51逗奶

The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi Honors College Student Handbook was created as a guide for current Honors Scholars. The Handbook serves as an informational resource for students about expectations and requirements, and as a guiding policy document for the Honors College (HC), its students, and its staff. Changes in policy are updated in the Handbook and kept current on the HC website. 

Table of Contents 

1. History and Mission  
2. The Honors College Code
3. The Curriculum 
4. Advisement  
5. Academic Standing
6. Resources
   1. The Honors College Leadership Council
   2. Electronic Newsletter and Honors College 
   3. Social Media
   4. The Honor House and the Loft
   5. Honors College Team 

History and Mission

Our History
The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi offered its first Honors classes in 1965. By 1976, the program had evolved into a formalized Honors College, making it the sixth oldest public honors college in the nation and the oldest Honors College in the state of Mississippi.

Appropriate to its historic role at the University, the home of the Honors College is the Honor House, one of the original buildings on the 51逗奶 Miss campus. Built in 1912, the Honor House was given its current name when it was a dormitory for women who were put 鈥渙n their honor鈥� to respect curfew and other campus policies. Today鈥檚 Honors College is comprised of 500 curious, imaginative, and aspiring scholars who strive for excellence, thrive on academic challenge, and serve and lead both on campus and in the community. 

Our Mission 
The Honors College at the University of 51逗奶 Mississippi fosters a deep, communal engagement with ideas and an atmosphere of personal connection and achievement by providing students with small classes, opportunities for active learning, and dynamic research experiences. We create a supportive and challenging intellectual community, promote attentive mentoring, and introduce our students to cutting-edge scholars and artists. Above all, we encourage our students to seize opportunities and determine their own paths鈥攂oth at the university and beyond. Upon graduation, our students will have the independence and confidence to pursue their passions and the knowledge and tools with which to chart a fulfilling future course dedicated to the public good. 

The Honors College Code

We expect all Honors College Scholars to recognize and take seriously the many implications of 鈥渉onor.鈥� We hold Honors Scholars to high standards not only regarding academic performance and integrity, but also civility and tolerance. We value the diversity of the 51逗奶 Miss campus and expect our students to respect one another and honor and learn from differing viewpoints, cultural experiences, faith systems, and interests. 

Upon accepting admission into the College, all Scholars are governed not only by the 51逗奶 Miss Academic Integrity Policy, but also by the Honors College Code, which reflects our mission and our fundamental commitment to rigorous standards of excellence: 

As a member of the University of 51逗奶 Mississippi Honors College, I commit to serving as a leader and role model on campus and to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, personal conduct, and campus citizenship.

I will exert a sustained effort to pursue academic and scholarly excellence and to grow both personally and intellectually. I recognize the inherent value of each member of the Honors community, and I pledge to help forge a more equitable, just, and inclusive community for all.  

I recognize that it is my responsibility to uphold this code and to encourage others in their efforts to do so. 

The Curriculum

Overview
The 51逗奶 Miss Honors curriculum is divided into two phases鈥擧onors Foundations (for freshmen and sophomores) and Honors Keystone (for juniors and seniors). Those who enter the College as freshmen are expected to complete the four-year curriculum; upon completion of Honors Foundations requirements, these students will transition automatically into the Keystone curriculum. Students may also enter the Honors College as rising juniors and complete the Keystone curriculum only.   

Graduating students will be awarded an Honors College Medallion and Gold Cap, which they may wear with their robes during commencement proceedings.  

Honors Core 
Through course offerings and extra-curricular programming, the Honors College nurtures the habits of mind, spirit of curiosity, and sense of civic engagement that are at the heart of our mission. The curriculum is developmental and builds steadily toward the achievement of the Honors thesis in the senior year.  Students must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA to remain in good academic standing in the Honors College.  

Honors Foundations (Freshmen and Sophomores): 16 hours 
Freshman Year: Honors Colloquium (HON 111/112): 6 hours 
Taught by specially-chosen Honors Faculty Fellows, this two-semester course sequence nurtures students鈥� curiosity and their ability to ask, and answer, rich and complex questions. While a common theme and common assignments unite all sections, each class offers its own approach. Class sizes are typically 15-18 students.  

