Office of Academic Affairs
Honors Program

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The first tier of the Honors Program is limited to freshmen and sophomore students and is based in the College's Core Curriculum which offers a common core experience required of all students regardless of major. The second tier will focus on specific degree programs and is designed for juniors and seniors only. Course work in the Honors Program will provide an exceptional academic experience and individualized curricula to foster coherence between knowledge and methodology and encourage in-depth examination of critical issues and research. The Program will provide a broad array of offerings, which promote intellectual connections, interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary learning experiences that are intended to develop problem-solving and analytical abilities. The program will also offer high achieving students the opportunity to take an active role in shaping their education with the assistance of an Honors faculty mentor/advisor. The participation of exceptional faculty as mentors will be an integral part of the Honors Program; the College takes pride in its outstanding nationally and internationally known faculty who will provide limitless opportunities for students to participate in an inspiring and challenging community of learning. Students, as a part of this learning community will be expected to excel in a wide range of endeavors, and demonstrate the qualities that epitomized Medgar Evers: Commitment, Dedication, Leadership, Conviction and Service to Community.

Finally, the Honors Program will exemplify the commitment of the College through its encouragement and support of exceptional intellectual work of its students. The program will be designed specifically to provide undergraduate students in the schools of Liberal Arts and Education, Business and Science, Health and Technology with an enriched, tailored and holistic experience that will foster a multidisciplinary and multicultural awareness of the challenges and opportunities that the 21st Century will present. Honors Program students will participate in academic and cultural programs in the sciences, music, art, the humanities, and business that will encourage their appreciation for the vision and values of great historians, philosophers, writers, scientists, economists and artists. Faculty will provide limitless opportunities for students to participate in inspiring and intellectually stimulating environments that will include cultural, political, and research institutions.

Eligibility Requirements

The Honors Program will be open to qualified freshman, continuing students who demonstrate excellence after enrolling at Medgar, and to transfer students who have shown high achievement at other institutions (upon evaluation of the Honors Committee). Students may apply either on their own, they may be recommended, or they may be invited to participate. 

1. Incoming freshman who are high school graduates with a combined SAT I score of at least 1200 or 27 on the ACT and who rank in the upper 15% of their graduating class or who are the recipients of a Medgar Evers Scholarship Award will be automatically considered for admission to the College's Honors Program. Students who apply will also be evaluated on other pertinent academic and extracurricular activities. 
2. Continuing MEC students or transfer students who have achieved a 3.50 cumulative GPA and have at least 15-college semester credits are also automatically considered for admission upon application to the program.

Exceptional students who do not meet the criteria for automatic consideration for admission will be encouraged to apply. The primary condition for admission is evidence of sufficient personal commitment; exceptional extracurricular and academic ability to do honors level work. Faculty also may recommend those students whom they feel demonstrate the capability to undertake the offerings of the Honors Program. Students will be admitted to the College's Honors Program on an individual basis by a subcommittee of the Honors Committee. 

All students in the Honors Program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher to continue in the program. Should a student's cumulative GPA fall below 3.50, the student may be placed on Honors Probation for a semester and appropriate review and support with be provided during such period. All full-time (day or evening) undergraduates who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to apply. Part-time students with at least 15-college credit and a GPA of 3.50 may also apply.

Application Requirements

1. A written biographical sketch.
2. Two letters of recommendation, at least one of the letters must come from a high school teacher (or faculty member in the case of an enrolled student). The other may come from an individual who is knowledgeable of the student's academic, social, religious, vocational, and/or civic contributions. For continuing students, two letters of recommendation from faculty and an earned GPA of 3.50.
3. A written statement of purpose that includes the student's goals and objectives with respect to his or her prospective involvement in the Honors Program.
4. An interview with an Honors Program panel.

Program Benefits

All students in the Honors Program will receive Book Scholarship awards. The award will cover the cost of all books and materials required to support student learning in the Honors courses and/or activities. The program will also cover all costs associated with trips, conferences and excursions related to academic, cultural and professional activities sponsored by the Honors Program.

Honors Program students will also have a wide range of possibilities for enriched and independent work that is not typically available in regular courses. Through Honors courses, students will be offered an opportunity to establish close and meaningful relationships with professors and students in smaller class settings. These small classes and faculty-student mentoring relationships that result will offer students opportunities for internships, graduate school scholarships and fellowships, and other awards of recognition. Finally, all Honors Program work will be documented on the students' transcripts and in the commencement programs at graduation. 

If you would like additional information, please contact Associate Dean Richard Jones in the Office of Academic Affairs, Room 3010 of the Bedford Building. Phone: 718.270.5010.