Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/honors-program/index.html

Dr. Kerry Wynn, Director
Dr. Lindsey Ibañez, Associate Director
honors@washburn.edu
Plass Learning Resources Center, Room 217

The mission of the Honors Program at Washburn University is to provide highly motivated and academically talented students with enriched educational experiences in and out of the classroom, enabling and empowering them to realize their full potential as critical thinkers, informed global citizens, and agents of change. Toward this end, the program provides curricular and co-curricular experiences supporting, promoting, and rewarding excellence in academic rigor, research and scholarship, leadership, and service learning.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Washburn University Honors Program, students will be able to:

• Formulate a specific position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis) that accounts for the complexities of the issue and weighs the positions taken by others.  
• Interpret intercultural experience from the perspectives of their own and more than one worldview and demonstrate the ability to act in a supportive manner that recognizes the beliefs of another cultural group.
• Connect academic experiences in the classroom to activities outside of the classroom.  Experience and reflect upon cultural, artistic, and political events as intellectuals. 
• Design, conduct, and actively pursue independent educational experiences.

In pursuit of its mission, the University Honors Program provides many benefits for students including the following:

• Special sections of existing courses.
• Unique and engaging Honors courses that also satisfy general education requirements.
• Independent research opportunities, and other creative scholarly projects.
• Closer working relationships with distinguished faculty.
• Individual and Honors specific advising.
• Unique ways to have a voice in, and change, Honors and the University as a whole.
• Trademark events that include guest speakers, community engagements, and more.

Honors fits well with Washburn’s many four-year degree programs and the tiered system allows students to pursue honors with varying degrees of involvement and receive recognition. Students work directly with the Honors Program Director to identify opportunities to explore, relate, and assimilate many diverse learning experiences. As Linus Pauling said, “The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.” The University Honors Program is committed to providing students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to develop and implement good ideas.

University Honors Tiers and Involvement Requirements

“Honors Associate” – 12 Credit Hours of Honors Credit
“Honors Scholar” – 18 Credit Hours of Honors Credit
“Honors Graduate” – 24 Credit Hours of Honors Credit

Regardless of tier, students will be expected to complete an Honors Thesis Project (or similar scholarly/creative project, e.g., scholarly/creative WTE). In addition to curricular requirements, students may receive recognition for involvement in honors and intellectual pursuits.

University Honors Distinction

Students may graduate “with Distinction” or “with High Distinction” by participating in and reflecting on activities in 5 areas pursued by intellectually engaged individuals: inspiration, collaboration, independence, curiosity, and service. Students receive Distinction upon the completion of annual activities in each of the areas listed above and the submission of annual and comprehensive reflection portfolios. Students receive High Distinction based upon the evaluation of the quality of their portfolio by a faculty committee. Additional information regarding activities, reflection, and assessment is available from the Program Director.

Each curricular tier can be combined with any level of involvement (e.g., University Honors Graduate with High Distinction).

Admission Criteria

Entering freshman students with an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and/or an ACT of 28 or higher are especially encouraged to inquire about the University Honors Program by submitting a completed application (found on the University Honors website). Individuals may apply on their own initiative, be recommended to apply by their high school or college faculty, or be invited to apply by the Director of University Honors. Students who meet the minimum criteria and successfully complete the application process (application materials can be found online at https://www.washburn.edu/academics/honors-program/index.html) will be invited to join the community of exceptional learners and thinkers.

Although proven scholastic performance is important, the Honors Director will place substantial emphasis on students’ ability to benefit from and contribute to the program. Once admitted into the program, students who complete requirements associated with a given tier (listed above) will have their transcripts listing the completed tier and involvement if completed. Washburn is an institutional member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and an institutional member of the regional Great Plains Honors Council.

Course Offerings