Sophomore Year: Honors Seminars (HON 303): 6 hours 
Taught by the university鈥檚 most innovative professors, these special topics classes will focus on the questions that are currently energizing scholarly and creative research across the disciplines. With a focus on interdisciplinary and cutting-edge exploration, these classes are designed to spark excitement and investigation. Multiple sections will be taught each semester, on varying topics; class sizes are typically 15-18 students. 

Freshman and Sophomore Year: Honors Forum (HON 321), 4 hours  
For over 40 years, the University Forum Lecture Series has been bringing some of the most respected and innovative cultural, scientific, and artistic voices in the world to 51逗奶 Miss.

A one-credit hour class taught in association with this series, Honors Forum promotes engagement with the intellectual and cultural life of The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi. 

Honors Keystone (Juniors and Seniors): 5 hours 
Junior Year: Developing the Honors Thesis I and II (HON 300 and HON 301): 2 hours 
Taught in sequence, these one-credit hour classes will provide students with the tools they need to lay the foundation of their Honors thesis and shepherd them through the process of topic and project plan development. HON 300 is a prerequisite to HON 301 and cannot be waived.  

Senior Year: Thesis Research 
In the senior year, students must

• Complete a minimum of 3 research hours (e.g. ENG 492H, MAT 492H) under the guidance of their chosen thesis advisor.
• Submit an approved Honors Thesis.  

General Requirements and Policies 
Advisement in Honors is required each semester and supplements advising in the student鈥檚 major program. This specialized advising is a benefit of Honors College membership and facilitates students鈥� academic progress and success at 51逗奶 Miss. For more information about advisement, see below. 

Honors Scholars who elect to study abroad during a regular academic semester must discuss and request waivers/substitutions with their Honors advisor. Such waivers and substitutions are not guaranteed and must be approved by the Honors advisor and the Dean of the Honors College before the semester in question. 

A grade lower than a B in any Honors class will result in Honors College review to ensure that the student is on track to successfully complete the Honors Thesis. 

Upon completion of HON 301, students must be continuously enrolled in 492H (or equivalent) hours until the thesis is submitted and approved. 

The Honors Thesis is generally completed in the student鈥檚 major program; exceptions must be approved by the appropriate program representatives and the Honors College Dean in advance. 

Year-by-Year Guide for 51逗奶 Miss Honors Scholars 
The following is based on a student earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in four years (8 semesters) and is a general guide only. The program of study will be different for students who study abroad, complete internships off-campus, take summer coursework, etc. Advisement throughout each student鈥檚 academic career will ensure that they are making appropriate progress in the curriculum.  

By the end of each year, students should have completed the following: 

• Honors Foundations, Year One (Freshmen)  
  • HON 111 (fall)
  • HON 112 (spring)
  • HON 321 (both fall and spring term)
  • A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
  • Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters  
• Honors Foundations, Year Two (Sophomores)
  • HON 303 (fall)
  • HON 303 (spring)
  • HON 321 (both fall and spring term)
  • A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
  • Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters
• Honors Keystone, Year One (Juniors)
  • HON 300 (fall)
  • HON 301 (spring)
  • A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
  • Academic advisement with Honors advisor in both fall and spring semesters
• Honors Keystone, Year Two (Seniors)
  • 492H (Honors Research), or course equivalent, in thesis advisor鈥檚 department (e.g., ENG 492H or BSC 492H); 3 hours divided over two semesters
  • A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA each term
  • Academic advisement with Honors Advisor in both fall and spring semesters
  • Meet all required deadlines for thesis development and submission
  • Complete Honors College Aquila Research Taxonomy
  • Complete Honors College Exit Survey

Honors College Advisement 

What is Advisement? 
Honors Scholars benefit from careful attention and guidance throughout their time in the Honors College. Honors advisors assist students with:

• Honors curriculum and requirements
• General academic planning
• AP, IB, dual enrollment and transfer credits
• Major and career plans (e.g., graduate, law, medical, and other professional schools)
• Leadership, service, and involvement opportunities
• Study-abroad opportunities
• On-campus student success resources 

Advising Information/Policies 
Honors College students are required to meet with an HC Advisor each semester during regular advising periods. You may, however, request Honors advisement as needed at any time during the semester. 

