02.01.28 Honors College Admission, Status, and Degrees Requirements

Admission to the Honors College

First-Time Freshmen prior to Matriculation

Students must first be admitted to the University to apply for Honors College Admission. Admittance to Honors College is at the discretion of the Honors Dean, who reviews all applications. Students who are not readmitted may reapply. The Dean considers all the following factors in making the decision to admit:

1. Whether the student meets at least two of the following criteria:
1. A high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
2. ACT: Composite 28.
3. SAT: 1200 (Math + Verbal).
2. The quality of the student’s application essays.
3. The student's involvement in significant extracurricular activities.
4. The student's performance in a personal interview, if necessary.
5. The student's creative portfolio or performance abilities.

Applications are accepted up until the dates given UAH Honors Admissions web site.

Current UAH Students

Any current UAH student who is not a first-semester freshman with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 may join the Honors College. Admission is at the discretion of the Honors Dean, who will also consider the same factors (2) — (5) considered for first-time freshman. First-time freshman in the first semester are treated as first-time freshmen prior to matriculation for the purposes of application to the Honors College. After their first semester is complete, they will be treated as current students for purposes of admission.

Transfer Students

Any transfer student with at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA may join the Honors College. Admission is at the discretion of the Honors Dean, who will also consider the same factors (2) — (5) as s/he considers for first-time freshman.

Maintaining Honors Status

The Honors College maintains three rosters, updated at the end of each term. The roster of Active Honors Students includes all Honors Students in good standing. The roster of Probationary Honors Students includes all Honors students on Probationary status. The roster of Inactive Honors Students includes all former Honors Students who have been dropped from the college or who have elected to go inactive from the College.

In order to remain an Honors College student in good standing, students must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA At the end of each term, all Honors students' records are evaluated for compliance with this standard. Students who do not meet that standard will be placed on probationary status in the Honors College.

Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA drops below 3.25 will be placed on probation. Students will be notified by an official letter from the Dean of the College. During probationary status, students can continue to enjoy all the benefits of the Honors College. Probationary status lasts for the next term during which the student is enrolled including summer (if the student enrolls for summer classes). During this probationary period, students must raise their cumulative GPA to at least 3.25. Students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.25 will be placed on the inactive roster. However. students who achieve a term GPA of at least 3.25 during the probationary term will have probation extended for one, and only one, more term, at the end of which students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.25 will be placed the inactive roster and lose all benefits and privileges associated with the Honors College.

The purpose of Probation is to recover the student's GPA so they can stay in good standing in the Honors College. Accordingly, the following additional steps should be taken for all students in probation:

1. The student must meet with both the Honors Dean or College Coordinator/Adviser
2. The student must establish a working plan for how to recover their GPA.

Exceptions for extraordinary circumstances

If a student's GPA drops below 3.25 due to extraordinary circumstances involving illness, extreme family situations, or the like, the student may petition the Honors Dean for continuation of Honors College Status. The petition must include a brief explanation - providing no more information than is absolutely necessary - and the minimum official documentation necessary (e.g., notes from healthcare providers). The Dean, in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Honors Council, has discretion to decide such cases, and must approve continuation of Honors Status in writing and include a term date by which the cumulative GPA must reach 3.25.

Reinstatement

A student who has been placed on the Honors College inactive roster may petition the Dean of the Honors College for reinstatement to active Honors Status if the student's cumulative GPA has returned to 3.25 or higher. The petition should include an explanation of both why the student wants to return to Honors Status and also why the student believes his or her performance will be able to sustain Honors Status. The Dean, in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Honors Council, has the discretion to readmit the student after an examination of the petition and all relevant records.

Requirements for the Honors Diploma

The following are required to earn an Honors Diploma:

1. A minimum of 24 hours of Honors course credit. At least 9 of these hours must be at the 300+ level. The Coursework for the Honors Capstone, which is the Honors Project or Honors Thesis, can be included in these 9 hours.
2. A satisfactory Honors Capstone (the hours for this course are included in the 24 total hours).
3. A cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher at the end of the final semester.

The Honors Diploma is awarded at the time the UAH diploma is conferred, not when the Honors College requirements (outlined above) are attained.

Students who have completed one baccalaureate Honors diploma may earn a second Honors Diploma, provided they complete:

1. An additional 9 hours of Honors credit (3 hours at the 300+ level).
2. A satisfactory Honors Capstone distinct from their first Capstone (the hours for this course are included in the 9 total hours).

The Honors Diploma is noted on students' official UAH Transcript as "Honors Diploma Completed."

Requirement for the Honors Certificate

The following are required to earn the Honors Certificate:

1. 12-23 hours of Honors course credit. At least 6 of these hours must be at the 300+ level. The Coursework for the Honors Capstone can be included in these 6 hours.
2. A satisfactory Honors Capstone Project (the hours for this course are included in the 12-23 total hours).
3. A cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher at the end of the final semester.