Student Handbook H O N O R S

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H O N O R S

Student Handbook

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Welcome to the

Honors College

Congratulations on your admission to the Seneff Honors College! We are delighted you have chosen Valencia to continue your education. As Honors Director, I want to welcome you to a dynamic community of faculty and students dedicated to excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Though the Seneff Honors College is only three years old, the honors tradition at Valencia College is over twenty-five years old and was founded to provide students the opportunity for academic and personal growth in a unique environment where intellectual exploration and quality teaching are the primary goals. You now become part of that tradition. You will be expected to challenge your own presumptions, to think creatively, to be audacious in your acts and ideas. In short, you will be expected to be exceptional.

Still, we do not expect you to do this alone. Fellow honors students will offer

encouragement; some will become lifelong friends. Honors faculty will eagerly focus on your success as they constantly assess your potential. Advisors and staff will assist and offer direction when needed. Even after graduation, the honors alumni network will form the basis of your continuing commitment. As part of this extended honors community, you too will be expected to lend vitality to the whole by participating in service and leadership opportunities, by being engaged in the classroom and in the college —by being not just an honors student, but also an honorable individual. I have no doubt you will meet this challenge and exceed your own expectations.

Again, I offer a warm welcome and congratulations as you embark on this exciting journey of self-discovery; and I look forward to working with you with great anticipation.

Best Wishes

Dr. Cheryl Robinson Director, Honors College

The vision of the Seneff Honors College

is to discover potential in students

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Honors Resource Centers

As a Seneff honors student, you will have access to the Honors Resource Centers at each campus. The Honors Resource Centers provide a place for honors students to study, access computers and meet with fellow honors students. On East Campus, the resource center is located in the library, room 117; there are two desktop computers and students may check out laptops reserved for them at the Audiovisual Services desk. At Osceola, the resource center is located in the new building 4, room 206 (in the library); there are two desktop computers and a large wall monitor to which a laptop can be connected. On West Campus, the resource center is located in the library, room 201B; there are three computers for student use. And at Winter Park, the resource center is located in room 223.

Expectations of Honors Students . . . 4

Honors College Program Tracks . . . 6

Honors Courses . . . 12

FAQs about Honors Classes . . . 15

Scholarship Information . . . 16

Graduation Requirements . . . 18

Honors Student Advisory Committee . . . 19

What is Co-Curricular? . . . 20

Making the Most of Your Honors Experience

Service Learning . . . 21

Study Abroad . . . 21

Perks . . . 21

Become Involved . . . 22

BayCare Student Assistance Program . . . 22

Alumni Network . . . 22

Transfer . . . 23

Planning Section . . . 26

Student Expectations

Students of the Seneff Honors College are members of a community that embraces diversity and individuality while sharing a common commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. In this spirit, these expectations have been set forth:

• Students are expected to exemplify academic and personal integrity by being familiar with and conscientiously adhering to all aspects of the Valencia Student Code of Conduct (see valenciacollege .edu/pdf/studenthandbook .pdf).

• Students are expected to abide by accepted standards of academic originality and creativity, to conduct themselves honorably in collaborative and group work, and to refrain from resubmitting work prepared for one course in another without permission of both professors.

• Students are expected to demonstrate respect for fellow students and for faculty at all times and to contribute meaningfully to a productive classroom environment.

• Students are expected to be ambitious learners, exhibiting academic enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity.

• Students are expected to participate in the well-being of the honors community by regularly attending meetings and events, by taking part in service activities, by keeping informed of program happenings, by behaving appropriately in the Honors Resource Centers, and by contributing to the development of the program.

• Students are expected to understand their role as exemplars, to act accordingly both on and off campus, and to refrain from activity that may be detrimental to the reputation of the Seneff Honors College, to Valencia College, or to other honors students.

• Students are expected to hold fellow honors students accountable when these expectations are not met.

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• IDH 2120 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III (6 credits)

equates to Science (Non-Laboratory Core, or Institutional, 3 credits) Social Science (Institutional, 3 credits)

(offered only in fall term) AND

• IDH 2121 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV (6 credits)

equates to Humanities (Institutional, 3 credits) Social Science (Core, 3 credits) (offered only in spring term)

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer).

