Maynor Honors College

Esther G. Maynor Honors College

Dean: Mark Milewicz

University Honors Council

Robert W. Brown (Chair)	Teagan Decker	Scott Hicks
Siva Mandjiny	E. Cliff Mensah

The Esther G. Maynor Honors College at UNC Pembroke recognizes and promotes the scholarly and personal growth of outstanding students. Maynor Honors College students are provided interdisciplinary educational opportunities that enhance the general curriculum. These opportunities are developed around a learning community of honors students and include selected general education courses, small interdisciplinary seminars, cultural and service programs, and shared residential facilities with other honors students. The Maynor Honors College offers an intellectually stimulating social environment, greater curricular flexibility, more personal contact and scholarly discussion with students and faculty from the various disciplines, and closer interaction with individual faculty members in the College.

Maynor Honors College students are selected on the basis of class rank, high school grades, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores or American College Testing (ACT) scores, and extra‑curricular and community achievements. Students already enrolled at UNC Pembroke and transfer students are also eligible to apply for admission to the Maynor Honors College. Maynor Honors College students are selected by the Dean of the Maynor Honors College in consultation with the University Honors Council.

To remain in the Maynor Honors College, students are required to achieve and maintain a minimum overall quality‑point average of 3.0 upon completion of the freshman year, 3.25 upon completion of the sophomore year, and 3.5 upon completion of the junior year. Maynor Honors College students will receive a specialized diploma and will be recognized at commencement. To graduate with the Maynor Honors College designation, the student must complete the Maynor Honors College program. Any exceptions or substitution of requirements will be determined by the Dean of the Maynor Honors College in consultation with the University Honors Council. Three tracks are available for graduation from the Maynor Honors College

University Honors

^*Take four HON (interdisciplinary) courses
^*Take four general education honors courses
^*Achieve at least a 3.5 QPA
^*Complete the Senior Project through the appropriate course sequence: HON 4000 (project planning) and HON 4500 (project work)

The Senior Project is fulfilled by the successful completion of HON 4000 and HON 4500 and can take one of four paths:

Community Service Project. This project involves a student’s active participation in a focused project involving service to the community. The Service Project will be organized through the Office for Community and Civic Engagement and supervised by a UNCP faculty member. During the senior year, the student will also schedule an oral presentation describing the development, implementation, and outcomes of the Community Service Project. The faculty mentor and the Dean of the Honors College will approve the successful completion of the project.
Campus Dialogue Project. This option involves active participation in a campus-wide dialogue about a specific issue, usually relative to the student’s major. The student will work with a faculty mentor to research the topic. During the senior year, the student must organize and facilitate (in consultation with the mentor and Honors College Dean) at least two campus dialogues on the topic. These dialogues should involve faculty and students from a variety of disciplines. The faculty mentor and the Dean of the Honors College will approve the successful completion of the project.
Creative Project. Students choosing this option will work with a faculty mentor to develop the project. During the senior year, the student will display or perform his or her art and then provide an oral description/interpretation of the work. The faculty mentor and the Dean of the Honors College will approve the successful completion of the project.
Senior Thesis Project. The Senior Thesis is a written research project completed under the direction of a faculty mentor. Guidelines are available in the Honors College Office and on the Honors College website. The thesis is completed during the senior year and should conclude with an oral presentation/defense of the thesis where the results of the student research can be shared with others on campus. The faculty mentor and the Dean of the Honors College will approve the successful completion of the thesis.

Departmental Honors

^*Take four HON (interdisciplinary) courses
^*Complete two Honors “Contract” Courses in upper-level major courses

Description of Contract Courses: Contract courses are traditional courses that are tailored to meet honors requirements by requiring work that is above and beyond the normal expectations of the course. Contract courses must be taught by tenured or tenure-track members of the student’s major department. The student and faculty member teaching the section will agree upon the requirements for completing the contract course, fill out the appropriate paperwork (available online), and obtain the signature of the department chair. The contract and accompanying syllabus will be turned in to the Dean of the Honors College for final approval.

^*Achieve at least a 3.5 QPA
^*Complete a Senior Thesis through the appropriate course sequence: HON 4000 (project planning) and HON 4500 (project work)

The Senior Thesis is a written research project completed under the direction of a faculty mentor. Guidelines are available in the Honors College Office and on the Honors College website. The thesis is completed during the senior year and should conclude with an oral presentation/defense of the thesis where the results of the student research can be shared with others on campus. The faculty mentor and the Dean of the Honors College will approve the successful completion of the thesis.

Both University and Departmental Honors

^*Take four HON (interdisciplinary) courses
^*Take at least four general education honors courses
^*Complete two Honors “Contract” Courses in upper-level major courses
^*Achieve at least a 3.5 QPA overall
^*Complete an enhanced Senior Project consisting of a senior thesis PLUS a service, dialogue, or creative project through the appropriate course sequence: HON 4000 (project planning) and HON 4500 (project work)

It is possible, though not necessary, that the Senior Project and Senior Thesis are developed from the same research. Students must consult with the Honors College Dean to coordinate the successful completion of both University and Departmental Honors. Those selecting option four for University Honors must also complete option one, two, or three to receive both University Honors and Departmental Honors.

Maynor Honors College students will take several courses together during the freshman year prior to beginning their major course work. These courses include several general education courses as well as one interdisciplinary seminar. Students with special scheduling needs as freshmen may petition the Dean of the Maynor Honors College for alternate courses of study during the first semester. All Maynor Honors College students are advised by the Dean of the Maynor Honors College until they declare a major field of study.

The seven HON seminars are usually offered according to the following schedule:

Fall: HON 1000 , 1500, HON 2000 ; Spring: HON 1510 , HON 2010 , HON 2750 ; As Announced: HON 3000

Transfer students and students entering the Maynor Honors College as other than freshmen will also be expected to take the four honors seminars, so long as they can be fitted into the student’s program of study. The number of honors courses that transfer students or non-freshmen will be required to take will be determined by the Dean of the Maynor Honors College, after consultation with the student and the University Honors Council.

Honors Thesis/Project: All Honors College students must complete HON 4000 (Research Methods and Prospectus [one semester hour]) and HON 4500 (Honors Thesis/Project [three semester hours]) prior to graduation. Maynor Honors College students who elect to complete a senior Thesis/Project in their major department may substitute an equivalent departmental course for HON 4500 . The departmental Thesis/Project must meet the standards for the Honors Thesis/Project established by the University Honors Council. The University Honors Council and the Dean of the Maynor Honors College recommend that HON 4000 should be taken during the fall semester of the junior year. Honors College students should plan on presenting their Thesis/Project at the end of the fall semester of the senior year. Requirements and procedures for the Maynor Honors College Thesis/Project are outlined in the Senior Project handbook. Copies of this guide are available from the Dean of the Maynor Honors College.