University Honors Program

Honors Student Handbook

 

The mission of the University Honors Program at the University of New Mexico is to provide challenging opportunities for intensive interdisciplinary and cross-cultural liberal education to highly motivated, talented and creative undergraduates in all majors and to build a community of scholars.

 

To do so the Honors Program utilizes a forward-thinking, innovative course of study to both supplement and enhance your academic pursuits.

 

The following topics will help guide you through the various policies, procedures and helpful information to make your time in the Program rewarding and enriching.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY | ADVISEMENT | BENEFITS | CONFERENCES | COURSES |

 

CURRICULUM | DISABILITY POLICY | FACILITIES | FINANCIAL AID | GETTING INVOLVED | GRADING |

 

GRADUATION | MULTICULTURAL REQUIREMENT | PREVIEW NIGHT | PROBATION | REGISTRATION | STUDENT EVALUATIONS | STUDENT FILES |

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all academic and professional matters. You must do your own work and should not, under any circumstances, let others use your work or ask other to do your own work for you. If you copy from others or sources without acknowledging them, you are guilty of plagiarism. If you have someone else write assignments or allow another person to copy work, you are guilty of dishonest scholarship. In addition to risking being expelled from UNM, if you are found guilty of plagiarism or dishonest scholarship, you will recieve a 0 for the assignment and probably an NC for the course.

 

Back to top

 

ADVISEMENT IN HONORS

The UHP employs a skillful and knowledgeable team of Peer Advisors who have been specially trained to assist students with their UHP schedule, answer questions about program requirements, and serve as a referral system to other campus resources. Advisement from peers opens a stream of insight, guidance, and open communication. Peer Advisors are upper classmen who have received special training on Honors policies, but also can provide a unique "insider" perspective about the University in general.

 

When to Get Advised:

 

• Incoming Freshmen or first-time Honors Students

  • These students are required to meet with a Peer Advisor during their first semester.

  • After that, they must go back for advisement in their second spring semester, and every spring thereafter. For example, a new student starting Fall 2011 would get advised during the Fall 2011 semester, and then return for advisement in Spring 2013, Spring 2014 and so on.

 

• Continuing Honors Students

  • All other students in the Program are required to meet with a peer advisor annually in Spring semesters. There are exceptions for Seniors with a Senior Option in Progress. To find out about these, contact a Peer Advisor.
   

 

• Probationary Students
  • Students who have been placed on Honors Probation must see a Peer Advisor every semester until they are no longer on Probation

 

Regardless of the semester, all students must get advised before Preview Night. Honors advisement is directly tied to the privilege to register early, which is known as Priority Registration.

 

Students are encouraged to meet with a peer advisor as desired for additional help. Juniors should plan to meet with an advisor in order to clarify graduation requirements, verify their UHP credit hour total, and determine which senior option will best serve them.

 

UHP advising is for Honors Program students only. UHP advising only addresses issues specific to the University Honors Program and should not be confused with academic advising. Each student should see their academic advisor as needed or required by their college. UHP advisors can neither place holds on student accounts, nor lift them.

 

• Students can always visit the Peer advisors's office in SHC 17C for walk-in sessions.
• Also visit the Peer Advisor Calendar page to view their office hours.
• They can be reached by phone at 505-277-7415
• Or by email: uhpadvisors@gmail.com

 

Back to top

 

BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE HONORS PROGRAM

There really are hundreds of benefits for students in the Honors Program. We've narrowed that list down to the big ones here:

 

• Priority registration for Honors students in good standing
• Small, interdisciplinary seminars (limited to 16-17 students)
• Personal interaction with outstanding UNM faculty
• Interaction with students from all UNM schools and colleges
• A unique grading system that encourages academic risk-taking
• Opportunities for upper-division independent research
• Recognition for students in international and language study with the International Designation
• Personal counseling and academic advisement
• Social and cultural events
• Special library privileges - UHP students have similar library privileges as graduate students. Honors students can check out books for the entire semester and have access to interlibrary loan.
• Lecture series
• Field-based seminars
• Scholarship and graduate school fellowship information and assistance
• Honors designation on diploma and final transcripts
• Opportunity to participate in regional and national honors conferences
• All honors seminars meet graduation requirements, elective requirements, and sometimes count toward majors and minors
• Special emphasis on student research through primary texts to encourage original thinking
• Day and evening classes
• Produces award-winning students in national competitions
• No traditional exams
• Access to Honors stipends
• No Friday classes!
• Computer area with internet access
• Study abroad through the UHP Conexiones Program and through the NCHC Honors Semester

