HONORS PROGRAM

Committee Members: Joseph A. Alfano, Sr. Nuala Cotter, R.A., Kathleen M. Fisher, Joseph T. Foley, Deborah Kisatsky, Brian K. Niece, Nalin Ranasinghe Program Director: Paula Fitzpatrick The Assumption College Honors program reflects the mission of the college by providing a curriculum that offers: a high quality liberal education; in-depth disciplinary and professional training; opportunities to learn from and contribute to the local, national, and global community; and a basis for a meaningful personal, professional, spiritual, family, and civic life. It presents opportunities for students to explore connections not only among their courses but also between their courses and life outside the classroom.

The program promotes intellectual friendship and discourse while providing a common, intensive learning experience. Students in the Assumption College Honors Program are passionate about ideas and learning, eager to grow by taking on challenges, and committed to making a difference in their communities. For that reason, Honors students select courses and projects that reflect their individual interests, connect their classroom studies with experience in the community, collaborate on research with faculty members, and design independent projects. Students selected for the Honors Program become members of a lively community that offers activities, the chance to build life-long relationships, and the opportunity to develop as leaders. Honors Program Goals In the Honors Program students will:

Cultivate independent thinking and learning
Learn to interpret and evaluate information from a variety of perspectives
Engage actively with methodologies of various academic disciplines
Develop and refine the qualities and responsibilities of leadership and service
Carry out in-depth independent study in the major discipline Required Courses (6 courses total):
HON 100 Life Stories
HON 101 Global Perspectives
HON 300 Honors Seminar
HON 444 Honors Capstone (or departmental equivalent)
2 Honors electives Honors Electives Each student is required to take two Honors electives from among Honors-designated courses outside the Honors Program.

The two courses must be in different disciplines. It is recommended but not required that these courses be taken in the sophomore year, and students may elect to take more than two such courses during their careers. Since most of the available courses are at the introductory level, students are advised to plan ahead and make certain that appropriate courses will be available if they elect to delay taking them until after the sophomore year. Honors Capstone Each student is required to perform a capstone project after having taken the Honors Seminar. Credit for the Honors Capstone may be earned in HON 444 or a departmental Honors Capstone course or another approved departmental capstone course.

Honors Colloquium The Honors Colloquium, held once per semester, is an opportunity for students to present the results of their capstone projects to their peers in the program and to the community. Attendance at the Honors Colloquium is required for students in HON 300 and HON 444 (or its equivalent). Honors Service Project All Honors students are required to complete a Service Project during the course of their studies. It is recommended that this happen during the sophomore year. Sophomores discuss their experiences with the service projects at the Honors Program Coffee House Gatherings, and Freshmen can begin to understand what is involved in this component of the Honors Program. Honors Program Certificate Requirements To earn an “Honors Program Certificate” a student must complete the six courses described above as part of the Honors Program. Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA in those courses of 3.25 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25. In addition, students are required to participate in the Honors Service Project and present their Honors thesis at the Honors Colloquium. Program Benefits Co-curricular Opportunities To complement the academic experience offered in the Honors Program, Assumption College sponsors such co-curricular activities as trips to historic sites and cultural events, concerts, lectures, attendance at academic conferences, dinner discussions, and study abroad. Honors Fellowships Honors Students are encouraged to apply for Summer Fellowships and Semester Grants provided by the Honors Program. These funds may be used for summer and independent research and to attend scholarly conferences. Honors Housing Honors Housing is available for first-year students in Hanrahan. This alternate housing option provides students with a living and learning community that fully supports and understands the attainment of academic excellence.

The mission of the Honors Housing is to provide students with a seamless educational environment in a smaller dorm setting. Programming in the Hanrahan lounge will create many opportunities for less formal interactions between students, faculty, and campus speakers. The Honors Housing is highly recommended for members of the College Honors Program, but is not required. The Honors Housing is also open to a limited number of students outside the Honors Program who are interested in being part of a friendly, relaxed, supportive, and intellectually stimulating living learning community. Honors Suite A newly renovated Honors Suite is available in Kennedy 107 and 108 for members of the Honors community. This space is available for study, consultation, and conversation by all Honors Students. Receptions between faculty, students, and campus speakers and performers will be scheduled in the Honors Suite periodically throughout the semester. The space contains a reading room and lounge, computer facilities, meeting space, and advisory offices. Recognition Honors Capstone Projects are bound and archived in the d’Alzon Library. Recipients of Summer Fellowships are recognized campus-wide. Graduates of the Honors Program are recognized at commencement with distinctive regalia. Completion of the Honors Program is denoted on the transcript and diploma.

Did you Know?

Most Assumption Accounting majors have accepted full-time positions by December of their senior year.