This may include international travel experience, field trips to cultural locations, colloquia, reading circles, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar .cfm)

or by contacting your campus honors counselor.

LEADERSHIP TRACK

The LEADERSHIP TRACK is designed to create citizen scholars—individuals whose action is informed by theory. Students who complete the Leadership Track will be able to:

• Develop a working, evolving and individual leadership theory or style; • Practice leadership principles through their campus activities and continued

community involvement;

• Identify opportunities to make social change.

To satisfy the requirements of the Leadership Track, students must complete a total of 23 credits of Honors coursework in the following courses:

• SLS 2261H – Leadership Development – Honors (3 credits)

• At least two of the following courses (6 credits)

- SPC 1608H – Fundamentals of Speech – Honors - ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors - ENC 1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors

- Any Honors Gordon Rule writing courses (to see a full list of Gordon Rule honors classes, students should consult the current Valencia catalog, option can be used twice)

Honors College

Program Tracks

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TRACK

The INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TRACK is designed to create an integrative, holistic education experience that empowers a global and diverse perspective. The courses are team-taught by faculty members from several disciplines and provide students with a strong background in liberal arts. The program has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges as one of the best general education programs in the country. Students who complete the Interdisciplinary Studies Track will be able to:

• Apply principles of dialogic argument in written and verbal communication; • Compare, contrast and explain the significance of different historic ages; •Compare, contrast and integrate knowledge of diverse cultures and disciplines. To satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Studies Track, students must complete a total of 24 credits of Honors coursework, at least 18 of which must be in three of the following courses:

• IDH 1110 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I (6 credits)

equates to Freshman Composition I (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits) Humanities (Core, 3 credits)

(offered only in fall term) OR

• IDH 1112 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education (6 credits)

equates to Humanities (Non-Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits) Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits) (offered only in fall term)

AND

• IDH 1111 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II (6 credits)

equates to Freshman Composition II (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits) Natural Science (Non-Laboratory, Core, 3 credits) (offered only in spring term)

AND

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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRACK

The UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRACK is designed to further develop students who are familiar with the process, practice, and principles of scholarly inquiry in an academic community and is especially suited for students who plan to attend graduate or professional school. Students who complete the Undergraduate Research Track will be able to:

• Complete a discipline-specific research project; • Present research in a peer-reviewed, academic setting.

To satisfy the requirements of the Undergraduate Research Track, students must complete a total of 24 credits of honors coursework:

• IDH 2911 Honors Research Process (2 credits) – this honors course will introduce

students to the process of research (i.e. the tools, concepts, and resources necessary to search, evaluate, and use information in a variety of formats and subject disciplines). The focus will be to analyze and utilize information critically using a broad range of materials and interdisciplinary concepts needed for honors research and academic/professional success.

• Individual Honors Study Plan (12 – 15 credits) – honors courses designed to

enhance the individual student’s research plan, developed in consultation with the track coordinator and a faculty mentor. Approved study plans are kept on file in the Honors Office.

• IDH 2912 Honors Project (1 credit) – the student will complete, under the

guidance of a faculty mentor, a project that will define and execute a research question. Guidelines will be established regarding format, standards and review of projects.

• Additional honors coursework (6 – 9 credits) – students are encouraged to work

with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and prerequisite requirements for their intended majors.

