Waynesburg University Honors Program

William G. Batchelder, Ph.D., Director

Mission Statement

The Waynesburg University Honors Program exists to foster the further development of students who have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence. Through enhanced learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom, the Honors Program seeks to develop the intellect of such students by emphasizing the pursuit of intellectual curiosity, reflective and meditative engagement with significant texts, and critical thinking across the disciplines. The goal of the program is the intellectual development of engaged and thoughtful Christian leaders through the pursuit of a challenging liberal arts experience.

Through a course of study emphasizing rigorous academic and experiential inquiry, Honors Students may complete the program through a combination of traditional coursework and opportunities outside the classroom. These include interdisciplinary projects, Honors Colloquia, campus leadership, and independent research, among many others. These opportunities are designed to foster the curiosity and critical thinking skills of Honors Students, and to build a community of scholars. The Honors Program at Waynesburg University serves as a model of and laboratory for excellence in interdisciplinary learning, service to the community, intercultural awareness, and leadership development.

Requirements for Acceptance and Progression

Entering First Year Students

Students with a high school GPA of at least 3.50 and a minimum combined SAT score of 1200 or a 25 ACT score will be invited to apply to the Honors Program.
Applications will be reviewed by the Honors Program Director and the Honors Advisory Board.
All students admitted to the Stover Scholar Program shall apply to Honors, and then be automatically admitted.

Enrolled and Transfer Student Admission

Students with a GPA of at least 3.50 at the end of their first or second semester at Waynesburg University are invited to apply to the Honors Program. Inquiries should be made to the Honor Program Director.
Applications will be reviewed by the Honors Program Director and the Honors Advisory Board.
The Academic Points required of a student transferring into the program after his or her first semester may be adjusted slightly at the discretion of the Honors Program Director.

Progression Policy

Honors Students must maintain a GPA of 3.50 at all times throughout their undergraduate career.
Honors Students must complete the program with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better.
Honors Students must complete all Honors required classes and at least two Honors Elective classes, which may also satisfy General Education and or major curriculum requirements.
Honors Students must earn 18 total Honors Academic Points.
Honors Students must earn 8 total Honors Experiential Points.

Program Objectives

The Program allows all qualified students to participate. The flexible points system allows students, in consultation with their advisors, to meet the requirements of the Honors Program in a way that is compatible with the schedule of their major.
The Program fosters an Honors culture in which honors students experience enriching intellectual experiences both in and out of the classroom.
The Program encourages Honors Students to be thought leaders on campus. Honors Students should not “put their light under a basket” (Matt 5:15). While scholarship is of the first importance, Honors Students will be deeply involved in all aspects of campus life.

Fulfilling Honors Requirements: The Points System

The points system is designed to balance the three key objectives of the Honors Program. In order to graduate with the Honors cord and Honors designation on their diploma and transcripts, Honors Students will be required to accrue a total of 30 Honors Points from both academic and experiential categories:

18 of the Honors Points shall be designated “Academic Points.”
8 of the Honors Points shall be designated “Experiential Points.”

Students must meet with the Honors Program Director once a year to track their progress in accruing the appropriate number of points. No less than six points should be earned in any year a student is in the Honors Program. Students are required to submit an Honors Points Sheet for every point claimed.

Honors Academic Points (complete 18 total)

Required Honors Courses (1 Academic Point each)

In their Freshman year, Honors Students are required to take Honors Fiat Lux (WBE 108H) in the Fall semester and Critical Inquiry for Honors Students (HON 105) in the Spring semester.

WBE 108H (1 Credit) Honors Fiat Lux (1 Academic Point)

This course is an Honors only section of Fiat Lux.
Honors Students will be required to take Honors Fiat Lux during the Fall semester of their freshman year.
The Honors Program Director may waive Honors Fiat Lux for transfer students and for students joining the Honors Program after their first semester. Such a waiver will reduce the total number of Academic Points required for the successful completion of the Honors Program by one point.

HON 105 (1 Credit) Critical Inquiry for Honors Students (1 Academic Point)

Honors 105 will focus on the close study of a significant work of scientific, literary or social significance. In HON 105, Honors Students will be introduced to close reading, textual interpretation, basic research tools, and group discussion of significant works in a variety of disciplines.
Students joining the Honors Program after their freshman year must take HON 105 during their first year in the Honors Program.

