Honors Option Projects (HOPS)

The Honors Option Project (HOPS) represents a scholarly endeavor that exceeds the academic objectives specified in the standard course curriculum.  The project provides special opportunities for qualified students to pursue individual study under the on-going supervision of a faculty sponsor who periodically monitors the student’s progress in achieving the honors contract objectives.  Criteria for completing and evaluating the honors project should be clearly specified on the Honors Option Project application form.

The student should have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA or permission granted by the Honors Director to enter into the Honors Option Project.  The student must understand that an Honors Option Project is an option offered to students of exceptional ability for whom a campus-based honors course is not available.  This means pursuing advanced coursework, as well as spending additional time conferring with the respective professor to complete the objectives of the project.  Therefore, the student should plan to meet periodically with the instructor during the semester.

Factors Used in Identifying Potential Honors Option Project students:

• Test Scores – SAT, ACT, CPT
• High school GPA and/or advanced placement courses in high school
• Student intellectual interest
• Diagnostic student essays in addition to initial regular coursework
• Faculty/Counselor recommendations

Characteristics of Honors Option Project

• Investigation of topics that are too advanced for presentations in regular coursework
• Research beyond normal course assignments
• Extended analysis not required in regular coursework
• Creative project beyond regular requirement of the course

Procedures

1. The professor specifies the learning objectives for the contract and how he or she will measure the achievements of the learning objectives on the Honors Option Project.

2. The student, in consultation with the professor, negotiates and refines the honors project design.

3. The student and instructor sign the Honors Option Project.

4. The Honors Option Project and the course syllabus are submitted to the instructor’s chairperson for signature.

5. The chairperson forwards the signed document to the campus honors director for signature.

6. If approved, the honors director opens an honors section for the student with a new reference number.

7. The student dropped from the original section reference number but continues to attend the class.

8. The student is added to the honors reference.

9. The instructor receives the honors section/reference designation roster at the end of the semester, inputs grades, and marks an X under the “Hnrs” column in Odyssey (RG, CA, MR) to indicate that the student has earned honors credit.

Deadlines

The signed Honors Option Project Contract must be submitted to the Campus Honors Director within four weeks after the first day of class for the Fall and Spring terms, and within two weeks after the first day of class for the Summer term.  Courses that follow a non-traditional calendar will have modified deadlines for submitting contracts.

Important Student Reminder

The student who undertakes an Honors Option Project understands that after the contract has been approved, credit for the course is contingent upon completing all terms of the contract.  The student must adhere to the time frame agreed upon with the faculty sponsor for the completion of the project.  It is not possible to change from honors to non-honors credit courses after this agreement has been signed and the student has been placed in the honors sequence.

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