Honors Track II admission available
A love for learning, a desire to explore other cultures and an interest in conducting research with faculty can be indications that a student may be a good candidate for the Honors Track II Program.
"We're really looking for a student who is excited about learning," said Phame Camarena, director of the Honors Program. "(We want) students who see the value of diversity and global citizenship."
Students join the Honors Program through Centralis, a competitive scholarship. With admission limited to about 150 students, Camarena said the downside to the process is that it can miss students who would be a good fit for the program, such as transfer students.
The Track II Program allows up to 40 current students to become part of the Honors Program if they didn't join their first semester freshman year. The time to look into joining is now, students can join this spring for the fall semester.
Informational meetings will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, and from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 2 in Powers Hall 136. The deadline for admission this spring is March 15 with an extended The deadline for transfer students on August 1.
“It’s a thrill to meet all of (the) students,” Camarena said. “They really want to learn and be around other peers who share some of the same values and goals.”
Students who want to join Track II need a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher. They are required to take nine credits of additional honors coursework, fulfill 90 community service hours and take three to four credits in language, culture or study abroad courses.
“Those (requirements) are things any student could do, but the Honors (Program) will expect it," Camarena said.
In addition to life experience, joining the program gives students smaller class sizes, exclusive honors courses and priority registration.
Honors students also participate in a senior capstone project, during which students conduct an original study, research or a creative endeavors project with the help of a faculty member. The results get published or presented, usually in a regional setting.
"We do require a few extra things of the students," said Maureen Harke, associate director of the Honors Program. "It's not really a quantitative difference, its a qualitative difference, getting a different educational experience than other classes."
Junior Axucillia Kagande, an exchange student from Zimbabwe, heard about the Honors Track II program from a classmate. She said she had been looking for something that would challenge her socially and academically and found that in the honors program.
"I actually regretted not joining straight when I came to the U.S.," Kagande said. "I like that they have a lot of opportunities.