ENG 187 (3 credits) Honors College Composition I (3 Academic Points)

ENG 188 (3 credits) Honors College Composition II (3 Academic Points)

Students who are required to take College Composition will be required to take the Honors College Composition series. ENG 187 is a 3-credit course, which will also earn 3 points towards the required 20 Academic Honors Points. ENG 188 is a 3-credit course, which will earn 3 points toward the required 20 Academic Honors Points.
Students who transfer into the Honors Program and are admitted at the end of their first semester, and who have begun the composition series with ENG 101, must submit a writing sample, be approved, and meet with the chair of the English Department before the new Honors Student can be admitted to ENG 188. Should a student transferring into the Honors Program not admitted to ENG 188, he or she may continue in ENG 102 with no penalty.
Only students with an AP score allowing them to proficiency out of ENG 187 can automatically be admitted to ENG 188. If a student transferring into the Honors Program only earned an AP score that allowed him or her to proficiency out of ENG 101, this student must go through the above process to be admitted to ENG 188.
Student who transfer into the Honors course after having already completed ENG 101-102, or students who transfer into the Honors Program having already proficiencied out of ENG 101-102 do not have to take ENG 187-188.

Honors Elective Courses (Academic Points equivalent to course credit)

HON 106 (1 credit) Honors Directed Text Study

A full-time member of the Waynesburg University Faculty may propose, for review by the Honors Supervisory Board, a 1-credit text study course, enrollment in which shall be restricted to Honors Students. The text or texts under study should be indispensable in the particular faculty member’s field, or classics of Christian or humane studies. HON 106 would be primarily a reading course which meets once a week for one semester. May be repeated up to three times for credit.

Honors Research Courses (Academic Points equivalent to course credit)

CHE 399H/FSC 399H

CHE 499H/FSC 499H

For Honors Academic Points Only: Honors students may enroll in research that is designated “Honors”. These students must complete the regular requirements of CHE/FSC 399 (Undergraduate Research) and CHE/FSC 499 (Capstone Research) as well as additional honors requirements from one of the following three options:

Option 1

One presentation to the ACS of FS Club
Submission of one testimonial video for the website
Two presentations of the research
1. WU Undergraduate Research Symposium
2. National, Regional or local conference

Option 2

Completion of one additional hour of research per credit
Submission of one testimonial video for the website
Two presentations of research
1. WU Undergraduate Research Symposium
2. National, Regional or local conference

Option 3

Completion of a summer research project at Waynesburg University
Submission of one testimonial video for the website
Two presentations of research
1. WU Undergraduate Research Symposium
2. National, Regional or local conference

Honors Sections of Existing Courses (up to 4 Academic points per course)

Honors Students will be required to take at least 2 Honors sections from a variety of 3 or 4 credit courses.

These honors-designated sections will be available to Honors Students only, and may be drawn from any course in any department as listed in the Academic Catalog.
The Honors sections will rotate in order to include required classes for the majority of majors. However, the Honors Students are highly encouraged to take Honors courses in areas outside their major, towards a goal of a broad, liberal arts education.

Honors 495 (3 credits) Special Topics in Honors (3 Academic Points)

HON 495 requires advanced study of particular topics, rotated throughout the curriculum. Course registration is restricted to Honors Students. (Offered when interest is expressed and resources permit.)

WBE 405 (1 credit) Professional Development Workshop (1 Academic Point)

This course is a Professional Development Workshop in the spring semester of the junior year.
Please note, this is not a Honors-only course section. Any section of WBE 405 can be taken by Honors Students for 1 Honors Academic Point.

General information regarding Honors Courses

Honors Students are eligible for priority registration.
Honors Students must receive approval from their Academic Advisor and the Honors Program Director to register for Honors courses.
Academic Points will be equal to the number of credit hours of the course, e.g., a 3 credit class earns 3 Academic Points and a 4 credit lab course earns 4 Academic Points.
Honors Elective Courses and Special Topics Courses and Instructors will be chosen by the Honors Program Director in consultation with the Honors Advisory Board and the Office of Academic Affairs.
Honors courses will be designated as such on the transcript. To receive Honors credit, a student must earn a B- or above in the course. Lower grades will result in course credit, but not Honors credit.
The goal of an Honors course is to provide a challenging and engaging learning environment in which Honors Students can engage in critical thinking within a community of scholars. Honors courses encourage initiative and independence, integration of learning, and close collaboration among students and faculty.

