politics – Honors
3. AMH 2010H – U.S. History to 1877 – Honors
4. AMH 2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present – Honors
5. SYG 2000H – Intro to Sociology – Honors
6. PSY 2012H – General Psychology – Honors D. Experiential Learning (2 credits)
1. SLS 2940H – Service Learning – Honors and/or Internship E. Additional Honors Coursework (9 credits) – Students are encouraged to work with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and prerequisite requirements for their intended majors.
In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include community service, campus leadership, involvement with Phi Theta Kappa activities, mentoring programs, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege.edu/honors/ current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your campus honors counselor.
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Undergraduate Research Track The UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRACK is designed to create students who are familiar with the process, practice, and principles of scholarly inquiry in an academic community and is especially suited for students who plan to attend graduate or professional school. Students who complete the Undergraduate Research Track will be able to:
• Complete a discipline-specific research project;
• Present research in a peer-reviewed, academic setting.
To satisfy the requirements of the Undergraduate Research Track, students must complete a total of 24 credits of honors coursework: • IDH 2911 Honors Research Process (2 credits) – this honors course will introduce students to the process of research, (i.e. the tools, concepts, and resources necessary to search, evaluate, and use information in a variety of formats and subject disciplines). The focus will be to analyze and utilize information critically using a broad range of materials and interdisciplinary concepts needed for honors research and academic/professional success. • Individual Honors Study Plan (12 – 15 credits) – honors courses designed to enhance the individual student’s research plan, developed in consultation with the honors director and a faculty advisor. Approved study plans are kept on file in the Honors Office. • IDH 2912 Honors Project (1 credit) – the student will complete, under the guidance of a faculty advisor, a project that will define and execute a research question. Guidelines will be established regarding format, standards and review of projects. • Additional honors coursework (6 – 9 credits) – students are encouraged to work with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and prerequisite requirements for their intended majors. In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include participation in the editing and publication of a Valencia Honors research journal, presentation of original research at local, regional, and national honors and/or discipline conferences, and/or presentation of original research at Valencia. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege.edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your campus honors counselor.
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JEFFERSONIAN TRACK The JEFFERSONIAN TRACK is designed to provide a well-rounded general education curriculum with thematically-integrated courses, with an emphasis on creating global citizens. Students who complete the Jeffersonian Track will be able to:
• Recognize and weigh different perspectives in primary and secondary sources;
• Produce original work and scholarly research;
• Connect learning across academic disciplines.
To satisfy the curricular aspect of the Jeffersonian program track, students must complete a total of 23 credits of honors coursework: • SLS 1501H – Honors Seminar (1 credit) – this seminar will introduce students to a variety of academic topics. The seminar is designed to allow students to explore issues important to self-discovery and intellectual growth, and to understand their role and responsibility in the educational process. • Thematically-Integrated General Education Courses (12 credits) – students will work with campus advisors to determine available options. • IDH 2028H – Honors Capstone (1 credit) – this course is designed to provide perspective to students at the conclusion of their curricular and co-curricular work in the Honors College. Students in the course will present their honors portfolios to fellow students, faculty and staff. This course will also provide opportunities for discussion and reflection about students’ experiences in the honors learning community. • Additional Honors Coursework (9 credits) – students are encouraged to work with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and prerequisite requirements for their intended majors. In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include service learning, short-term study abroad, mentoring, cultural field trips, civic projects, reading groups, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at http://valenciacollege.edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your campus honors counselor.
