Sinclair Honors Program

Honors Scholars Program Students may apply to become Honors Scholars. Scholars commit to completing four (4) courses for honors and four (4) Honors Experiences while maintaining an overall 3.25 GPA. Two of the four honors courses must be in different disciplines and one course should be an Interdisciplinary course. The interdisciplinary requirement may be waived if courses are taken from four different disciplines. In addition to other financial aid and scholarships, Honors Scholars may apply for Honors Program Scholarships on a per-term basis during their time in the program. Honors Scholars are also required to fulfill a Service Learning requirement before completing the program. Students must:

• demonstrate academic excellence, most commonly by achieving a GPA of 3.25;
• submit an application form, which includes recommendations from two faculty;
• have an interview with the Honors Program Director and a member of the Honors Advisory Board;
• commit to taking at least four courses for Honors credit during their time at Sinclair;
• commit to participating in 4 Honors Experiences and one Service Learning / Community Service project.

• A 2.8 cumulative GPA is the minimum needed to take a course for Honors credit. As we mentioned above, if you don't have a GPA yet, then this doesn't apply to you. If you have an established GPA and it is below a 2.8, you are not eligible to take a class for Honors. You may qualify for the Fresh Start if you have been away from Sinclair for some time and have returned and been doing well in class during your second attempt here.
• A 3.25 cumulative GPA is recommended to enter the Honors Scholars Program. Students who enter the Honors Scholars Program whose GPA drops below a 3.25 are considered probationary members.
• A 3.4 cumulative GPA is required to graduate with Honors. This is a function of the Registrar's Office and may be considered equivalent to magna cum laude graduation.
• A 3.5 cumulative GPA is required to qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarships. Students must also be Honors Scholars.
• A 3.5 is also required to enter Phi Theta Kappa, with more than 15 credit hours already passed. You do NOT need be an Honors Scholar or a Phi Theta Kappa member to take honors courses.
• A 3.9 cumulative GPA is required to graduate with High Honors. This is a function of the Registrar's Office and may be considered equivalent to summa cum laude graduation.

First of all, you need to have a sufficient cumulative GPA (2.8). If you are a new students entering Sinclair for their first time, and you DO NOT yet have an established GPA, you ARE allowed to take a course for Honors. Almost any class at Sinclair can be taken for Honors, with the instructor's and the department's permission.These classes are hybrid honors classes (you take the class for Honors while other students are taking it normally) and you will perform extra work above and beyond the normal course requirements. Students must:

• have received permission from the course instructor. Instructor permission is an absolute requirement for participation in Honors courses.
• fill out a declaration form (titled "Honors Course Registration Eligibility" form) at the Honors Program office in 10-339 or a non-Dayton campus front desk. This form must be turned in by the 7th day of the term.

Sinclair students may enroll in individual Honors courses whether or not they plan to become Honors Scholars. To receive Honors credit, a student must earn a minimum of "B" in the course.

We do NOT look at high school performance at all for consideration to join the Honors Program. Students have to have two letters of recommendation, and we do allow high school faculty recommendations of incoming students, but you can enter the Honors Program based solely on your performance at Sinclair, and it has been my observed experience that the majority of our Honors students do just that. I have actually had Honors students tell me that they had been told in high school that they were "not Honors material"!

No. Students may be full-time, part-time, distance-learning main campus, and/or at the remote campuses. There are no preconditions to taking courses for Honors except the proper GPA and a willingness to excel!

Honors courses are available in many disciplines. One Honors course must be interdisciplinary in nature, which means that it must draw from more than one discipline. Humanities courses by default are multidisciplinary. Classes that are listed as credit for multiple disciplines (Art History or Musical Styles, for example) are also multidisciplinary by default.

Once a student signs the Registration Eligibility Form to add the Honors component to a class and earns an "A" or "B" in the class, the Honors designation is applied to the official transcript. Students will need to purchase an official transcript from the Registrar to see that the Honors courses completed. In case there is a believed discrepancy, the student should contact the Honors Program Office as soon as possible.

Sinclair students who take 6 or more credit hours in a semester and get a GPA over 3.4 with no grades below “C” achieve Deans' List status. Deans' List status is granted every term.

Academic Honors classes offer many rewards such as:

• Experience doing undergraduate research
• Opportunity to participate in Service Learning
• Academic challenge and personal enrichment
• Honors designation on your official print transcript
• Honors Scholars can apply for Honors Scholarships at Sinclair
• Special commendation as an Honors Graduate after completing required courses
• Attendance at regional meetings of Honors students and faculty from other colleges and universities
• Better preparation for entering baccalaureate and advanced programs
• Increased opportunities for financial aid and membership in honor organizations like Phi Theta Kappa
• Eligibility to apply for the Honors Transfer Scholarships at Honors Programs at various local schools, including Wright State University, University of Dayton, Miami University, and the University of Cincinnati