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include participation in the Valencia Research Symposium, presentation of original research at local, regional, and national honors and/or discipline conferences, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar .cfm)

or by contacting your campus honors counselor. • At least one of the following courses (3 credits)

- POS 2041H – U.S. Government – Honors - INR 2002H – International Politics – Honors - AMH 2010H – U.S. History to 1877 – Honors

- AMH 2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present – Honors - SYG 2000H – Intro to Sociology – Honors

- PSY 2012H – General Psychology – Honors

• Experiential Learning (2 credits)

- SLS 2940H – Service Learning – Honors

• Additional Honors Coursework (9 credits) – Students are encouraged

to work with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and prerequisite requirements for their intended majors. In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include community service, campus leadership, involvement with Phi Theta Kappa activities, mentoring programs, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at

valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar .cfm)

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GLOBAL STUDIES TRACK

The GLOBAL STUDIES TRACK is designed to provide a well-rounded general education curriculum with thematically-integrated courses, with an emphasis on creating global citizens. Students who complete the Global Studies Track will be able to:

• Articulate their values and how they fit into a global society;

• Explore multiple perspectives on an issue that impacts a global world;

• Articulate a breadth of knowledge about nations and regions around the world,

such as their geographies, languages, religions, currencies and cultures. To satisfy the curricular aspect of the Global Studies Track, students must complete a total of 23 credits of honors coursework:

• SLS 1501H – Honors Seminar (1 credit) – this seminar will introduce students to a

variety of academic topics. The seminar is designed to allow students to explore issues important to self-discovery and intellectual growth, and to understand their role and responsibility in the educational process.

• IDH 2028H – Honors Capstone (1 credit) – this course is designed to provide

perspective to students at the conclusion of their curricular and co-curricular work in the Honors College. Students in the course will present their honors portfolios to fellow students, faculty and staff. This course will also provide opportunities for discussion and reflection about students’ experiences in the honors learning community.

• SLS 1122H – New Student Experience – Honors (3 credits)

• ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors (3 credits)

• HUM 102OH – Introduction To Humanities – Honors (3 credits)

• ECO 2013 – Principles Of Economics-Macro (3 credits)

• SPC 1017H – Interpersonal Communications – Honors (3 credits)

• PAX 1000 – Introduction To Peace Studies (3 credits)

• ENC1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors (3 credits)

• ANT 2000H – Introductory Anthropology – Honors (3 credits)

• REL 2300H – Understanding Religious Traditions (3 credits)

• SLS 2940H – Service Learning – Honors (2 credits)

• INR 2002H – International Politics (3 credits)

• EVR 1001 – Introduction To Environmental Science (3 credits)

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• WOH 2003 – A History Of Genocide (3 credits)

OR

• POS 2041 – U .S . Government (3 credits)

• ECO 2023 – Principles Of Economics-Micro (3 credits)

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include service learning, short-term study abroad, mentoring, cultural field trips, civic projects, reading groups, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at

http://valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar .cfm) or by

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Honors Courses

In addition to track options, there are a number of honors classes students can take to fulfill program and elective course requirements. The following courses are available as honors sections:

AMH 2010H U .S . History to 1877

AMH 2020H U .S . History 1877 to Present

AML 2011H Survey in American Literature: Colonial Period to Civil War AML 2021H Survey in American Literature: Civil War to Present

ARH 2051H Intro to Art History II

AST 1002H Astronomy

BSC 1005H Biological Science

BSC 1010H Fundamentals of Biology I BSC 1011H Fundamentals of Biology II BSC 1026H Biology of Human Sexuality BSC 1050H Environmental Science

CHM 1045H General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis I CHM 1046H General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis II DEP 2004H Developmental Psychology

ECO 2013H Principles of Economics – Macro ECO 2023H Principles of Economics – Micro ENC 1101H Freshman Composition I ENC 1102H Freshman Composition II GLY 2100H Historical Geology

HUM 1020H Introduction to Humanities HUM 2220H Humanities – Greek and Roman

HUM 2223H Humanities – Late Roman and Medieval HUM 2232H Humanities – Renaissance and Baroque HUM 2234H Humanities – Enlightenment and Romanticism HUM 2250H Humanities – Twentieth Century

HUM 2310H Humanities – Mythology in Art and Literature

IDH 1111 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II IDH 1112 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IDH 2120 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III IDH 2121 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV

IDH 2028 Honors Capstone

IDH 2911 Honors Research Process

IDH 2912 Honors Project

INR 2002H International Politics LIT 2090H Contemporary Literature

LIT 2120H Survey in World Literature – Enlightenment to Present LIT 2174H Multimedia Literature and the Holocaust