 

Often the greatest benefit we provide for Honors students is the chance to enrich their academic pursuits within a small community of life-long learners.

 

Back to top

 

CONFERENCES

In recent years, the UHP has helped to subsidize attendance of UHP students whose papers are accepted for presentation at WRHC, NCHC, and National Intercollegiate Literature and Social Sciences conferences. Information and deadlines for the conferences and paper proposals will be posted on the UHP bulletin boards:

 

• Western Regional Honors Council
  Western Regional Honors Council (WRHC) is an association of institutions, faculty, staff, and students in the Western region of the United States. WRHC sponsors an annual writing contest with $250 prizes for best poetry, short fiction, essay, and art. Students are encouraged to present papers at WRHC meetings, held at a different location each year. For deadlines and further information, contact the UHP office.

 

• National Collegiate Honors Council
  The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is a professional organization composed of faculty, administrators, and students dedicated to the encouragement of undergraduate honors learning. The nationwide membership of NCHC include both public and private colleges and universities. NCHC national conferences are held annually each fall. Student members are encouraged to attend and to develop papers for presentation at the student sessions. Annual dues for students are $12.50. For membership information, see Dr. Otero in the UHP office.

 

Back to top

 

COURSES IN HONORS

Rather than simply piling on extra work, Honors seminars are specially designed and crafted to be interdisciplinary. Topics are examined a little more in depth than in normal undergraduate courses at the University. Extensive student participation and creativity form the foundations of every seminar. Enrollment is capped at 16 students. Interaction takes place in group activities and round-table discussions or presentations. Below is a breakdown of the defining goals and learning outcomes for seminars at each level.

 

• 100-Level Legacy Seminars

  • The 100-level seminar serves as an introduction to the Honors Program. Legacies incorporate history, literary works, philosophy and/or political theory, drama and/or poetry, art, music, dance and/or architecture, science, math and/or technology. Legacies deal with the development of ideas rather than difinitive historical time. Legacies also always count for UNM core credit in Humanities.

 

• 200-Level Seminars

  • The 200-level is a cross-cultural examination of other legacies and world views: Women, Africa, the Far East, the Americas, Medieval Europe, and the origins of mathematics and science. These seminars incorporate interdisciplinary explorations of specific topics with an emphasis on developing and strengthening skills important to success in Honors and undergraduate education, including oral and written communication skills, reading skills, critical and creative thinking, etc.
    

 

• 300-Level Seminars

  • The 300-level is also an interdisciplinary exploration of specific topics designed to demonstrate the interconnectedness of academic disciplines. Recent seminars have focused on the significance of gender in myth and literature, bio-medical ethics, the nature and politics of nuclear energy, the origins of prejudice, arts across cultures, the existential imagination, and cross-cultural communication.

 

• 400-Level Seminars

  • These seminars focus on the inquiry and investigation of intellectual currents and should not be confused with Senior Options. 400-level seminar topics are more in-depth than those in lower-level seminars, and students will have greater roles and responsibilities. These seminars afford enthusiastic and enterprising students the opportunity to craft a publishable paper or coordinate a collaborative mini-conference.