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Honors Courses In addition to track options, there are a number of honors classes students can take to fulfill program and elective course requirements. The following courses are available as honors sections:
AMH 2010H U.S. History to 1877 AMH 2020H U.S. History 1877 to Present AML 2021H
Survey in American Literature
ARH 2051H
Intro to Art History II
AST 1002H Astronomy
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BSC 1005H
Biological Science
BSC 1010H
Fundamentals of Biology I
BSC 1011H
Fundamentals of Biology II
BSC 1026H
Biology of Human Sexuality
BSC 1050H
Environmental Science
CHM 1045H
General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis I
CHM 1046H
General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis II
DEP 2004H
Developmental Psychology
ECO 2013H
Principles of Economics-Macro
ECO 2023H
Principles of Economics-Micro
ENC 1101H
Freshman Composition I
ENC 1102H
Freshman Composition II
GLY 2100H
Historical Geology
HUM 1020H
Introduction to Humanities
HUM 2220H
Humanities – Greek and Roman
HUM 2223H
Humanities – Late Roman and Medieval
HUM 2232H
Humanities – Renaissance and Baroque
HUM 2234H
Humanities – Enlightenment and Romanticism
HUM 2250H
Humanities – Twentieth Century
HUM 2310H
Humanities – Mythology in Art and Literature
IDH 1110
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I
IDH 1111
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II
IDH 1112
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education
IDH 2120
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III
IDH 2121
Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV
IDH 2028
Honors Capstone
IDH 2911
Honors Research Process
IDH 2912
Honors Project
INR 2002H
International Politics
LIT 2090H
Contemporary Literature
LIT 2120H
Survey in World Literature – Enlightenment to Present
LIT 2174H
Multimedia Literature and The Holocaust
MAC 1105H
College Algebra
MAC 2233H
Calculus for Business and Social Science
MAC 2311H
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MAC 2312H
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
OCE 1001H
Intro to Oceanography
PCB 1440H
Florida Environmental Systems
PHY 2048H
General Physics I with Calculus
PHY 2049H
General Physics II with Calculus
POS 2041H U.S. Government I PSY 2012H
General Psychology
SLS 1501H
Honors Seminar
SLS 2261H
Leadership Development
SLS 2940H
Service Learning
SPC 1017H
Interpersonal Communication
SPC 1608H
Fundamentals of Speech
STA 2023H
Statistical Methods
SYG 2000H
Intro to Sociology
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FAQs about honors classes What is different about honors classes? Honors classes at Valencia emphasize program outcomes by helping students to recognize and weigh different perspectives in primary and secondary sources, to produce original work and scholarly research, and to connect learning across academic disciplines. Also, honors classes are smaller than non-honors classes, with enrollment capped at 20 students per class.
Are honors classes harder? Many students mistakenly believe that honors classes will be harder than regular classes. Honors courses provide students and faculty the opportunity to develop ideas and engage in work that would be more difficult in a typical, lecture-style class. Most students find they actually do better in honors classes because of the close interaction between professors and students and the sense of community that develops.
Are honors course grades weighted? No. Unlike high school, college honors courses are not weighted in the calculation of your grade point average.
How does grade forgiveness work for honors classes? You may use an honors section and a non-honors section of the same course interchangeably for grade forgiveness. That means, if you take ENC 1101H and get an “F,� you can take ENC 1101 (non-honors) and receive grade forgiveness. However, if grade forgiveness is applied to an honors section due to your successful completion of a non-honors section of the same course, no honors credit will be awarded for your successful completion. For full details, consult the current college catalog.
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Scholarship Information The James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College awards a limited number of full tuition, non-transferable scholarships to admission candidates who demonstrate academic promise and who commit to one of the four available curriculum tracks: Interdisciplinary Studies Track, Leadership Track, Jeffersonian Track, or Undergraduate Research Track. All eligible students who apply for the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College will be considered for scholarship awards. Awards are renewable for up to four terms.
Initial Eligibility: 1.
Apply and be accepted to Valencia.
2. Apply and be accepted into the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College. 3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results are received prior to the start of the term of admission. 4. Meet Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Purposes. 5. Seek an A.A. degree. 6. Enroll in at least nine credits each term. 7. Register for at least one honors class each term.
Renewal Eligibility: 1.
Scholarship is renewed on a term-by-term basis.
2. Students must make good progress towards graduation in a curricular track as determined by the Honors Director. 3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results are received prior to the start of classes each year. 4. Continue to be seeking an A.A. degree. 5. Enroll in at least nine credit hours each term. 6. Maintain eligibility to be a student in the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College. 7. Complete at least 75 percent of attempted credits to be renewed in subsequent terms. 8. All students receiving any form of financial aid must meet the standards of academic progress as outlined by the federal government. See valenciacollege.edu/finaid/programs/satisfactory_progress.cfm for satisfactory academic progress criteria.
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Valencia Foundation Scholarships The Valencia Foundation offers a number of privately-funded scholarships that are donated by organizations and individuals interested in supporting Valencia’s students. The Foundation maintains over 650 named scholarships, academic support funds, endowed teaching chairs, and fellowships. Students are encouraged to apply for Foundation scholarships through the separate online application available at valencia.org/scholarships/scholarship_application.cfm. Eligibility criteria varies.
