The Honors Program at Georgia Highlands College brings together promising students of outstanding academic records with teachers committed to excellence and dedicated to student growth. This blend of teachers and students fosters a cohort of emerging scholars recognizable throughout the college and community. Such a cadre will provide an example to their peers that educational excellence is to be valued and celebrated. Similarly, it will demonstrate that learning for its own sake is an ideal appropriate for all students, regardless of background or goals. The Honors Program is overseen by the Curriculum Committee and the Honors Program Director. Admission into the Honors Program is open to currently enrolled students, including dual enrollment students, at Georgia Highlands College, regardless of program of study.
Students who are currently enrolled in Learning Support (LS) courses are not eligible to apply until after successful completion of all LS requirements, although exceptions can be made for otherwise outstanding students, at the discretion of the Honors Director.
Students who are on academic warning, probation or suspension are not eligible to apply until after they have reached “good academic standing” with Georgia Highlands College.
Candidates for the Honors Program apply by submitting application materials online at the Honors Program website, http://sites.highlands.edu/honors/. Admission is based on the following criteria, as reviewed by the Honors Director, and as needed, by the members of the Honors Advisory Council:
- 500-word application essay
- Completed application (web form)
- At least one satisfactory qualifying item:
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale or
- Top 10% of high school graduating class or
- Minimum SAT combined score of 1000 or
- Minimum ACT composite score of 25 or
- Institutional 3.5 GPA after the completion of 12 credit hours of college level coursework (1000 level or above) or
- Evidence of outstanding leadership and/or community service
- For conditional admission, students may submit two letters of recommendation from Georgia Highlands College faculty members in place of a satisfactory qualifying item.
Conditionally accepted students will be allowed to attempt one honors project for honors credit in a standard course, or to enroll in one honors course, but not both, during their first semester of participation.
Upon completion of the first semester in the program, the Honors Advisory Council will review the student’s progress. Conditionally accepted students must earn a C or better in all coursework during the first semester of participation and must complete the attempted honors project or honors course attempted during the first semester of participation. If a conditionally accepted student fails either of these requirements during the first semester of participation, they will be dismissed from the Honors Program.
To maintain good standing status in the Honors Program, students must maintain a minimum 3.25 institutional GPA.
Learn more about the GHC Honors Program at http://sites.highlands.edu/honors/. View current policies for the Program under the Academic Affairs tab at http://sites.highlands.edu/policy-manual/. Send your questions to the Honors Director at honors@highlands.edu.