MAC 1105H College Algebra

MAC 2233H Calculus for Business and Social Science MAC 2311H Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MAC 2312H Calculus with Analytic Geometry II OCE 1001H Intro to Oceanography

PCB 1440H Florida Environmental Systems PHY 2048H General Physics I with Calculus PHY 2049H General Physics II with Calculus POS 2041H U .S . Government I

PSY 2012H General Psychology

SLS 1501H Honors Seminar

SLS 2261H Leadership Development SLS 2940H Service Learning

SPC 1017H Interpersonal Communication SPC 1608H Fundamentals of Speech

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FAQs

about honors classes

What is different about honors classes?

Honors classes at Valencia encourage students to become engaged and act outside of the classroom. In addition, students demonstrate creative thinking as it relates to course content. Beyond this, honors classes are smaller than non-honors classes, with enrollment capped at 20 students per class.

Are honors classes harder?

Many students mistakenly believe that honors classes will be harder than regular classes. Honors courses provide students and faculty the opportunity to develop ideas and engage in work that would be more difficult in a typical, lecture-style class. Most students find they actually do better in honors classes because of the close interaction between professors and students and the sense of community that develops.

Are honors course grades weighted?

No. Unlike high school, college honors courses are not weighted in the calculation of your grade point average.

How does grade forgiveness work for honors classes?

You may use an honors section and a non-honors section of the same course interchangeably for grade forgiveness. That means, if you take ENC 1101H and get an “F,” you can take ENC 1101 (non-honors) and receive grade forgiveness. However, if grade forgiveness is applied to an honors section due to your successful completion of a non-honors section of the same course, no honors credit will be awarded for your successful completion. For full details, consult the current college catalog.

How do I remain in good standing in the program?

To remain in good standing, students must maintain a minimum cumulative Valencia GPA of 3.0. A student whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be inactivated in the program. Students who subsequently raise their GPA to at least 3.0 can request to be reactivated.

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Scholarship

Information

The Seneff Honors College awards a limited number of full tuition, non-transferable scholarships to admission candidates who demonstrate academic promise and who commit to one of the four available curriculum tracks: Interdisciplinary Studies Track, Leadership Track, Global Studies Track, or Undergraduate Research Track. All eligible students who apply for the Seneff Honors College will be considered for scholarship awards. Awards are renewable for up to three terms and cover up to 15 credits per term excluding lab fees.

Initial Eligibility:

1. Apply and be accepted to Valencia.

2. Apply and be accepted into a curricular track of the Seneff Honors College. 3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results are

received prior to the start of the term of admission, and satisfy any verification requirements if selected.

4. Meet Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Purposes. 5. Seek an A.A. degree.

6. Enroll in at least nine credits each term, including one Honors class. 7. Be eligible for the Florida resident tuition rate.

Renewal Eligibility:

1. Scholarship is renewed on a term-by-term basis.

2. Students must make good progress towards graduation in a curricular track as determined by the Honors Director and complete the 15 hour co-curricular requirement each term.

3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results are received prior to the start of classes each year, and satisfy any verification requirements if selected.

4. Continue to be seeking an A.A. degree.

5. Enroll in at least nine credit hours each term including one Honors class. 6. Maintain a 3.25 GPA.

7. Complete at least 75 percent of attempted credits to be renewed in subsequent terms.

8. All students receiving any form of financial aid must meet the standards of academic progress as outlined by the federal government. See

valenciacollege .edu/finaid/programs/satisfactory_progress .cfm for

Valencia Foundation Scholarships

The Valencia Foundation offers a number of privately-funded scholarships that are donated by organizations and individuals interested in supporting Valencia’s students. The Foundation maintains over 650 named scholarships, academic support funds, endowed teaching chairs, and fellowships. Students are encouraged to apply for Foundation scholarships through the separate online application available at

valencia .org/scholarships/scholarship_application .cfm. Eligibility criteria varies.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Each year, a limited number of scholarships are available to fund student travel on the approved honors international trip. For more information, see the Study Abroad section of this handbook or visit valenciacollege .edu/international/studyabroad/students/ financialaid .cfm.

