Honors scholar program equips students for success in job market
Posted by The Skyliner on April 1st, 2009Rachel Ham
Staff Writer
You may have heard fellow students talking about being a part of North Greenville’s Honors Scholar Program, but have you ever wondered what it takes to be an Honors Scholar?
Students in the program work hard to receive their extra recognition at graduation. The students in the program commit themselves to going the extra mile in order to graduate with honors.
According to the North Greenville academics website, the North Greenville Honors Scholar Program was launched in 1980. This program is invite-only, and the students are chosen to enter the program by registering for the Freshman Honors Seminar.
As the program’s webpage states, the program offers “academically-gifted students courses, seminars, and activities specifically designed for enriched learning.”
For freshmen coming into North Greenville, their class rank, GPA, and SAT scores are considered when they are invited into the program.
The program is supervised by the Honors Committee which is staffed by faculty and students alike.
There are many advantages to being a part of the Honors Scholar Program.
Students involved get the chance to experience off-campus learning opportunities and invitations to special lectures and panel discussions. North Greenville’s President and Vice President for Academics host selected social opportunities and dinners for honor students each year.
Students also receive the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary studies in a seminar each year. After a student earns these honors credits from taking the seminars, it is noted on his or her transcript.
One of the best advantages provided for students is the reduced tuition for course overload. If a student wants to get ahead and take an extra course during a semester, he or she is not charged for the extra course. And of course, students who complete all four years of the honors program are awarded an Honors Scholar Diploma when they graduate.
In order to receive that coveted Honors Scholar Diploma, students in the program have to complete several requirements while they are at North Greenville.
A cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required along with the completion of 15 hours of enriched courses, four honors seminars, and the Senior Honors Project.
Deciding which courses to enrich is completely up to the student. By enriching a course, a student simply tells the professor that he or she wants to put more effort into the class and learn more.
Students who decide to enrich a course may be asked to do one of a number of things by their professor. The extra assignment could be writing an short research paper on a topic related to the class. Other professors may give students a small project on the side.
Last October, the honors program hosted a debate on campus to discuss various issues at stake in the 2008 presidential race. Conservative and liberal ideologies were debated by students in an event moderated by Dr. Tony Beam, vice president of student services.
The debate was a great way for the honors students to practice the skills they learned so far in the seminars.
Overall, the Honors Scholar Program is a vital part of North Greenville’s academic department. Students who complete the program will be properly equipped to enter the work force when they graduate. The skills they learned will give them an extra advantage when applying for jobs.
For any additional information regarding the Honors Scholar Program, you may contact Mrs. Lisa Van Riper, program director, by emailing your questions to lvriper@ngu.edu or by phone by dialing extension 2003 when on campus.