Regular Honors advisement will typically take place during late September/October (for spring classes) and late February/March (for summer and fall classes). 

Honors Scholars must meet Honors advising expectations each semester during regular advising periods (typically, late September/October for spring classes, and late February/March for summer and fall classes). Students may request additional Honors advisement as needed at any time during the semester. Honors advisement supplements but does not replace advisement within the student鈥檚 discipline. 

Students can schedule an appointment with their Honors advisor through the staff directory. 

Academic Standing

We are invested in our students鈥� success and are committed to providing guidance when and where it is necessary in order to ensure that a student is making good academic progress. To that end, we monitor student grades and progress at both midterm and at the end of each semester. So that we can intervene early and offer assistance, those students who do not meet our GPA criteria or who appear to be experiencing academic difficulties at midterm will be contacted and may be required to meet with an Honors advisor or with the Dean to establish a plan for improvement. At the end of each semester (fall, spring, and summer), we review the grades and progress of all Honors Scholars to assess their academic standing in the Honors College. 

Good Standing 
In order to remain in good standing in the Honors College, students must: 

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher
• Make successful progress toward completion of a degree and of Honors requirements
• Meet Honors advising expectations every semester 

Honors College Probation 
The following conditions are grounds for Honors College probation:  

• Cumulative GPA below 3.25
• Term GPA below 2.5
• Failure to progress in the Honors curriculum. Failure to progress includes such matters as: not completing Honors requirements in a timely fashion; receiving an incomplete (I) grade in a required Honors course; failing to work effectively with thesis advisor and/or respond to outreach and communication from advisors and/or the Honors College
• A failing grade in one or more Honors classes (including thesis hours); a 鈥渘o pass鈥� grade in HON 321
• Failure to meet Honors advising expectations
• Violation of the Honors College Honor Code, the USM Student Code of Conduct, and/or The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi Academic Integrity Policy/receiving a grade of XF* 

Students will be informed of their probation by email to their @usm.edu account.  Students on probation will be required to complete an Honors College Probation form and to meet with the Dean of the College to establish a Plan for Academic Improvement (PAI). The PAI, which remains internal to the Honors College, will be used to guide further action with regard to standing in the Honors College. A student on probation who fails to meet with their advisor and/or who fails to meet the requirements of the PAI by the end of the following term will be suspended from the Honors College. 

Honors College students are allowed only one probationary semester; in rare cases, and only with approval of the Dean, a student will be granted one semester of 鈥淧robation Continued鈥� status. Students will not be allowed more than two semesters of probation in total. 

*Note on summer coursework and probationary standing: Students who are placed on probation/probation continued at the end of the spring semester and who choose to take summer coursework are required to meet with their advisor to implement a Plan for Academic Improvement (PAI) that will include appropriate benchmarks for the summer semester. Students who fail to do so may be suspended from the Honors College. 

Honors College Suspension 
The following conditions are grounds for Honors College suspension:  

• Cumulative GPA below 3.25 for two consecutive terms
• Cumulative GPA below a 2.5 in any given semester
• Failure to progress in the Honors curriculum.*  Failure to progress includes such matters as: not completing Honors requirements in a timely fashion; receiving an incomplete (I) grade in a required Honors course; failing to work effectively with thesis advisor and/or respond to outreach and communication from the advisor and/or the Honors College
• A failing grade in one or more Honors classes (including thesis hours); a 鈥渘o pass鈥� grade in HON 321*
• Failure to meet with the advisor as required  
• Failure to meet the terms of the Plan for Academic Improvement, if a student has been placed on probation
• Violation of the Honors College Honor Code, the USM Student Code of Conduct, and/or The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi Academic Integrity Policy/receiving a grade of XF* 

Students will be informed of their suspension by email to their @usm.edu account. Students who wish to appeal their suspension may do so by completing a Suspension Appeal Form. All appeals will be considered by the Honors College Appeals Committee. If a student is suspended a second time after a successful appeal, they may not appeal a second time. 