Other Activities Earning Honors Academic Points

The Honors Program also values academic work done outside the classroom. Students may also earn Honors Academic Points by undertaking the following:

Honors Academic Colloquia (1 Academic Point per year, 4 Academic Points maximum)

Active participation in 6 Academic Colloquia in one academic year.
Academic Colloquia will be specially designated sessions taught on diverse topics by both faculty and outside speakers. Students will be given brief preparatory reading in advance of each Colloquium, and will be expected to actively participate in Colloquium discussion.
Participation in Colloquia will be confirmed by sign-in, but credit for participation will be at the discretion of the Honors Program Director based on active participation.
All Honors Students must earn at least 1 Academic Point by fulfilling this requirement.

Academic Speakers (1 Academic Point per year, 4 Academic Points maximum)

Attendance and participation (where participation is possible) in 3 campus wide academic speakers in one academic year.
Honors Students are expected to be deeply involved in the intellectual life of the campus. Students should be aware of programs which regularly bring speakers to Waynesburg University, including The De Vito lecture series, the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership, the Crosby Lecture Series, the b.f. maiz lecture series, and similar approved academic lectures to be determined by the Honors Program Director.
Participation confirmed by sign-in sheet, but credit for participation will be at the discretion of the Honors Program Director based on active participation.

Multidisciplinary Group Project (up to 3 Academic Points per year, 3 Academic Points maximum)

Devising and completing a multi-disciplinary, group academic project.
Such projects involve Honors Students from more than one discipline working on a project requiring skills derived from diverse fields of study.
Interested Honors Students are responsible for devising these projects, recruiting participants, and for finding a faculty advisor to oversee them.
Such projects must be approved by the Honors Program Director, and must be completed to the satisfaction of the faculty advisor and the Honors Program Director in order to earn points.
These projects may run for one semester, or in the case of the most ambitious projects, for one full academic year.
The projects may include a service component, provided there is a rigorous multi-disciplinary academic component.
Academic Points awarded may vary depending on scale, complexity, and success of the project, but no more than 3 Academic Points may be awarded.

Senior Honors Project (1 Academic Point)

Successful completion and presentation of a capstone Senior Honors Project
Most majors at Waynesburg University require a senior project. Honors Students may offer an in-depth presentation of that project to their honors peers for 1 Academic Point.
In the absence of the Honors capstone project, students may complete and present a senior honors project (HON 499).

Application to a nationally competitive scholarship (1 Academic Point)

Application to the following nationally competitive scholarships: Rhodes, Goldwater, Fulbright, Marshall, and Truman.
The Honors Program Director will award points based on an evaluation of the quality of the application.

Successful completion of a minor (1 Academic Point)

Successful completion of a double major (1 Academic Point)

Any double major must be reviewed by the Honors Program Director in consultation with the Director of the Center for Student Services.

Successful completion of a semester study abroad (1 Academic Point)

Study abroad plan must be approved by the Honors Program Director.

Publication in a refereed journal (up to 2 Academic Points)

Publication must be reviewed and approved by the Honors Program Director.

Completion of a grant proposal (1 Academic Point)

Successful completion of a grant proposal and administration of the funds secured.
Must be reviewed and approved by the Honors Program Director.

Podium Presentation of original student research at the Waynesburg Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Work Symposium (1 Academic Point, 2 Academic Points Maximum)

Presentation must be reviewed and approved by the Honors Program Director.

Attendance at an academic conference (1 Academic Point)

Attendance must be reviewed and approved by the Honors Program Director.

Presentation at an academic conference (up to 2 Academic Points)

Presentation must be approved by the Honors Program Director.
Poster presentation 1 Academic Point.
Lecture presentation 2 Academic Points.

Successful completion of an international internship (1 Academic Point)

Internship completion must be reviewed and approved by the Honors Program Director.