 

• Senior Options

  • Students must complete a Senior Option as the last component of their Honors experience. There are four from which to choose, and detailed descriptions can be found on the Senior Options page:
    • Senior Colloquium and Service Learning
    • Honors Senior Teaching
    • Honors Interdisciplinary Senior Thesis
    • Disciplinary Senior Thesis

 

Back to top

 

CURRICULUM IN HONORS (COMPLETING THE PROGRAM)

 To successfully complete the Honors Program students will need to accumulate 24 credit hours in UHP seminars. All students must take:

 

• (1) 100-level "Legacy" (121/122) worth 3 credit hours
• (1) 200-level (221/222) worth 3 credit hours
• (1) 300-level (301/302) worth 3 credit hours
• (1) 400-level (401/402) worth 3 credit hours
• (2) Honors Electives (can be any level; however, 100-levels are reserved for incoming freshmen and new students first and foremost)
• Finally the students will need to select a Senior Option to round out the Honors experience. Each option is worth 6 credit hours.

 

Students may take a maximum of 2 seminars per semester. Normally, students may complete no more than 2 seminars with any one instructor.

 

To summarize our formal requirements: completion of 24 credit hours in UHP seminars with a minimum of 3 credit hours at the 100, 200, 300, and 400-levels, 6 hours of electives, and 6 credit hours of senior capstone option; completion of a multi-cultural experience; a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average; recommendation by the Director and certification by the University Honors Faculty.

 

• Filling in the Gaps

  • UHP seminars may be used to fulfill group requirements, electives, or graduation requirements in the various colleges. The College of Arts and Sciences will accept Honors seminars in fulfillment of the 96-credit graduation requirements and as group requirement credits. Some colleges require that a student file a petition for permission to count seminars toward credits for graduation. Petition forms, available in the UHP office, are taken to the academic advisors of the various colleges for approval and filing. It is wise to keep a photocopy of each petition.

 

Back to top

 

DISABILITY POLICY

In keeping with the Rehabilitation Act of 1993 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities. The University shall provide reasonable academic adjustments to qualifies students with disabilities as necessary to ensure equality of access to the courses, program, services, and facilities of the University.

 

Back to top

 

FACILITIES

On April 12, 1988, the Regents of the University of New Mexico formally designated the west wing ground floor of the Humanities Building the Dudley Wynn Honors Center. In doing so, the university acknowledged the pioneering efforts of Professor Wynn who, as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences more than four decades ago, drafted plans for a sequence of small seminars in general studies to be called the General Honors Program.

 

 The Dudley Wynn Honors Center

In 1998 the name was changed to the University Honors Program to reflect more precisely the nature of the program. In May, 2000 the UHP relocated to renovated space on the ground floor of the Student Health Center. Appropriately, the name "Dudley Wynn Honors Center" relocated, too. The new Center was designed by George Pearl, an eminent architect. The large forum, library/computer space, five classrooms, main office, and fourteen faculty offices give the Honors Program more room than was available in the previous center. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, UHP students meet to study together, continue seminar discussions or just relax between classes.

 

Scholars' Wing

The Scholars' Wing, located in the Hokona/Zia Residence Hall, is a dynamic community of scholars with shared interests and values. The UHP is proud to be participating in this innovative residence hall program that nurtures academic values. Regents' Scholars, Presidential Scholars, and UHP students can apply to participate in the program through the Housing Reservations Office at 277-2606, and they are selected on the basis of academic performance.

 

Michael Thomas, UHP Continuing Faculty, serves as faculty advisor and has an office in the wing (358 Hokona/Zia). He coordinates various academic enrichment activities. The wing has a computer/study room with several Mac & PC computers. A "Coffee and Conversation" program allows students to have informal contact with various speakers and valuable intellectual or professional resources. A weekly newsletter, Noticias, provides timely information on activities, lectures and scholarships.

 

Back to top

 

FINANCIAL AID

 

 

GETTING INVOLVED

UHP students are encouraged to broaden their education through cultural and social events both on and off campus. The UHP offers a wide range of lectures and informal conversations with UHP faculty and distinguished guests. There are also political and social organizations, clubs, university events and community-service projects available. All of these activities add dimension to your educational experience, as well as to your personal life. These activities also demonstrate the degree to which learning occurs continually and in a multitude of contexts.

 

Honors Student Advisory Council

• The Honors Student Advisory Council (HSAC) is a community of hardworking students apart of the larger University Honors Program. Many of our members are first time freshmen, so not only do incoming members have the opportunity to get involved in an organization, but they can also connect with students that share similar goals and ideas. In addition, we have many leadership positions available to freshmen, enabling them to start building strong resumes early in their college careers.

