Honors Program
Morton Hall 336
The University of
Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35899
256.824.6450 |
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Honors Credit Contracts
Honors Contract Forms and Information
General Description
In order to increase opportunities for Honors work, to promote close intellectual relationships
between faculty members and Honors students, and to meet students' needs and interests in an
effective way, the Honors Council presents the Honors contract option for regular courses. The Honors
contract course is an important component of the enriched curriculum the University provides to talented
and highly motivated students. With the consent and guidance of participating faculty, Honors
students may undertake Honors study and receive honors credit for courses in which special Honors
sections are unavailable. The Honors designations earned through contract courses will appear on
transcripts. In developing contract courses, the motivating force should be the student's interest
in some aspect of the subject matter and his or her commitment to more intensive and advanced work
than is required in a regular course. Faculty should recognize that contract options bring both an
obligation to commit additional time and energy to students involved in this work and the rewards of
closer intellectual relationships and learning with excellent students.
With this contract opportunity, an Honors student and a faculty member agree in writing to a set of
learning experiences to be accomplished in order to receive Honors credit for a course in which the
student is enrolled. In addition to the successful accomplishment of the contract, the student must
complete the regular class assignments within the specified term with a grade of B or better in order
to receive Honors credit.
Faculty Participation in Honors Contracts
Contracts should be carefully considered, reflecting the interests of both student and instructor.
Whatever general approach is taken, each contract should include: (1) well-defined goals and
objectives; (2) specification of the broad topics to be addressed; (3) a calendar of activities
spanning the entire term; (4) a schedule of meetings between student and instructor; (5) methods of
evaluation; and (6) any other additional responsibilities assumed by student and/or instructor.
The Honors Council suggests to faculty that contracts for Honors credit are likely to involve some of
the following characteristics:
* additional readings chosen to enhance and deepen the student's understanding of regular course material;
* guided research involving specialized library resources, field projects, or laboratory work resulting in a substantial end product for the student;
* extra written work designed to encourage the development of critical skills and independent thinking; and
* regular private meetings with the instructor to discuss the progress of the various projects undertaken to fulfill the contract.
Honors contracts share some of the characteristics of guided independent study, except that a
contract project should relate closely to the subject matter, concepts, and methods of the course in
which it is undertaken. Contracts should be developed well before the term's work begins, preferably
during the preceding term. After the beginning of the term, reasonable modifications in the contracts
can be made by mutual agreement of the student and the instructor.
Contracts bring additional responsibilities to the instructor. No member of the faculty is obligated
to enter into an honors contract and, therefore, instructors may elect to refuse a student's request
to develop a contract. If an instructor agrees to direct a contract, he or she is expected to honor
this agreement. The instructor has a right, and perhaps an obligation, to limit the number of
contracts to which he or she agrees. Limitations on the number undertaken will enable the instructor
to serve each student in the best possible way. If the student fails to meet his or her agreed-upon
obligations or does not perform at the appropriate academic level, the faculty member may rescind the
contract at any time. The faculty member is obligated to report this action in writing to the Honors
Council and the student.
Student Participation in Honors Contracts
Honors students have responsibility for initiation of the Honors contract option. The student must
express his or her interest to the Honors Program director, make application to an instructor, and
must cooperate in the development of a course of study for the contract. If the instructor and
student sign a contract, the student is expected to honor this agreement. The student must also
matriculate in the regularly scheduled course and perform all course assignments. The grade received
by the student will be based on these regular course assignments. It is to be emphasized that the
contract is for honors designation in the course and in no way relieves the student of regular course
responsibilities. In fact, these responsibilities must be accomplished with a final grade of B or
better in order for the Honors designation to be awarded. Failure to accomplish the contract
obligations does not affect the student's status in the regularly scheduled course or the grade
earned in the course. Students may rescind contracts. If a student finds it necessary to do so, he or
she is obligated to notify in writing the instructor and the Honors Council of this action and
explain the reason for rescinding the contract.
Specific Policies and Procedures
1. Excluding HPE designated courses, all regularly scheduled courses in which Honors sections
are not available are eligible for Honors contract.
2. Honors contracts are available only to students who are participants in the University
Honors Program and therefore have met all appropriate admissions criteria.
3. Any member of the faculty teaching a regularly scheduled course is eligible to participate
in Honors contract courses.
4. The contract confirming participation in the Honors contract option is agreed to by the
instructor, the student, the department chair, and signed by the Honors director.
5. The contract includes a description of the work to be accomplished for Honors credit and
the methods of evaluation to be employed.
6. All Honors Contracts must be initiated by the end of the first week of classes in a term.
Students and faculty are encouraged to develop contracts during the preceding term.
7. The grade awarded to the student is based on regularly required coursework. A grade of B or
better is required in order for Honors credit to be awarded. Faculty may assign a letter grade to the
contracted work done for Honors credit, but the primary decision is whether the contracted work is of
sufficient quality to merit Honors designation.
8. An Honors student may take no more than two contract courses with a single faculty member.
9. The Honors Program director will provide summary lists by term of faculty and students
involved in Honors contract courses in each year's annual report.
10. The Honors Council will monitor the contract courses to ensure that this is an activity
consistent with the high academic standards appropriate to all Honors activities. The Honors Council
appreciates being kept informed of the rewarding experiences faculty encounter while participating in
this aspect of the Honors Program but also wish to be told of disappointing encounters so that
improvements can be made.
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