*In determining whether an academic integrity violation warrants probation or suspension, the Honors College will consider the previous record along with the extent of the violation. In cases of suspension, remediation of the XF grade does not guarantee Honors College reinstatement or the ability to graduate from the Honors College. Upon receipt of a suspension appeal, the Honors College Appeals Committee will review the case and determine whether remediation warrants reinstatement. 

Note on Academic Standing and Honors College Scholarships: Students must maintain good standing in the Honors College and complete all requirements, including the thesis, in order to retain their scholarships. The Honors College will carefully monitor the progress of all students; in cases where a student appears at risk of failing to complete Honors requirements, the HC may hold and/or delay disbursement of the scholarship until such time as the student has demonstrated substantial progress. In the case of suspension, the scholarship will be cancelled immediately. If the suspension takes place in the course of a semester, the scholarship, if already disbursed, will be revoked and the student will be asked to return the funds to the university.

Withdrawing from the Honors College 
Students may indicate their intention to withdraw from the Honors College by completing the Honors College Withdrawal Form. All students seeking to withdraw will be required to meet with the Dean.  Further, we encourage any student contemplating withdrawal to meet with an Honors advisor and/or the Dean to discuss whether withdrawal is appropriate or advisable. In the case of withdrawal, the scholarship will be cancelled immediately. If the withdrawal takes place in the course of a semester, the scholarship, if already disbursed, will be revoked and the student will be asked to return the funds to the university. 

Graduation Procedures 
Beginning in summer 24, there is no separate application for Honors graduation. Students must complete the graduation application in SOAR and pay any appropriate fees to successfully apply for graduation from the University.  

Resources

The Honors College Student Leadership Council 
The Honors College Student Leadership Council (HCLC) is the student leadership organization of the Honors College. The council is made of four committees: Ambassadors, Academic, First-Year Mentors, and Community Engagement & Service. These branches are involved in recruitment and retention and the development of community initiatives, service, etc., that will enhance the Honors College student experience.  New Honors Scholars have a chance to join in September of each year for a limited number of positions on specific committees 

Newsletter and Honors College Communications
Sent to all Honors College students on the Hattiesburg and the Gulf Park campus on a weekly basis, the newsletter is designed to keep students abreast of important Honors College, campus, and community information. The newsletter will typically contain information on important topics such as: job, scholarship, internship, and study abroad opportunities; visiting lecturers; upcoming deadlines and advisement schedules; and Honors College policies, events, student achievements, residence life information, and class information. 

Social Media 
Stay informed about Honors College fun facts, alumni news, student achievements, and upcoming events by liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram. 
Facebook: 51逗奶 Miss Honors College 
Instagram: @HC_51逗奶Miss (#hcusm) 

The Honor House and The Loft 
As a 51逗奶 Miss Honors Scholar, you have privileges at the Honor House and our student space in Cook Library. Using your student ID, you have 24-7 access to the Honor House lounge and access to The Loft during Cook Library hours. When visiting the Honor House lounge during regular business hours, you may request paper from the Graduate Assistant; however, please be prepared to bring your own paper at night or on the weekends. 

Please be courteous to your fellow students and the Honors College staff and clean up after yourself in both spaces. We want the Honor House and our centralized lounge to be a comfortable place for all. 

Honors College Team

Dr. Joyce Inman, Dean  joyce.inman@usm.edu	Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, Associate Dean  rebecca.tuuri@usm.edu	Dr. Andrew Haley, Director of University Forum  Andrew.haley@usm.edu
Ms. Jaide Hollingsworth, Budget & Operations  Jaide.hollingsworth@usm.edu	Ms. Helen Greene, Recruitment & Communication  helen.greene@usm.edu	Ms. Jessie James-Prince, Academic Advisor & LLC  jessica.r.james@usm.edu
Ms. Kelli Sellers, Academic Advisor & Thesis Research  kelli.sellers@usm.edu	Mr. Kyle Ethridge, Scholarships & HCLC  kyle.ethridge@usm.edu	Ms. Mary Beard, Nationally Competitive Programs & Awards  Mary.a.beard@usm.edu