 

• HSAC gives a sense of recognition to Honors students' achievements in and out of UHP. We sponsor events that allow students to better connect with Honors professors. It's never too early to start establishing lasting relations with professors; it enhances the Honors experience in very meaningful ways. The benefits of being a part of HSAC are great and can have a lasting impact beyond the walls and years of college. Interested students can email unmhonorscouncil@gmail.com. HSAC's office is room 18 in the Honors Center and they conduc office hours Mondays 1:00-2:00 & 3:00-4:00 and Thursdays 2:00-3:00.

 

For more information on organizations or events happening at UNM, contact the UHP office at 277-4211 or honors@unm.edu or the Student Activities Office at 277-4706.

 

Back to top

 

GRADING IN HONORS

The UHP uses a unique grading system to encourage students to pursue courses outside of their normal interestes or proficiencies. Our grading system eliminates the worry of taking an academic "risk" usually associated with trying something new or unfamiliar.

 

• Grades in Honors
  • "A" signifies outstanding work and will compute into the student's academic GPA.
  • "CR" indicates satisfactory work and is not computed into the GPA, but is counted toward graduation. This allows students to take rigorous seminars or to study subject areas outside their usual interest without jeopardizing their GPA.
  • "NC" indicates unacceptable work and is not computed into the GPA or counted toward graduation. (The UHP grading system should not be confused with UNM's pass/fail or CR/NC grading options.)

 

 

GRADUATION FROM THE PROGRAM

 Seniors are responsible for notifying the UHP office of their intention to graduate at the beginning of the last semester of their senior year. This should be done by September 1 or February 1, depending upon which semester the student is graduating. At that time, seniors review their files, prepare an Exit Packet and arrange for an exit interview with a member of the University Honors Faculty. An Honors Recognition Ceremony is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. For full details, please visit our Graduation page.

 

• Levels of Honors

  • The University Honors Committee meets at the end of each semester to review the records of each graduating senior. Levels of honors are awarded on the basis of GPA, success in UHP seminars, instructor evaluations, risks taken in UHP seminars, breadth of all academic course work, outside activities, and contributions to both the University and community. Levels of honors are cum laude,magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

 

• International Designation

  • In an effort to promote global awareness through international academic programs, the University Honors Program grants their students recognition for international education.  This international designation will appear on the student’s Honors graduation certificate as, With Distinction in International Studies, and the student will receive a special cord.  In order to qualify for this distinction students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in two of the following conditions with a grade of B or better; or, in the case of Honors courses, A or CR:

    • Complete an international academic experience:  Intersession, Summer or Semester program and earn a minimum of 6 credit hours; 
    • Complete a minimum of twelve credit hours in a foreign language or provide verification of language proficiency provided by an appropriate UNM department; and/or
    • Complete a minimum of twelve credit hours on international topics.

 

 

Back to top

 

MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

In order to become global citizens in a diverse, mutually dependent world, our students must become more aware, culturally fluent, and understanding of cultures other than their own.

 

The University Honors Program requires that students complete a multicultural experience through Honors and nonhonors courses (minimum 6 credit hours or comparable).  With this requirement we ask our students to challenge the comfortable but limiting assumptions of the particular culture(s) with which they identify.

 

Students may complete this requirement by taking Honors and/or non-Honors courses like:

• A study abroad or international program (Conexiones, for example)

 

• Foreign Language courses above the 300-level

 

• Cultural exploration courses or programs such as:
  
  • Designated UHP Legacy seminars (core class)
  • World Literatures (core class)
  • Eastern Religions (core class)
  • From the Rockies to the Andes
  • Communication across Cultures (African Studies)
  • The African World (Africana Studies)
  • Native American Culture (Native Studies)
  • Cultures of the World (Anthro)
  • Health and Cultural Diversity (HMHV)
  • Latin American Studies (LTAM)

 

Honors courses that fulfill this requirement are marked in the description booklets and on-line. If you are unsure whether an experience or course will count toward this requirement, please see a Peer Advisor or Dr. Otero.