Participation in an Honors Enrichment Trip (1 Academic Point, 1 Academic Point Maximum)

As Honors Program resources permit and opportunities arise, Honors Enrichment Excursions may be organized to help honors students experience some institution or event of great cultural significance, i.e., an art museum, travelling exhibition, orchestral performance, or similar event.

Honors Experiential Points (complete 8 total)

Honors Experiential Points will be awarded for student efforts reflecting full engagement with the liberal arts experience at Waynesburg University. Such efforts should demonstrate a desire to achieve excellence while contributing to the improvement of campus life for everyone at Waynesburg University.

Successful completion of a one-year term as an officer in a campus organization (1 Experiential Point per year, 3 Experiential Points maximum)

The advisor to the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Election to the Student Senate (1 Experiential Point per year, 3 Experiential Points maximum)

Points may be awarded for a role as a Senator or a member of the Executive Board.

Successful participation in an arts event on campus (1 Experiential Point per year)

Role in a production, or work on a theatrical production as lighting designer, prop master, playwright or other approved role.
Performer in choir, jazz ensemble or other similar role such as forming a student band and participating in successful on-campus performance.
Significant leadership role in the curation and presentation of a Fine Arts exhibit.
Honors students are not entitled to preferential treatment in assignment of performing solos, leading roles, or other roles of this kind.
The advisor to the arts production or organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service to the Honors Program Director, who will review and approve the participation.

Campus Media Leadership (1 Experiential Point per year)

Executive Editor of the Yellow Jacket (newspaper)
General Manager of WCYJ (radio)
President of PRSSA (public relations)
Executive Editor of Mad Anthony (yearbook)
General Manager of WCTV (TV studio)
Executive Producer of WUSN (our remote operation)
President, AIGA (design)
Executive Student Editor of the Muse and Stone
The advisor of the campus media organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Campus Media (1 Experiential Point per year)

Members of the campus media organizations (Yellow Jacket, WCYJ-FM, PRSSA, Mad Anthony, WCTV, WUSN, AIGA, Muse and Stone) will receive 1 experiential point for active and regular participation following a one-year term in a staff, board, or committee position.
The advisor of the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Working as a Laboratory Assistant (1 Experiential Point)

Honors students will work with instructors to help facilitate a rigorous and meaningful lab experience for underclass students. Laboratories could range from freshman to senior level, but the honors student may not simultaneously be enrolled in the course and must have completed required prerequisite work as deemed necessary by the instructor with consultation from the department chair.
Honors students will work individually with laboratory students during each lab session and aid the instructor with any needed preparations during the lab.
Honors students must complete an exit interview with the Department Chair.

Volunteering for Scientific Activities (1 Experiential Point)

Volunteer with the Waynesburg University ACS Student Chapter and complete the following:
- Volunteer at two homeschool labs
- Lead one demonstration at the Haunted Lab
- Volunteer for one day of ChemFest
- Plan one social event
Serve as a STEAM Camp or CSI Camp Counselor
Volunteer with the FS Club and complete the following:
- Volunteer at one Community Service Event
- Volunteer for Science Day in an FS Capacity
- Plan one FS Club social event, or
- Serve as an upper-class mentor to freshman FS majors
Work with FS and CJ faculty to assist in the planning of Mock Crime Scene (limited to Juniors or Seniors who have previously participated in the event.

Bonner Scholar Program (4 Experiential Point maximum)

Bonner Scholars will receive 4 points over four years for successfully maintaining the standards of the Bonner program.
The advisor to the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Stover Scholars Program (1 Experiential Point maximum)

Stover Scholars will receive 1 point over four years for successfully maintaining the standards of the Stover Scholars Program.
The advisor to the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Peer Tutors (1 Experiential Point per year)

Knox Learning Center or Writing Center tutors may receive 1 Experiential Point for one year of helping tutor their peers.
The director of the program in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Sports Leadership (1 Experiential Point per year, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

Students may receive Experiential Points for substantial leadership roles in either NCAA or club sports (e.g., Student Athletic Advisory Committee).
The advisor of the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Varsity Sports (1 Experiential Point per year, 3 Experiential Points maximum

Students may receive 1 Experiential Point Per year, for a maximum of 3 Points, for actively competing in a Varsity Sport.

