Honor Roll: Harper Students' University Entry Advantage

Harper College's Honors Program offers a range of benefits to high-achieving students, including smaller class sizes, leadership development, and a strong focus on academic excellence. The program seeks to cultivate qualities such as independence, academic talent, intellectual curiosity, and persistence. While it is unclear if being an honor student at Harper College provides special entry to universities, the college itself has a strong history of successfully preparing students for transfer to colleges and universities, both locally and across the nation. Harper College offers hundreds of popular transfer courses and provides support to students through dedicated academic advising, tutoring, and counseling services. The college's Honors Program also includes cultural excursions and community service opportunities, which can enhance students' applications when transferring to four-year institutions. Overall, Harper College provides a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students well for their future academic and career pursuits.

Harper College's Honors Program admissions criteria

Harper College's Honors Program is committed to being a place for intellectual inquiry and the free and open exchange of ideas, both in the classroom and beyond. The program seeks to cultivate the virtues of independence, academic talent, intellectual curiosity, and persistence in all of its members.

The Honors Program offers a diverse set of course offerings, several service opportunities, cultural excursions, and even a study-abroad opportunity every year. The class sizes are smaller, with caps of between 15 and 18 students, allowing for more discussion and interaction between students and the instructor. The program also provides a strong sense of community, as students see each other in multiple classes and have various optional ways to engage beyond the classroom, such as cultural and service outings and informal weekly meetings.

To be accepted into the Honors Program, students must fulfill any two of the following criteria:

• A cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or 4.5 or higher on a 5.0 scale.
• An SAT combined score of 1200 or higher, or an ACT composite score of 25 or higher.
• A Harper GPA of at least 3.5 with 12 hours of courses at the 101 level or above.
• Letters of recommendation from two Harper College instructors.
• Written consent from the Honors Program Coordinator and Harper College Honors Society.

Once accepted into the program, students are expected to be motivated, responsible, persistent, curious, and serious about their education. They are encouraged to participate in enrichment activities that build on these qualities, such as leading classroom discussions, helping to design class projects, and developing the structure and content of courses.

Benefits of the Honors Program

The Honors Program at Harper College offers a range of benefits to its students. Firstly, the program provides a platform for intellectual inquiry and the free exchange of ideas, fostering a community of academic talent, intellectual curiosity, and persistence. This is achieved through a diverse set of course offerings, service opportunities, cultural excursions, and even annual study-abroad opportunities.

Honors classes are kept small, with a cap of 15-18 students, allowing for more discussion and interaction between students and the instructor. This enriched learning environment emphasizes critical thinking and independent learning, enhancing the overall educational experience. The program also encourages student leadership, with students often taking on active roles in directing discussions and helping design class projects, or even influencing the course structure and content.

The Honors Program at Harper College also provides a strong sense of community. Students often develop close connections as they see each other in multiple classes and engage in various optional activities beyond the classroom, including cultural and service outings, as well as informal weekly meetings. This sense of community extends beyond the classroom, as the program encourages students to get involved in their wider community through service opportunities, such as preparing and serving meals to the homeless, participating in "build days" for Habitat for Humanity, and supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Additionally, the Honors Program offers dedicated support to its students. This includes access to dedicated Honors faculty and Coordinators who assist with everything from course selection to scholarship and transfer admissions applications. The program also provides a pathway to further academic success, with many graduates transferring to leading universities across the country.

Overall, the Honors Program at Harper College offers a well-rounded and enriching educational experience, fostering academic excellence, community engagement, and personal growth.

Requirements for Honors Graduation status

Harper College's Honors Program offers a stimulating and encouraging program of intellectual inquiry and the open exchange of ideas. It provides smaller class sizes, additional support for transfer planning, special scholarships, and a community of dedicated, inquisitive learners.

To be eligible for Honors Graduation status, students must complete the following four requirements:

• Accumulate a cumulative total of twelve hours of Honors credit, which usually amounts to four Honors courses.
• Take the Honors Colloquium (HUM/HST 105) course at some point during their time in the Honors Program.
• Maintain an overall Harper grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
• Graduate with an Associate's degree.

Honors designations will be noted each semester on the student's academic record, and the total number of hours a student completes will determine the designation received, based on their grade point average.

Honors students are also recognized at the Honors Convocation ceremony each spring. To be invited to this ceremony, students must apply to graduate by the deadline and have their graduation with an Associate's degree from Harper College verified.

The application process

The next step is an interview appointment, which is approximately 30 minutes long, set up by an Honors Program Co-Coordinator. The applicant will then need to review the Honors Program Expectations for Student Behavior.

The criteria for entrance to the Harper College Honors Program are as follows:

• A cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5+ on a 4.0 scale, or 4.5+ on a 5.0 scale
• An SAT combined score of 1200 or higher, or an ACT composite score of 25 or higher
• A Harper GPA of at least 3.5 with 12 hours of courses at the 101 level or above
• Letters of recommendation from two Harper College instructors
• Written consent from the Honors Program Coordinator, Harper College Honors Society

Student life and community service

The Harper College Honors Program offers a vibrant and engaging student life, providing a well-rounded educational experience. The program is committed to fostering a sense of community and actively encourages students to get involved in various activities beyond the classroom.

Social Activities and Community:

Honors students at Harper College enjoy a strong sense of community. The smaller class sizes, typically capped at 15-18 students, allow students to get to know each other well. This sense of camaraderie is further enhanced by the variety of optional social activities offered by the program. These include cultural and service outings, weekly meetings, and other special events. The program emphasizes the importance of building a social life and encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities. This not only enhances their college experience but also adds value to their résumés when applying for transfer to four-year institutions.

Service Opportunities:

The Honors Program at Harper College has a strong focus on community service and giving back. While not mandatory, students are highly encouraged to take part in the various service opportunities offered through the program. These opportunities are often student-initiated and can vary from year to year. Here are some examples of the types of service projects in which Honors students have been involved:

• Preparing and serving meals to individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable shelter and employment in Chicago.
• Participating in "build days" with Habitat for Humanity, where they contribute to building or remodelling homes for those in need.
• Visiting and providing support to women and their children fleeing domestic violence.
• Packing food for children in developing countries through the Feed My Starving Children organization.
• Fundraising for the Lydia Home, a group home for children removed from their homes.

Cultural Outings:

In addition to community service, the Honors Program ensures that students have the opportunity to engage in cultural experiences. The program covers most of the costs associated with these outings to encourage participation. Here is an example of a cultural outing:

A trip to the Field Museum in downtown Chicago in partnership with the International Students Club.

Student Support:

The Honors Program at Harper College provides extensive student support. Dedicated Honors faculty, who have specifically applied to teach in the program, work closely with the students. Additionally, students have access to Coordinators who assist with various aspects of their academic journey, from selecting classes to providing guidance with scholarship applications and transfer admissions. The program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds and seeks to foster an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and grow.

Frequently asked questions