The Siena Heights University Honors Program provides an enriched undergraduate experience to highly motivated scholars through innovative academics, personalized curriculum, community engagement, and leadership development.
We believe in service learning both inside and outside of the classroom to create leaders who will make a positive difference in the world. Our honors courses are not “harder” in the traditional sense but challenge the student to grow in directions that are shaped by their interests and opinions. These interdisciplinary courses are specifically designed to give the honors scholars more opportunities to be creative and innovative. For example, our first-year honors seminar focuses on environmental sustainability in that students research and take part in service learning at the Permaculture Center on the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse campus.
BENEFITS
Priority registration of classes each semester; allowed to register before their class standing would allow
Opportunity to engage in honors seminar courses; designed to allow the scholar to grow in traditional Dominican/liberal arts pathways
Ability to “level up” any SHU course to honors status; projects are created by students to leverage course content in creative ways
Participation in community bonding events and activities, both on campus and in Lenawee County
Honors Program designation on official SHU transcript
Honors diploma mat and frame awarded at Senior Dinner; a visual remembrance of the growth achieved in the program
Honors medallion at Commencement, to be worn with pride
REQUIREMENTS
Program Requirements— To complete the program, students must complete a minimum of 20 credit hours of honors designated courses, starting with the honors section of First-Year Experience. Four honors seminars are offered to honors scholars during the fall semester. Scholars will work with their instructors to “level up” courses of their choice to honors status. In the leveling up process, scholars create their own projects, with instructor approval, that incorporate course content and build the students breath of knowledge.
Graduation Requirements—All Siena Heights coursework must be completed with a GPA of 3.25 to receive the honors designation on the student’s official transcript. All honors coursework must be completed with a grade of B or higher to meet program requirements.
High School Students—Our basic admission process is that a student be admitted to Siena Heights and express a desire to be a part of the program by submitting an Honors Program application, a one- to two-page, double-spaced personal reflection, and one letter of recommendation from an educator or counsellor. Once received, an interview will be scheduled with a member of the Honors Committee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis until capacity is achieved. A preference is given to high school scholars with a core of 3.5 GPA or higher and a demonstrated passion for community service, but all candidates are considered holistically.
Transfer Students—The process for transfer students is that the student will have been admitted to Siena Heights University and have completed less than 30 credit hours towards their undergraduate degree requirements. Desired cumulative transfer GPA is 3.5 or higher. They would then submit an Honors Program application, a one- to two-page, double-spaced personal reflection, and one letter of recommendation from an educator or counsellor. Once received, an interview will be scheduled with a member of the Honors Committee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis until capacity is achieved. The First-Year Experience course can be waived if transfer credit is obtained.
