Named for founding director Dr. John E. Sallstrom, the John E. Sallstrom Honors College is designed for intellectually talented and motivated students. We provide small sections of core curriculum classes, lunch and dinner seminars, book discussions, and other academic and cultural events. The Humber-White House serves as the home of the Honors College! There we have faculty/staff offices, a student lounge, study nooks, and an event space that can be used for seminars and receptions. Student accommodations, classrooms, study rooms and a common room are also in Honors housing in Bell Hall – the only residential hall on the college's historic Front Campus.
Benefits
Benefits of the program include small classes taught by some of the college’s most dynamic professors; co-curricular community events, including not only seminars and book discussions but also team building experiences and service projects; membership in Eta Sigma Alpha (the Honors student association); internal scholarships to support transformative experiences like undergraduate research, internships, community-based learning and study abroad; an alumni mentoring program; and the distinction of Honors graduation.
Application/Selection
Honors College applications are reviewed by an Honors Selection Committee. The committee considers academic achievement and potential, writing skills, evidence of intellectual curiosity, record of leadership and service, and special talents (e.g. artistic).
For international applicants, the preferred minimum high school academic core GPA is 3.50 as calculated by the Office of Admissions. The preferred minimum TOEFL score is 88.
For domestic applicants, the preferred minimum high school academic core GPA is 3.50 as calculated by the Office of Admissions. The preferred standardized test minimum is 1260 SAT total (Evidence Based Reading and Writing + Math) or 27 ACT Composite. In recent years, the average GPA of incoming first-year students has been about 3.80 and the average SAT score has been about 1300.
The Honors Selection Committee reviews all applications holistically. Students who believe they would be good candidates for Honors, but who do not meet one of the two preferred statistical benchmarks, may use their Honors application essays to address alternate strengths and/or special circumstances which they would like for the committee to consider.
Honors College applications are available on the Honors College website and are reviewed on a rolling basis according to the timetable outlined there. The ultimate application deadline is April 1.
Requirements
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Maintain a 3.3 or higher institutional GPA. A student whose institutional GPA falls below a 3.3 will be placed on one semester of Honors academic probation. A probationary student whose GPA rises to 3.3 or higher will return to good standing. A probationary student whose GPA rises, but does not get to 3.3, will be placed on another semester of Honors academic probation. If a student’s institutional GPA has not improved at the end of a probationary semester, then the student will be removed from the Honors College with the option to submit a written appeal for reinstatement.*
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Complete at least 18 hours of Honors course credit (Honors courses or Honors Options) to graduate with Honors.
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Remain in good standing with the college - take at least one Honors course or Honors Option each year until the 18-hour requirement is met.
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Be a member of Eta Sigma Alpha (the Honors Student Association).
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Complete an exit survey prior to graduation.
*The appeal letter must include a plan for improvement. Appeals will be considered by an Honors Faculty Council appeals subcommittee. At its discretion, the Honors Faculty Council appeals subcommittee may request a hearing with the student. If the institutional GPA of a readmitted student does not improve by the end of the probationary semester following reinstatement, then the student will be removed from the Honors College and no subsequent appeal will be allowed.
Courses
We offer Honors sections of core curriculum classes and special multidisciplinary Honors colloquiums. Honors students may also apply to complete an Honors Option for Honors credit in a non-Honors class.
Honors Residential Learning Community
Honors students have the opportunity to participate in the Honors Residential Learning Community, an important "learning beyond the classroom" experience, which currently focuses on the theory and practice of global citizenship. In this community, we explore the idea of global citizenship: what it means to be a global citizen and what role concepts such as nationalism and patriotism play in a global society. We use the Seven Revolutions framework to guide our discussion of global issues. These are seven global issues—population demographics, natural resource management, technology, information/knowledge, economic integration, conflict/security, and the challenges of governance—which, according to experts, are revolutionizing the world in which we live. Most importantly though, we explore ways in which we can positively impact these issues from here on campus. In this sense, we connect the local to the global and, in so doing, we take our first steps towards global citizenship.
As our Residential Learning Community reaches out beyond the classroom and beyond campus, we expect some students to participate in local and international service and service-learning programs. These students will bring their experiences back to campus, continuing our education and reinforcing our commitment to global citizenship.
External Scholarships
The Honors College encourages academically motivated students to seek external scholarships, fellowships, and grants to pursue their longer term academic and professional goals. Successful scholarship applications early in one's college career can be used to leverage future scholarship and other opportunities.
Students interested in applying for major scholarships should contact the Honors College Dean, the National Scholarships Director, and/or the designated faculty adviser for specific scholarships in the second semester of their freshman year or early in their sophomore year.