Study Abroad Scholarships Each year, a limited number of scholarships are available to fund student travel on the approved honors international trip. For more information, see the Study Abroad section of this handbook or visit valenciacollege.edu/international/studyabroad/students/ financialaid.cfm.
Transfer Scholarships Many four-year colleges and universities have specific honors-only scholarships available for transfer students. There are also a small number of elite transfer scholarship programs for which students are eligible and for which we can assist. To learn more, see the Transfer section of this handbook.
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Graduation Requirements Honors students will be offered three levels of graduation distinction: 1 The term Seneff Honors College Scholars is reserved for those students who successfully complete the curricular and co-curricular requirements of one of the program tracks, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, and who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.5. 2 The term Valencia Honors Scholars is reserved for those students who successfully complete at least 18 hours of honors coursework, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.33, and who complete 30 hours of approved co-curricular activities. 3 Students who successfully complete at least 12 hours of honors coursework within a maximum of 80 total credit hours, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, and who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 will earn an Honors Certificate. * See college grade forgiveness policy. At the Commencement Ceremony, honors graduates walk first in the A.A. student processional and wear stoles, cords, medallions, and/or tassels depending on the program they complete. To qualify for honors graduation, students must complete both a regular Valencia College graduation application and a James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College graduation application by the published deadline. For more about Valencia College graduation, see valenciacollege.edu/graduation. The honors graduation application may be accessed at valenciacollege.edu/honors/current-students/gradapp.cfm.
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Honors Student Advisory Committee The mission of the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC) is to promote academic excellence among honors students at Valencia. The HSAC seeks to foster communication, to plan events, to make decisions, to develop partnerships, and to coordinate outreach with the sole goal of enriching the academic experience and quality of education for honors students at all of Valencia’s campuses. The HSAC acts as the sole advisory and communication body representing Valencia honors students on issues relating to academics, fellowship, cultural enrichment, and the honors student activities budget. It is the aim of the HSAC to provide a voice to all active members of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College in all matters that directly impact the same issues. Membership in the HSAC is open at all times. All Valencia honors students are invited and welcome to attend any and all public meetings of the HSAC so long as they meet the aforementioned criteria. Students are welcome to attend as many, or as few, of the HSAC meetings as they so choose. An executive board of officers oversees the agenda and activities of the HSAC. The executive board is made up of the following elected officers: president, four vice presidents (one each from East, Osceola, West, and Winter Park campuses), a treasurer, and secretary. Further, there are several historians who serve to record and assist in HSAC meetings and sponsored events. Election of the HSAC president is held at the last meeting of the spring term; all other officers are elected at the first meeting in the fall term. If you have questions or concerns, you are encouraged to contact the current HSAC president at HSACPresident@valenciacollege.edu. Each summer, the HSAC hosts a leadership and planning retreat for the upcoming year. All new and returning students are encouraged to attend and become involved. The HSAC is your outlet for service to the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College.
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Making the Most of Your Honors Experience Service Learning Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service Learning allows students and faculty to blend educational goals with their passions. Honors students can earn honors credit for Service Learning experience and have the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary connections between different fields of study and thought. In addition, students who complete at least 40 hours of service learning activity will be awarded a special medallion when they graduate. For more information, visit the Service Learning page at valenciacollege.edu/servicelearning.
Study Abroad Each year, the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College offers at least one section of IDH 2955, “Honors Study Abroad.” The course is planned in conjunction with one of the program tracks with the goal of providing every Seneff student the opportunity to travel internationally as part of the honors curriculum. Student travel on these trips is supported by scholarship dollars; in 2013, the average cost to the student for a nine day trip to Paris (after scholarships) was about $1,000. For more information, visit the Study Abroad and Global Experience page at valenciacollege.edu/international/studyabroad.
