University Honors Program Advising
The University Honors Program has a full-time academic advisor on staff to provide guidance to students as they work through all levels of the UHP curriculum. The Honors advisor works with students from all four academic colleges to help them plan the completion of their Honors requirements while considering their goals, interests, and the other requirements designated by their major or minor.
The Honors advisor is also a point of contact for students with questions about various student support services, campus life, major and/or career exploration, and graduate school preparation.
The Importance of Honors Advising
One of the best ways students can ensure their success in the UHP is to make regular Honors advising appointments. These appointments provide an opportunity for students to check in and make sure they're on track to complete their Honors requirements before graduation. They also provide the opportunity to develop or modify any existing plans for completing remaining requirements based on course availability. One of the benefits of the Honors Program is that the Honors advisor is often available to spend more time with each student to tailor an academic plan that encompasses each students' various interests, requirements, and graduation timeline.
Most Honors advising falls within three categories:
- Orientation/ first-year advising
- Pre-enrollment advising
- Senior Capstone advising
Orientation/ First-Year Advising
This initial advising appointment is required in order to remain active in the Honors Program. After attending an orientation session, students must make an appointment with the Honors advisor to ensure they understand the Program Policies and Requirements as well as to get an understanding of what Honors courses are available for them to take advantage of as they move through the Program.
Pre-enrollment Advising
These advising appointments take place every semester before the Honors early enrollment period. It is highly recommended that students make an appointment each semester in order to receive updates concerning Honors course availability and to plan for the following term. This is also a great opportunity to make sure that students are on course for completing all of their Honors requirements by graduation.
Senior Capstone Advising
These appointments can take place at any time but are recommended for Junior year. The Honors advisor spends time discussing the two different Senior Capstone options and which option might be best suited for each student's preferred learning style and goals for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I still meet with my Undergraduate Advising Resource Center (UARC) or department advisor?
A: Yes. The Honors advisor does not take the place of a UARC or department advisor. While the Honors advisor is equipped to answer most questions relating to the general education requirements for each individual major and the availability of relevant Honors courses, there may be specific requirements or course recommendations to be considered. Students are recommended to meet with both their appointed advisor and the Honors advisor as necessary. In some cases, students are required to meet with a UARC or department advisor before they are allowed to enroll in courses for a given semester.
Q: There is an advising hold on my account that makes it so I can't register for classes. Can the Honors advisor remove this?
A: No. Students must meet with the advisor appointed to them in order to have an advising hold listed. In order to take advantage of the Honors early enrollment period, students are encouraged to check TitanWeb to see if a hold like this exists as early as possible in order to make any necessary arrangements.
Q: Is Honors advising required?
A: Students newly admitted to the UHP are required to schedule an initial advising appointment after their orientation session; however, all other Honors advising, while very highly recommended, is not required unless otherwise stated by a UHP staff member.
Q: Do I need to bring anything with me to my Honors advising appointment?
A: No. The Honors advisor has the ability to bring up each student's records and STAR report on the computer, though students are encouraged to bring a copy of their own if they wish to make notes. Students are also encouraged to bring any planning sheets or advising tools provided by the UHP or their UARC/department advisors.
Need to schedule an Honors advising appointment?
There are two ways to schedule an Honors advising appointment depending on the time of year. Please note that the advisor's availability changes during the interim and summer months.
- The advising binder
The advising binder
During the first six weeks of each semester, students wishing to schedule an advising appointment are required to sign up in the Honors advising binder. Due to the Honors early enrollment period, this timeframe marks a much higher volume of advising appointments making them impossible to schedule via email. The Honors advising binder is kept outside the Honors offices in Dempsey 146. Each day provides a list of times available for students to sign up for an appointment. Please note:
- It is the student's responsibility to remember the time for which they have signed up. Students are encouraged to write down what time they have selected as reminders will not be provided. Missed appointments take away valuable time from other students, so please select a time carefully and plan accordingly.
- Changes to the appointment schedule can not be made the day of. If a student wishes to cancel or reschedule an appointment, they will need to contact the Honors advisor via email and then sign up for a different time if necessary.
- Students may only sign up for one appointment slot unless they receive special permission from a UHP staff member.
After the early enrollment period, students should email the Honors advisor to set up an appointment. Each email should include:
- The student's ID number
- The reason why the appointment is being requested
- A few different times during which the student is available to meet
