Dec 17, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
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2017-2018 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Honors Program

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The University Honors Program offers a social and academic community for qualifying students who seek to enhance their classroom and co-curricular experiences. As a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the national organizing body for college and university Honors, we seek to enrich the RWU experience for our students by:

  • Providing opportunities to achieve excellence through intellectual and creative scholarship
  • Fostering citizenship and social responsibility through leadership in and engagement with local and global communities

The University Honors Program prepares students through engaged scholarship, service, and leadership. The curriculum focuses on civic action and reflection, delivered through academic and co-curricular experiences and the practice of civil discourse.

Membership and Eligibility

Any prospective or current RWU student meeting the established criteria for academic excellence may be eligible for the University Honors Program. For further information, please contact the Honors Program Director, Becky Spritz (bspritz@rwu.edu, 401-254-3663).

Prior to the start of the freshman year, candidates who complete a separate Honors Program application are selected from the pool of applicants. Applicants minimally have earned cumulative averages of at least a B+ in major subjects and demonstrate a strong interest in being a member of the RWU Honors Living-Learning Community (LLC). The selection committee also considers the number of honors and advanced placement courses taken in high school, academic honors, community service experience, and extra-curricular activities.

Currently enrolled Roger Williams University students performing with academic distinction within their first three semesters are encouraged to apply provided they are able to complete all program requirements through their remaining course of study. Transfer students of academic distinction may also be considered for Honors Program membership.

As the university’s first Living-Learning Community (LLC), the program provides an Honors residence housing, including quiet study areas and an activities and seminar space. Cultural activities and co-curricular opportunities supplement students’ coursework and academic requirements. Official transcripts awarded to Honors students document their completion of this prestigious and rewarding program.

Program Requirements

The Honors Program requirements consist of:

  • The Honors Core Curriculum
  • The Honors Service-Learning Experience
  • The Honors Capstone

Required Courses

The Honors Core Curriculum

Honors students enroll in designated sections of the university’s core curriculum. This requirement can be fulfilled by all or any combination of the following courses.

The Honors Service-Learning Experience

The University Honors Program prepares its students to be citizen-scholars through a unique service-learning experience completed before the senior year. Honors students may fulfill their service-learning requirement via the Honors-designated service-learning course or a pre-approved, independent service-learning experience. Students must be granted approval of the experience and obtain a designated faculty sponsor prior to engaging with the community.

The Honors Capstone

The Honors Capstone complements and enhances the student’s intellectual and/or creative scholarship at the end of his or her course of study at the university. The Honors Capstone is generally linked with another academic or creative project, such as a thesis or senior project in the major, or a major capstone course. Students may pursue their capstone in their major, minor, or as an interdisciplinary project with approval of an identified faculty advisor and the relevant sponsoring departments.

The Honors Capstone involves two components: a written critical reflection and a public oral defense. The written reflection may be completed as an independent preface or conclusion, or may be incorporated into the student’s project or paper. The oral defense is typically completed through a student symposium presentation at the RWU Student Academic Showcase (SASH). Both components of the Honors Capstone are evaluated by designated faculty including the student’s primary capstone advisor and members of the Honors Advisory Council, as evidence of the student’s satisfactory completion of the Honors Program requirements.

Academic Standards and Policies for the Honors Program

To remain in good standing with the program, an Honors Program student:

  • maintains a cumulative 3.3 GPA throughout their matriculation at the university
  • completes all or any combination of Honors Core Curriculum
  • satisfies the Honors Service-Learning Experience prior to the senior year
  • fulfills the Honors Senior Capstone Requirement
  • demonstrates engagement in Honors coursework and co-curricular activities
  • models university standards for academic integrity and student conduct

The Honors Program director reviews students’ academic progress and compliance with these academic standards each semester. Students failing to meet expectations are notified by letter, and placed on a one-semester of Honors academic probation. Students assigned to the Honors probationary status are required to meet with the Honors director to discuss the circumstances of his/ her probation and the corresponding remediation plan. If the remediation plan requires more than one semester to return the student to good standing, students must apply for an extended probation via an academic appeal to the Honors Advisory Council to avoid termination from the program.

Academic Appeals and Substitutions

Students may appeal for exemptions or substitutions of Honors Program academic standards and requirements through the Honors Advisory Council. Copies of the appeal applications are available in the Honors Program office.

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