Praise Band (1 Experiential Point per year)

Members of the University Praise Band will receive 1 Experiential Point for active and regular participation during one year of participation.
The advisor of the campus organization in question may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Participation in a missions/service trip (1 Experiential Point per year, 3 Experiential Points maximum)

Successful participation in a missions/service trip. The faculty or staff leader for that particular trip may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Student Administrative assistant to the Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Work Symposium (1 Experiential Point maximum)

Assist the Waynesburg University Undergraduate Research Coordinator for two semester to plan, promote, and set up the annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Work Symposium.
The Undergraduate Research Coordinator will be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Fiat Lux Mentor (1 Experiential Point per semester served, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

Successful participation in the Fiat Lux program as a Fiat Lux Mentor to incoming students.
The Fiat Lux section leader may be asked to verify to the Honors Program Director the successful completion of this service.

Honors Ambassador (1 Experiential Point per year, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

The Honors Program Ambassador will be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior Honors Student who will assist the Honors Program Director with the logistics of the Honors Programming, especially colloquia and evening talks, maintaining the Honors Bulletin Board, and other duties as assigned by the Honors Program Director.

Honors Mentor (1 Experiential Point per year, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

An Honors Student in his or her third or fourth year may participate in mentoring an incoming Honors Student, both in participation in the Honors Program and in general study skills, student life, etc.
To receive this point an Honors Mentor must who some evidence of actively working with his or her Honors Mentee during the Honors Mentee’s first semester.

Honors Service Project (up to 2 Experiential Points per year)

Design and successfully execute a service project for a group of Honors Students (up to 2 points), subject to review and approval by the Honors Program Director.
Honors Students who participate in such a service project may earn 1 point.

Ecumenical Awareness (1 Experiential Point per year, 1 Experiential Point maximum)

Honors Students may design a program of study in which they visit a minimum of five Christian churches of diverse denominations on Sundays over the course of one semester, collect bulletins or other materials from their visit, and compose a five to seven page reflection paper on the similarities and differences in services and doctrine.

Chapel Participation (1 Experiential Point per year, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

Attendance at eighty percent of Chapel services in one academic year.
Honors students will be trusted to collect chapel programs for each chapel attended and submit those programs along with the Experiential Points Sheet.

Honors Vocational Exploration (1 Experiential Point per year, 2 Experiential Points maximum)

These experiences will connect students to potential vocational interests, and include research into career paths. Appropriate professional dress and comportment will be key to the successful completion of such an activity.

Successful completion of a semester study abroad (1 Experiential Point)

Because of on-campus experiential opportunities forgone by students who undertake a semester of study abroad, 1 experiential point shall also be awarded for semester study abroad.

Discipline and Probation

Probation

Honors Students must maintain a cumulative 3.50 Grade Point Average.
An Honors student may have a semester or semesters in which his or her semester Grade Point Average falls below a 3.50. As long as the cumulative GPA remains at 3.50, the probation process is not engaged.
When an Honors Student’s cumulative GPA falls below a 3.50, this student will be place on Honors Probation.
So long as the student on probation earns a 3.50 semester GPA in the following semester(s), that student will not be removed from the program.
Probation ends when the cumulative GPA has been returned to a 3.50.
Honors Students on probation must continue to participate in Honors Program Activities.
Students failing to accumulate Academic or Experiential Points in accordance with the recommended schedule may be placed on probation. The Honors Program is a long-term intellectual and cultural commitment.

Dismissal

If the probated student fails to earn a 3.50 semester GPA for two consecutive semesters, that student will be dismissed from the Honors Program.
If a probated student fails to return to a 3.50 cumulative GPA by the end of the Fall Semester, senior year, that student will be dismissed from the Honors Program.

Disciplinary violations

Students will be removed from the Honors Program for violations of the Waynesburg University academic integrity policy, major disciplinary infractions resulting in suspension or expulsion, or legal convictions.
Students will be removed from the Honors Program, after one warning, for violations of the Waynesburg University Honors Program Code of Conduct.
Removal from the Honors Program may be initiated by the Honors Program Director or by the administration of Waynesburg University.
Honors Students who face removal from the Program will be notified by email, and will have seven days to appeal to the Honors Advisory Board. A ruling in such matters is reached by majority vote of the Honors Advisory Board and Honors Program Director, and is final.