Perks Some of the perks of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College are: • Priority registration • Honors Resource Centers • Honors-only scholarships • College-sponsored travel to conferences and on course field trips • Honors-specific advising • Graduation recognition
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Become Involved To whom much is given, much is required. Honors students are expected to participate in the life of the program and the college by regularly attending meetings, events, and academic discussions and by treating all faculty, staff, and fellow students with respect. Beginning students should plan to become involved at the college in a way that speaks to their individual interests and offers a possibility for positive impact. A few of the clubs and organizations at Valencia include: • East Campus Student Research Community • West Campus Book Club • Phi Theta Kappa – the international honors society for two-year colleges • Brain Bowl – a Jeopardy-style academic competition • Valencia Voice – the college newspaper • The Phoenix – the college literary journal • Valencia Volunteers – providing service opportunities to Valencia students* • Student Government Association • Model United Nations – academic simulation of the United Nations • Student Leader Team – providing peer assistance and education This is just a sampling of the clubs and organizations available at Valencia. For a full list, visit valenciacollege.edu/studentdev/clubs2.cfm or drop by the Student Development office on your home campus. * Students who document at least 100 hours of service while at Valencia will be eligible to graduate with a service cord.
BayCare Student Assistance Program College can be stressful. If you need support, advice, or just a friendly ear, help is only a phone call away. Call 800-878-5470. BayCare Student Assistance Program is a free service to Valencia students.
Alumni Network In 2009, the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA!) was formed by graduating honors students to raise scholarship funds and provide transfer assistance to current honors students. A wide network of former Valencia honors students can be found at undergraduate, graduate and professional schools throughout the nation. Amongst the AHA! members are two Jack Kent Cooke scholars, several past members of the All-USA Academic Team, and countless recipients of other prestigious scholarship awards; these honors alumni have been extremely generous with their time and advice. Each summer, AHA! holds a luau to which students in the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College are invited. This offers an excellent opportunity for current students to meet and connect with the honors alumni network.
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Transfer When thinking about transfer, it is never too early to start. In fact, students should begin planning for transfer during their first year at Valencia. Those who wait until their second year often find themselves scrambling to research options and put together the right transfer strategy. Your approach will vary depending on what school(s) and program(s) you choose. Generally speaking, there are three distinct paths you can take, each requiring different planning and preparation:
• Honors-to-Honors: If your goal is to transfer to an honors program or college at a four-year school, you will require considerable lead-time to investigate the options. Your first question will be whether or not they allow transfer students to enter the program and graduate on par with ‘native’ students (i.e., students who began at that institution). Many will allow transfer students to enter the program; but, when you scratch beneath the surface, you may find that it is next to impossible for transfers to complete the requirements for honors graduation. Your best bet is to communicate with the program director early and often. For students desiring the transfer to The Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida, Valencia College is one of a handful of schools that have an honors-to-honors articulation agreement with UCF. Graduating students wishing to transfer to The Burnett Honors College should have a minimum of 18 credits of honors work at Valencia and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.
• Private and Out-of-State Colleges and Universities: Valencia College has an excellent tradition of placing honors students in some of the most elite institutions in the country, including Amherst College, Emory University, Smith College, Columbia University, and UC-Berkeley. In most cases, transferring institutions will evaluate your Valencia transcript course by course. Very rarely do students lose a great deal of coursework in transfer. Still, you will want to communicate with the institution directly before making final decisions. It is well known that some institutions are more transfer-friendly than others. Speaking with a transfer admission specialist at the school will give you a good sense for this, as will doing research online or consulting one of the useful peer-to-peer discussion sites, such as collegeconfidential.com.
• Florida Public Colleges and Universities: Perhaps the easiest transfer situation to manage is when students are transferring to a Florida public college or university. Statewide articulation agreements guarantee that courses you take at Valencia will, with few exceptions, transfer to the accepting institution. Even so, you will want to make sure you are taking the right classes at the freshman and sophomore level to be prepared for upper division coursework. Florida has established an online advising and transfer tool to assist students throughout the process: flvc.org. This site allows students to determine how best to chart a path to the baccalaureate program of their choice.
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Transfer Fair Each year, the Honors Student Advisory Committee hosts a Transfer Fair and invites representatives from colleges throughout the nation to Valencia. This provides an opportunity for honors students to talk one-on-one with admission specialists and discuss programs and scholarship options. The Transfer Fair is scheduled for the fall (usually late October or early November each year). Check the Honors Calendar for a specific date.
Transfer Scholarships A number of schools have scholarships for transfer students graduating from honors programs. The following is a partial list of colleges and universities that offer honorsspecific transfer scholarships: • Hamilton Holt School at Rollins College • University of Central Florida • New College of Florida • Stetson University • University of Tampa • Florida Atlantic University • Florida International University • Illinois Institute of Technology
Honors students may also be eligible for the following prestigious scholarships:
• Hites Scholarship: Established by a generous gift from Robert F. Hites to the Valencia Foundation, the Hites Scholarship is awarded each year to the most outstanding graduate of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College.