 

Back to top

 

PREVIEW NIGHT

HSAC sponsors Preview Night each semester, usually when registration begins. New and returning UHP instructors briefly describe their seminars and answer questions. Following this event, registration opens for the UHP. Notices of Preview Night and registration dates are posted around the Honors department, as well as the Upcoming Events bulletin on-line. For full details on this event, please visit the Preview Nightpage.

 

Back to top

 

PROBATION

A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 on UNM's 4.0 scale to remain in the UHP. Students who do not maintain a 3.2 will be asked to confer with a UHP advisor for academic counseling and will have a one-semester grace period called Honors Probation. A student may continue, during this semester, to enroll in a UHP seminar and enjoy UHP privileges while working to raise his/her GPA. Honors Probation can be extended, if the circumstances are warranted. If a student does not raise his/her GPA after a semester of probation, he/she may not take additional UHP seminars. Students are encouraged to reapply when their cumulative GPA returns to 3.2.

 

REGISTERING FOR HONORS SEMINARS

The new Banner system inegrated at UNM has changed the registration process for Honors seminars. All students at the University can see a listing of our seminars on LoboWeb; however, the seminars are restricted. Only those students who have received departmental permission (an "override") can add a seminar to their semester schedule.

 

In Spring semesters, all Honors students must see a Peer Advisor in order to receive an "override" to take a seminar. In Fall semesters, only freshmen and/or first-time Honors students must get advised.

 

Priority Registration

Priority Registration has long been one of the unique benefits granted to Honors students. The UNMRegistrars' Office determines the dates when all students attending the university can sign up for classes. However, with Priority Registration, Honors students, regardless of accumulated credit hours can register on the same day as graduate students. Essentially, Honors students can get a "first-pick" of courses and thereby coordinate their busy school, work, and family schedules. To receive this privilege, students must follow UHP advisement requirements. In order to register for an Honors seminar with Priority Registration, students must attend Preview Night. Students who are unable to attend Preview Night can still visit the Honors office to fill out an override card for an Honors seminar, which will be processed one week after the Priority Registration date.

 

UHP seminars are limited to 16-17 students and waiting lists are not maintained. This means that obtaining an open seat in an Honors seminar is on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

• Non-honors students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 may enroll in open UHP seminars approximately one month after the Priority Registration date. With permission from the Director, non-degree students may enroll for a maximum of 3 credit hours and are expected to fully participate and complete all seminar requirements, with the understanding that they intend to apply for admission to one of the degree granting colleges.

 

• Independent Study is an alternative to registering for seminars listed on LoboWeb. Students may develop an independent study proposal with an interested UHP continuing faculty member who will serve as the sponsor of the independent study. A formal proposal, accompanied by a bibliography, must then be approved by the faculty sponsor and the Honors Director before registering. A maximum of three hours of independent study work is permitted. A grade of incomplete is not allowed.

 

Seminar Description Booklets

Seminar booklets include a description of each seminar, its requirements, a reading list, and a short biography of the instructor. The seminar booklets are primarily available online, but students can visit the Honors Office to order one free print on demand copy (all subsequent copies cost $5.00). Descriptions are usually available on this website approximately two weeks before Preview Night each semester. To view course descriptions, please visit our Current Seminars page.

 

Back to top

 

STUDENT EVALUATIONS

An important aspect of the UHP grading system is an individual written evaluation of each student enrolled in a seminar. These evaluations are kept in student files and are not distributed among faculty or other students. Students are encouraged to review their evaluations every semester. They may write a response to an evaluation if they disagree with the assessment scores or the narrative evaluation from the instructor.

 

 

STUDENT FILES

Each UHP student has an academic file in the Honors office containing his or her initial application, written seminar evaluations by faculty members and other information pertinent to UHP education. Students are expected to maintain their records by reading and signing all evaluations, and/or adding items to their files (i.e. certificates of achievement or award letters). The University Honors Faculty review each file when considering what level of honors to award at graduation.

 

Back to top