ES4106 - Honors Program Admission Requirements

1. Institutional Regulation
   
   Some students have special assets as high-achieving students, including higher grades, higher standardized test scores, and excellent recommendations from former teachers. The DMACC Honors Program is created to challenge these students while at DMACC and then help them transfer with honors to a four-year college or university honors program or enter the workforce after graduation from DMACC.
    
2. Eligibility
   
   The program is open to new, returning, transfer, and guest students.
    
   1. Students entering from high school must meet all the criteria:
      1. Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher
      2. ACT Composite 26 or higher (SAT, COMPASS, or equivalent test scores)
      3. High school teacher recommendation
   2. Students entering from a college or university must meet all the criteria:
      1. Minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher
      2. Successfully completed nine (9) college credits
      3. Successfully completed college level math course; college level English course
      4. College or university faculty recommendation
3. Selection Procedure
   1. Students applying for admission into the Honors Program must first be accepted to DMACC.
   2. Prior to acceptance, the applicant must:
      1. Submit a complete electronic application, located on the Honors Program Homepage, to the Honors Program.
      2. Submit an official transcript from high school if a new student or from a college or university if a transfer student. Current DMACC students do not need to resubmit transcripts.
      3. Submit ACT (SAT, COMPASS or equivalent test scores) if entering from high school.
      4. Submit evidence of a 3.5 GPA from high school, college, or university work.
      5. If a transfer student, submit evidence of successful completion of a college-level math and a college-level English course.
      6. Submit an essay explaining why he or she wants to be in the program.
      7. Request a letter of recommendation from a former teacher or college faculty to be sent to honorsdirector@dmacc.edu.
   3. A selection committee will review all applications, rating them on five criteria.
      1. Students entering from high school will be rated on the following:
         1. High school GPA
         2. ACT Composite Score
         3. Teacher recommendation
         4. Student essay (content)
         5. Student essay (writing skill)
      2. Students entering from a college or university (including DMACC) will be rated on the following:
         1. College or university GPA
         2. Successful completion of nine (9) college credits which include successful completion of one (1) college-level math course and one (1) college-level English course. Students currently enrolled in these courses may be accepted conditionally.
         3. Faculty recommendation
         4. Student essay (content)
         5. Student essay (writing skill)
   4. Applicants who receive a high enough rating will be informed in writing that they have been selected for the Honors Program.
   5. Applicants who are not selected will be informed in writing and may be encouraged to re-apply at a later date.
4. Students Selected
   1. Students selected must meet with an Honors Advisor for orientation and course selection.
   2. Students have the opportunity to register before all other students.
   3. All students selected into the Program will be asked to sign an Honors Contract by the end of the 4th week of classes.
      1. For students enrolling in a stand-alone Honors section, the contracts will include signatures of the students and their honors professors for each course they take for honors. The contract indicates that they must pass the course with a “B” or better to get the “honors designation” on their transcripts, which will be in addition to the grade for the course. Students earning a grade below a “B” will get the course grade but no “honors designation” on their transcript.
      2. For an honors-option section, students will be enrolled in the course with non-honors students. These honors students will work with their honors professors to write contracts for a special honors project(s) that the students will complete during the “regular” course. The contracts will include signatures of the students and their honors professors for each course they take for honors. The contract indicates that they must pass the course with a “B” or better to get the “honors designation” on their transcripts, which will be in addition to the grade for the course. Students earning a grade below a “B” will get the course grade but no “honors designation” on their transcript.
      3. Students entering the program with under 30 college credits will be required to take 20 credits of honors designated courses (This includes the 4, one-credit HON courses.) and complete all honors-designated courses with a B or better to graduate with honors.
      4. Students entering the program with 30 or more college credits will be required to take 10 credits of honors-designated courses (This includes 2, one-credit HON courses-HON 101 and HON 250.) and complete all honors-designated courses with a B or better to graduate with honors.
      5. Students enrolled in the Honors Program must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA. If the student falls below a 3.5, he or she will be on “honors probation” for up to one semester. If at the end of this probation semester, the student’s GPA has not returned to a 3.5 or above, the student will be suspended from the program. Students who have been suspended may reapply for admission into the honors program.
5. Appeal Procedures
   1. Admission Decision. Students not granted admission to the Honors Program may appeal this decision by providing further evidence of readiness for honors within 15 days of the date of the notification by writing a letter of appeal to the Director of Honors (honorsdirector@dmacc.edu).
      1. The Director of Honors and three (3) members of the Honors Advisory Council will consider the appeal.
      2. The Director of Honors will contact the student of the decision in writing and send a copy of the decision to the Appeals Committee.
   2. Final Grades or the Receipt of Honors Credit for Their Honors Project. Students wishing to appeal their final course grades or the receipt of Honors credit for their Honors project will follow ES4660 - Appeal of Final Grades Procedure  or ES4107 - Appeal of the Receipt of the Honors Credit Designation for an Honors Project .
   3. Dismissal from the Honors Program. Students wishing to appeal their dismissal from the Honors Program may appeal this decision by providing further evidence of readiness within 15 days of the date of notification by writing a letter of appeal to the Director of Honors (honorsdirector@dmacc.edu).
      1. The Director of Honors and three (3) members of the Honors Advisory Council will consider the appeal.
      2. The Honors Director will contact the student of the decision in writing and send a copy of the decision to the Appeals Committee.
      3. In the event that the student’s dismissal appeal is denied, the student reapplies to the Honors Program and is denied admission, and the student appeals the denial of admission, the Honors Advisory Council will make the final decision.

May 10, 2022 - Cross-referenced to SA Policy SA503.

September 22, 2022 - Reviewed (no changes made).