Avila University Honors Program: Academic Year 2022-2023

Honors Program Information:

E-mail: [email protected]

Twitter: @AvilaHonors

Website: www.avila.edu/academics/honors-program/

What is the Avila Honors Program?

Our program aims to provide unique and individualized learning and research

opportunities for creative, motivated students. We want to challenge and inspire you,

not overwork you. As a member of the honors program, you will be offered myriad

opportunities that will enhance your work at Avila. Additionally, all students in the

Honors Program are offered an additional $1,000 grant each year they are part of the

program (up to four years). Unlike many other grants, this can be added on top of our

largest scholarships.

Structure of the Avila Honors Program

Honors Seminars

(2 required)

Honors Enhancements

(5 required)

Cultural & Community

Experiences (2 required)

HN 180: Honors Seminar I

(enroll in Fall of your

FIRST year in the program)

HN 480: Honors Seminar II

(enroll in Fall of your LAST

year in the program)

Honors Enhancement (1)

Honors Enhancement (2)

Honors Enhancement (3)

Honors Enhancement (4)

Honors Enhancement (5)

Cultural & Community

Experience (1)

Cultural & Community

Experience (2)

Can be completed during any semester in the program

(including Summer!)

Once you complete all these requirements, you will be awarded seven additional credits

toward your 120 for graduation and be designated an Honors graduate on your degree.

You will also receive Honors cords for graduation.

Honors program work, once awarded, will count toward the 120 credit hours

required for graduation; in other words, the program does not require any

additional work above and beyond what you are already doing at Avila – it is just

a different type of work!

Avila University Honors Program: Academic Year 2022-2023

Requirements in Detail

Honors Seminars (Two Required)

Each student will be required to take at least two of these courses, one in their first Fall

semester in the program (HN 180) and the other in their last Fall semester (HN 480).

The Honors Seminars are designed to enhance critical thinking skills and to connect

university experiences with the wider world. They require enrollment in a 1-credit hour

course.

Get started by: E-mailing the Honors Program Director at [email protected]

when it’s time for you to register for courses

Honors Enhancements (Five Required)

Each unique Enhancement will be developed by the student, the Director, and a faculty

member. Enhancements will supplement the knowledge and skills of a traditional course

(CORE, major/minor, or elective) through an individual experiences.

Get started by: During the first week or two of class, approach one of your

current instructors

about adding an Honors Enhancement to your

coursework; fill out the enhancement form together – this is available on the

Honors Canvas site. No additional course enrollment is required.

Cultural & Community Experiences (Two Required): To fulfill the requirements students

must attend and reflect upon approved university and community events.

• Complete four unique experiences. This may be any combination of events or

volunteer opportunities. If a student chooses to volunteer for all of their experiences,

they must do so for four unique organizations or agencies.

o Volunteering should be a minimum of 3 hours per agency for credit

o Take a photo of yourself at the event or location to document your time there

• Complete a brief voice-over presentation (2-3 minutes) that will be shared on the

Honors Program Canvas page. The goal of this is to share your experiences with

your peers and reflect on your activities. This must be completed and submitted via

Canvas by the last day of traditional classes during the respective semester (prior to

finals beginning).

Get enrolled by: During the first two weeks of class, e-mail [email protected]

to notify the Honors Program Director that you will be completing your CCE

that semester. No additional course enrollment is required.

If you’re a first-time first year student, you should automatically be added to a section of HN 180

This should be a full-time faculty member. You can see a list of full-time faculty in the current catalog at

catalog.avila.edu

Avila University Honors Program: Academic Year 2022-2023

Applying to the Avila Honors Program

For First-Time, First-Year Students:

You will be notified of your status by Admissions and provided with instructions about

how to proceed when you are admitted to the University. There are a limited number of

spots available each year; so please be aware that the earlier you confirm you place,

the better your chances are.

• Pre-approved: A high school GPA of 3.50 or above OR an ACT score of 25+ (SAT

score of 1200+). Pre-approved students need to formally accept their admission to

the Honors Program.

• Conditional acceptance: A high school GPA of 3.25+ OR an ACT score of 25+ (SAT

score of 1200+). These students will be required to submit an admissions essay for

consideration. Instructions will be provided in your Admissions package.

For Transfer Students and Current Avila Students

• Transfer students will be notified of their status by Admissions and provided with

instructions about how to proceed when they are admitted to the University.

• Current Avila students should speak with their Advisor and the Director

([email protected]) about how to proceed. Both Transfer Students and Current Avila

students need to submit/possess at least two of the following: (1) College GPA of

3.5+, (2) Academic Letter of recommendation, and (3) Admissions essay.

What to Expect Once You Are Accepted:

• You will be added to a Canvas group for Honors students, which contains all

relevant forms and communications. Be sure to have announcement notifications

sent to your e-mail or phone.

