Participation Guidelines
To maintain good standing in the Honors Program, Honors students must attend the fall and spring general meetings. Each student must also earn 12 points each year by participating in Honors Program activities outside the classroom. At least 4 points must be earned by participating in a service project and 2 points by attending an HSO meeting. Honors co-curricular activities promote the Honors Program's commitment to scholarship, leadership, and service.
Students who fail to maintain good standing in the program will have their benefits of membership in the Honors Program, including their priority scheduling privileges, suspended for the following academic year. If, however, students earn at least 6 participation points in the fall semester, their benefits of membership may be reinstated for the spring semester at the discretion of the Honors Program director.
12 points
- Serving as an HSO executive officer (president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer)
- Serving as a Resident Assistant in the Honors Housing dorm
10 points
- Serving as an HSO committee chair
- Serving as a member of the Honors Program Advisory Board
8 points
- Representing Shippensburg University at the PASSHE Summer Honors Program, giving a presentation at the Honors fall general meeting, and contributing an article about the experience to The Honors Chronicle
6 points
- Serving as an HSO committee assistant chair
- Making an invited presentation at a national or regional Honors conference
- Studying abroad for a semester and contributing an article to The Honors Chronicle or giving a presentation at an Honors freshmen orientation event on study abroad opportunities
- Completing an internship and contributing an article to The Honors Chronicle or giving a presentation at an Honors career development workshop
- Teaching a Ship Trip class
- Earning an undergraduate research grant
- Leading an Honors Read discussion
- Mentoring a freshman (according to the guidelines established by the HSO Orientation Committee)
- Serving as a student volunteer during Honors Freshmen Orientation in the summer
4 points
- Representing Shippensburg at a regional or national Honors conference
- Writing an article for The Honors Chronicle
- Giving a presentation at an Honors freshmen orientation event
- Assisting with a university open house
- Participating in an Honors Program service project (required)
- Participating in an Honors Read discussion
- Hosting a high school student overnight
- Assisting with registration, giving tours of campus, or being a lunch mentor for Ship Trip
3 points
- Attending a Pizza with a Prof
- Attending an Uncommon Conversation
- Attending an Honors-sponsored Career Development or Applying to Graduate and Professional Schools workshop
- Participating in an Honors housing, recreation, or orientation activity
- Meeting with a high school student visiting campus
2 points
- Attending an HSO meeting (required)
Earning Points for Other Activities
Students may earn 3 points for serving as an executive officer of another university-recognized organization. Students may also apply to earn up to 4 points for activities outside the Honors Program by filling out the Points for Other Activities Form and explaining how the activity supports the Honors Program's goals of promoting scholarship, leadership, and service.
Any activities completed over the summer will be counted during the next academic year.
Tracking Points
The officers and committee chairs who coordinate Honors activities will submit a list of the students who participated to Sharon Poe, Honors secretary, by one week after the event. Students are responsible for recording their activities, the point values, and the contact person for each activity on the Honors Program Participation Form. Students must submit the form verifying that they have earned at least 12 participation points to Sharon Poe by the end of the academic year. (See the Calendar of Events for the specific date.)