The University Honors Program is a selective program which encourages a deep, rigorous, and creative engagement with the broad intellectual interests cultivated within the liberal art tradition at the heart of Friends University. By building a community of highly motivated and academically adventurous students, it promotes the value of excellence, invites students to make the most of their time at Friends, and to take on intellectual challenges which prepare them for continuing to engage the life of the mind beyond graduation.
Interested in the Honors Program?
Program Details
Progress toward University Honors graduation will involve participating in regular Honors Seminars, which are intense discussion-based classes jointly led by select faculty and the participating students, focusing on different key texts and problems from the whole history of the liberal arts. Advanced sections of different general education classes, reserved for University Honors and other high-performing students, may also be part of the path toward University Honors graduation. Finally, students admitted to the Honors Program will be expected to complete a research project (usually a year-long process) in conjunction with select faculty, thus taking the work they must do to complete their major programs to a greater level of excellence.
Incoming first-year students and transfer students with two semesters (usually defined as 28 credit hours) or less who are admitted to the Honors Program and commit to graduating with University Honors may be eligible to receive the University Honors Academic Scholarship to supplement their academic package. This scholarship is worth up to $4000 per academic year and can be renewed each academic year as long as the student 1) maintains a cumulative 3.7GPA or higher and 2) show consistent progress toward University Honors graduation.*
In sum, the University Honors program:
- Invites students to develop greater critical and creative thinking skills
- Introduces students to others with similar levels of intellectual curiosity and ambition
- Brings a higher degree of integration into students’ study of their chosen major fields
- Teaches by example and participation the value of open discussion and civic engagement
- Encourages critical reflections upon the meaning of a liberal arts education
- Provides opportunities for conference and publications experiences
- Supports students in conducting high quality research and creative work
If you think you can qualify for and do the work necessary for University Honors, please apply! Applications received by the following will receive priority consideration:
- Priority Scholarship Application Deadline (August starts): February 15
- Priority Scholarship Application Deadline (January starts): November 1
Contact Information
Dr. Russell Arben Fox
Director of University Honors
Friends University
Phone: 316-295-5827
Email: foxr@friends.edu
The University Honors scholarship can be stacked with other academic scholarships (such as the Presidential or Davis scholarships), but not with Athletic, Fine Arts, STEM, CSF, Latino Leader, National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist, and other similar scholarships. A one-semester grace period will be allowed to students who fall below the 3.7 GPA requirement; students who do not bring their cumulative GPA up to the former level will not be able to continue in University Honors and will not be eligible for continuing to receive the University Honors Academic Scholarship.
University Honors Program Application
The University Honors Program is a community of highly motivated and academically adventurous students working together with select faculty to challenge and encourage each other in the exploration of best spirit of the liberal arts tradition. Through Honors Seminars, the University Honors Program immerses students in intellectually rigorous and diverse conversations about ideas and the world; through each student’s Honors Senior Project, the University Honors Program supports students in the formulation and pursuit of academic work which takes them beyond the work typically required as the capstone for their majors. This is a flexible and interdisciplinary program of study which incorporates individual student goals. Students who are admitted to University Honors should expect a challenge that stimulates curiosity and broadens perspectives in unexpected ways.
Admission Requirements to the University Honors Program
• A cumulative high school GPA of 3.7 for incoming first-year students, or a two-semester academic record (potentially reflecting both high school and college-level courses) with an overall 3.7 GPAfor existing Friends University or transfer students of sophomore standing (usually defined as 28 credit hours, though exceptions are possible) or less
OR
• An cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 for incoming first-year students who also have an ACT score of 27
AND
• The completion of a University Honors Program Application
Incoming first-year students and transfer students with two semesters or less who are admitted to the Honors Program and commit to graduating with University Honors from Friends may also receive the University Honors Academic Scholarship of up to $4000 per academic year to supplement their academic package. This scholarship will be renewed each academic year as long as the student 1) maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher and 2) show consistent progress toward University Honors graduation. A one-semester grace period will be allowed to students who fall below the 3.7 GPA requirement; students who do not bring their cumulative GPA up to the former level will not be able to continue in University Honors and will not be eligible for continuing to receive the University Honors Academic Scholarship.
The number of students admitted to the University Honors Program each academic year is limited to 10. Applications for admission to the program for the coming academic year are usually reviewed during Spring registration by the Honors Admissions Committee (with occasional exceptions).