• Association of Honors Alumni Transfer Scholarship: Each year, the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA!) selects a graduating honors student as the recipient of this scholarship, which is partially funded by the rose sale at Commencement.
• Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship honors excellence by supporting outstanding community college students with financial need to transfer to and complete their bachelor’s degrees at the nation’s top four-year colleges and universities. The Foundation provides up to $30,000 per year to each of approximately 50 deserving students selected annually, making it the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country.
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• Guistwhite Scholarships: The purpose of this merit-based program is to recognize the scholarly achievements of Phi Theta Kappa members and enhance members’ attainment of baccalaureate degrees. Up to 20 members will receive scholarships of $5,000 each for completion of baccalaureate degrees. To be eligible, a student must post a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and transfer to a college or university upon completion of coursework at a community college.
• All-USA Community College Academic Team: The All-USA Community College Academic Team is presented by USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa and sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group. Twenty students will be selected to the national team, each receiving a $2,500 scholarship and medallion. Students nominated to the All-USA Community College Academic Team are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Team.
• Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team: The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team. Fifty students will be named Gold Scholars, each receiving a $1,500 scholarship, fifty students will be named Silver Scholars, each receiving a $1,250 scholarship, and fifty students will be named Bronze Scholars, each receiving a $1,000 scholarship. A state may have multiple Gold, Silver, or Bronze Scholars. All scholars will also receive special medallions. The top scoring student in each of the fifty states will be named a New Century Scholar and will receive a $2,000 stipend.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund supports several scholarship programs for students of Latino background. To learn about these programs, visit the HSF webpage at hsf.net.
For more information about these and other transfer scholarships, contact Valerie Burks at vburks1@valenciacollege.edu.
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Planning Use this section to record your progress toward honors graduation.
Name _________________________________________________________________________
V-Number_____________________________________________________________________
Advisor ______________________________________________________________________
Program Track _______________________________________________________________
Admit Term ___________________________________________________________________
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Interdisciplinary Studies Track (24 credits of honors coursework) Courses
Term Grade Credits
At least three of the following: IDH 1110 or IDH 1112 – Interdis. Stud. in Gen Ed I
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_________
_________
IDH 1111 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed II
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IDH 2120 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed III
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IDH 2121 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed IV
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_________
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Honors Electives _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
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_________ _________ _________
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_________ _________ _________
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_________ _________ _________
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_________ _________ _________
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_________ _________ _________
Co-curricular Activities Date
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Activity
Hours
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
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Leadership Track (23 credits of honors coursework)
Courses
Term Grade Credits
SLS 2261H – Leadership Development – Honors
_________
_________
_________
Two of the following: SPC 1608H – Fundamentals of Speech – Honors
_________
_________
_________
ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors
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_________
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ENC 1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors
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_________
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Honors Gordon Rule Course
_________
_________
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Honors Gordon Rule Course
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_________
_________
One of the following: POS 2041H – U.S. Government – Honors
_________
_________
_________
INR 2002H – International Politics – Honors
_________
_________
_________
AMH 2010H – U.S. History to 1877 – Honors
_________
_________
_________
AMH 2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present – Honors _________
_________
_________
SYG 2000H – Intro to Sociology – Honors
_________
_________
_________
PSY 2012H – General Psychology – Honors
_________
_________
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SLS 2940H – Service Learning – Honors
_________
_________
_________
Honors Electives _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
Co-curricular Activities Date
Activity
Hours
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
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Undergraduate Research Track (24 credits of honors coursework) Courses
Term Grade Credits
IDH 2911 – Honors Research Process
_________
_________
_________
Individual Honors Study Plan _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
IDH 2912 – Honors Project
_________
_________
_________
Honors Electives _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
Co-curricular Activities Date
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Activity
Hours
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
JEFFERSONIAN Track (23 credits of honors coursework) Courses
Term Grade Credits
SLS 1501H – Honors Seminar
_________
_________
_________
IDH 2028H – Honors Capstone
_________
_________
_________
Thematically-Integrated Gen Ed Courses _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
Honors Electives _______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
_______________________________________
_________ _________ _________
Co-curricular Activities Date
Activity
Hours
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________
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