Honors Program

The mission of the Honors Program at Illinois State University is to recruit, challenge, and stimulate academically-talented, culturally and ethnically diverse, and highly-motivated students from all academic disciplines. Our goals mirror those values found in Educating Illinois and they are to offer individualized attention; promote scholarly and civic engagement; provide opportunities for enriching academic and cultural experiences with openness to diversity; and to encourage participation in a variety of formal and informal learning and community-building activities both in and out of the classroom.

Individualized Attention

• Smaller Honors sections and closer interaction with faculty via In-Course Honors projects
• Personalized academic advisement
• The Honors Connection: a transition seminar for new first year students linked with another Honors section
• Review and feedback of four year academic plans of study
• Honors Orientation each semester for new (non-freshmen) students in the Honors Program
• Recognition of Honors designations, scholarships, and other awards at awards ceremonies and on our website
• Early registration to allow first choice of classes

Scholarly & Civic Engagement

• Opportunities for Honors Undergraduate Research Participation for academic credit and Research Mentorships/Grants for paid stipends
• Independent Honors Study or Honors Thesis as available research options in all disciplines
• Presentation of research each semester when funded through the Honors Program
• Travel grants for presentations of scholarly work at conferences
• Co-sponsorship of the Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Service Learning, a community-based experience facilitating students' personal and professional growth

Enriching Academic and Cultural Experiences with Openness to Diversity

• Arranging talk-back with actors and directors after plays and musicals
• Hosting discussion with conductors and guest musicians prior to concerts
• Organizing individualized tours and presentations of art by curator or director of University Galleries
• Offering Honors Advanced Colloquia on a variety of topics and academic disciplines
• Creating themed interdisciplinary colloquia with guest lecturers for the Presidential Scholars Core Curriculum
• Ensuring a broad base for student cultural and academic interaction by increasing admission applications from underrepresented students through concerted efforts with other campus offices and high school visits.
• Fostering an awareness of diversity issues on campus and globally through Honors-sponsored programs or by promoting campus-wide events
• Encouraging study abroad through freshman classes, PS Club panel events, and hosting study abroad essay and photo contests in conjunction with the Office of International Studies & Programs

Formal & Informal Learning and Community-Building Activities

• Professor panel series, “Honors Program Presents…”
• Annual alumni career panel, “Bookbag to Briefcase: A Night with Honors Alumni”
• Leadership Opportunities: Honors Student Organization (HSO), Presidential Scholars Club (PS Club), Student Ambassadors Leadership Team (SALT)
• Co-facilitation of freshmen seminars through paid student positions, Honors Peer Mentors (HPM) and Presidential Scholars Assistants (PSA)
• Social and service activities, including Welcome Picnic, Relay for Life, Honors Spring Formal, Homecoming Open House, HSO and PS Club-sponsored volunteer projects, and other SALT activities
• Helping to plan Honors House programming, as requested, and recruiting Faculty Mentors