• You will be awarded a $1,000/year tuition discount starting your first full academic

year in the program.

• If you’re an incoming first-year student, you will be added into a section of HN 180 (1

credit hour). If you’re not an incoming first-year student, you should make sure you

Maintaining Good Status in the Honors Program

• Pass/complete all Honors enhancements and seminars that you enroll in

• Complete at least 1 requirement every academic year until finished

• Maintain a college GPA of at least 3.50

Honors students can be placed on probation if these conditions aren’t met. In addition to

these requirements, students can be dismissed from the program if they receive a Level

3 conduct sanction (as detailed in the Student Code of Conduct) or a 2

Academic

Dishonesty warning.

At least four semesters in the program will be necessary to complete all of the requirements

Avila University Honors Program: Academic Year 2022-2023

Who are we?

The Honors Program is run by faculty, the same faculty who you might take classes

from in the CORE curriculum or in your major/minor.

Director of Avila Honors Program

Dr. Jordan Wagge, Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science

Dr. Wagge earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 2009 from

Miami University of Ohio, has been teaching at Avila University since

Fall 2009. She teaches courses in research design and analysis and

cognitive psychology at the undergraduate and master’s level, and

conducts research in scholarship of teaching and learning and

debunking weight-centered health paradigms. She has leadership

roles in several external bodies, including the Collaborative

Replications and Education Project (Executive Director), the Psychological Science

Accelerator, and on the Research Advisory Committee for Psi Chi, the International

Honors Society for Psychology. Most importantly, Dr. Wagge very fondly remembers her

time as an undergraduate student at Northern Kentucky University as an Honors student

and all of the opportunities that opened for collaboration with faculty and other students.

Members of the Honors Program Steering Committee

Dr. Leslie Dorrough Smith – Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Director of

Women’s and Gender Studies Program

Dr. Smith has been working at Avila University since 2010. She

teaches courses in religious studies and women’s and gender

studies. She earned a PhD in Religious Studies from the University

of California, Santa Barbara. She also earned an MA and a BA

from Missouri State University. Her areas of primary research

include American conservatives and their impact on sex, gender,

and reproduction policy. She has an extensive publication record

including her most recent book, Compromising Positions: Sex Scandals, Politics, and

American Christianity, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2019.

Dr. Ken Parsons – Associate Professor of Philosophy

Dr. Parsons joined the faculty of Avila University in 2008. He holds

a PhD and an MA in Philosophy from Michigan State University. He

teaches a range of philosophy courses. His research focuses on

phenomena of violence and the moral questions relating to mass

violence and genocide. He has published and presented this

research in a wide range of venues. Dr. Parsons commonly teaches

courses at Avila that travel across the globe.

Avila University Honors Program: Academic Year 2022-2023

Sample 4-year Honors plan (for a first-time, first-year student)

Fall, Year 1

HN 180 (1 credit hour)

Spring, Year 1

Honors Enhancement 1

Summer, Year 1

CCE 1

Fall, Year 2

Honors Enhancement 2

Spring, Year 2

Honors Enhancement 3

Summer, Year 2

None

Fall, Year 3

Honors Enhancement 4

Spring, Year 3

Honors Enhancement 5

Summer, Year 3

None

Fall, Year 4

HN 480 (1 credit hour)

Spring, Year 4

CCE 2

<- GRADUATION!

Sample 2-year Honors plan (for a current or transfer student)

Fall, Year 1

HN 180 (1 credit hour)

Spring, Year 1

Honors Enhancement 1

Honors Enhancement 2

Summer, Year 1

CCE 1

Fall, Year 2

HN 480 (1 credit hour)

Honors Enhancement 3

Honors Enhancement 4

Spring, Year 2

Honors Enhancement 5

CCE 2

<- GRADUATION!

FAQ:

Q: What courses should I do my Honors Enhancements in?

A: You can do these in any courses, but strongly encourage you to work with full-time

faculty because that way you can work on building scholarly relationships with experts

in your field of study. This can help create additional opportunities and can help your

faculty members learn more about you and your skills/abilities/goals so they can serve

as references for graduate school or jobs after graduation.

Q: What CCE experiences are available?

A: During the Fall and Spring, we will have experiences listed on Canvas. You can also

propose additional experiences before those experiences occur by contacting the

Honors Program Director at [email protected]. During the Summer, please consult with

the Honors Program Director to identify appropriate experiences.

Q: What happens if I leave the program before completing my requirements?

A: Unfortunately, you will only receive credit for the Honors Seminars (HN 180 and HN

480) that you have completed if you leave the program before completing all

requirements.

Q: If I leave the program, do I lose my $1,000/year tuition discount?

A: Yes, you will lose the discount in starting the following Academic year.