Dr. Kay-Anne Darlington, Chair
Wood Hall 217
P: 740-245-7489
E: kdarlington@rio.edu
Mission Statement
The Rio Grande Honors Program focuses on engaging, dynamic, and creative learning experiences that enhance a student’s academic curriculum as well as develop leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills. The program attracts a wide range of students who positively impact their peers, the institution, and the global community.
The Honors Program is not a degree-granting program. It is, however, an academic program that can be taken in conjunction with a student’s major curriculum. Students who successfully complete the Honors curriculum in addition to their program curriculum will graduate with the designation of “Honors” on their transcript. The complete Honors Program is a baccalaureate program, but eligible associate degree students are welcome to participate in the seminars and take the Honors general education curriculum as their academic program allows.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Rio Grande Honors Program, students will:
- Develop and successfully execute a senior research project.
- Demonstrate strong written communication skills.
- Demonstrate strong verbal communication skills.
- Design learning experiences tailored to individual interests.
- Implement problem-solving techniques to successfully complete projects.
- Critique one’s own academic successes and failures through self-reflection.
- Express the value of social and cultural experiences outside the classroom.
Honors Program Requirements
Students must successfully complete the following requirements prior to graduation to graduate as a Rio Grande Honors Student.
- HON 10001 - Welcome to Honors
- Students must take HON 10001 within the first year they are accepted into the Honors Program. HON 10001 is a one-credit online course.
- HON 20103 - Honors Service Learning .
- This course will be offered every spring semester.
- HON 20101 - Honors Seminar
- Students must complete two separate sections of HON 20101 in two separate semesters.
- One section of HON 20101 will be offered each fall and spring.
- Students should enroll in HON 20101 as fits their schedule but prior to their senior year.
- Travel seminars will be offered at least once every other year.
- HON 40301 - Senior Honors Capstone I & HON 40401 - Senior Honors Capstone II
- Honors Program Contracts
- Students must complete two Honors Program contracts.
- These contracts can be for any course of at least three credit hours that students take within their Rio curriculum (general education, major, minor, elective, lower or upper level).
- The contracts will be developed in coordination with the Honors Directors and the course instructor.
- It will be the responsibility of the student to reach out to their instructors regarding an Honors contract; it is also the responsibility of the student to have a project in mind prior to reaching out to the instructor.
* A student’s required computer skills should be addressed throughout the student’s curriculum.
Program Acceptance Requirements
First-semester Rio students seeking admission into the Honors Program must meet two of the following criteria:
- Upper 10 percent of high school graduating class,
- 3.5 high school GPA, and
- ACT composite score of 25.
Currently enrolled Rio students seeking admission must meet the following criteria:
- 3.25 minimum GPA after completing at least 8 credit hours
Honors students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.25 at all times. Students whose GPA falls below a 3.25 are automatically placed on probation but have until the following semester, not including Summer term, to raise their GPA to at least a 3.25.
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