Transfer Scholarships

Many four-year colleges and universities have specific honors-only scholarships available for transfer students. There are also a small number of elite transfer scholarship programs for which students are eligible and for which we can assist. To learn more, see the

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Graduation

Requirements

Honors students will be offered three levels of graduation distinction: 1 The term SENEFF HONORS COLLEGE SCHOLARS is reserved for

those students who successfully complete the curricular and co-curricular requirements of one of the program tracks, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, and who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.5.

2 The term VALENCIA HONORS SCHOLARS is reserved for those students who successfully complete at least 18 hours of honors coursework, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.33, and who complete 30 hours of approved co-curricular activities.

3 Students who successfully complete at least 12 hours of honors coursework within a maximum of 80 total credit hours, who earn no less than a “C” in each honors class*, and who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 will earn an HONORS CERTIFICATE.

* See college grade forgiveness policy.

At the Commencement Ceremony, honors graduates walk first in the A.A. student processional and wear stoles, cords, medallions, and/or tassels depending on the program they complete.

To qualify for honors graduation, students must complete both a regular Valencia College graduation application and a Seneff Honors College graduation application by the published deadline. For more about Valencia College graduation, see

valenciacollege .edu/graduation. The honors graduation application may be accessed

at valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/gradapp .cfm.

Honors Student

Advisory Committee

The mission of the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC) is to promote academic excellence among honors students at Valencia. The HSAC seeks to foster communication, to plan events, to make decisions, to develop partnerships, and to coordinate outreach with the sole goal of enriching the academic experience and quality of education for honors students at all of Valencia’s campuses.

The HSAC acts as the sole advisory and communication body representing Valencia honors students on issues relating to academics, fellowship, cultural enrichment, and the honors student activities budget. It is the aim of the HSAC to provide a voice to all active members of the Seneff Honors College in all matters that directly impact the same issues. Membership in the HSAC is open at all times. All Valencia honors students are invited and welcome to attend any and all public meetings of the HSAC so long as they meet the aforementioned criteria. Students are welcome to attend as many, or as few, of the HSAC meetings as they so choose.

An executive board of officers oversees the agenda and activities of the HSAC. The executive board is made up of the following elected officers: president, four vice presidents (one each from East, Osceola, West, and Winter Park campuses), a treasurer, and secretary. Further, there are several historians who serve to record and assist in HSAC meetings and sponsored events. Election of the HSAC president is held at the last meeting of the spring term; all other officers are elected at the first meeting in the fall term. If you have questions or concerns, you are encouraged to contact the current HSAC president at HSACPresident@valenciacollege.edu.

Each summer, the HSAC hosts a leadership and planning retreat for the upcoming year. All new and returning students are encouraged to attend and become involved. The HSAC is your outlet for service to the Seneff Honors College.

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Making the Most

of Your Honors

Experience

Service Learning

Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service Learning allows students and faculty to blend educational goals with their passions. Honors students can earn honors credit for Service Learning experience and have the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary connections between different fields of study and thought. In addition, students who complete at least 40 hours of service learning activity will be awarded a special medallion when they graduate. For more information, visit the Service Learning page at valenciacollege .edu/servicelearning.

Study Abroad

Each year, the Seneff Honors College offers at least one section of IDH 2955, “Honors Study Abroad.” The course is planned in conjunction with one of the program tracks with the goal of providing every Seneff student the opportunity to travel internationally as part of the honors curriculum. Student travel on these trips is supported by scholarship dollars; in 2015, the average cost to the student for a nine day trip to the Netherlands (after scholarships) was about $1,000. For more information, visit the Study Abroad and Global Experience page at valenciacollege .edu/international/studyabroad.

Perks

Some of the perks of the Seneff Honors College are: • Priority registration

• Honors Resource Centers • Honors-only scholarships

• College-sponsored travel to conferences and on course field trips • Honors-specific advising

• Graduation recognition

What is

“Co-Curricular”?

Co-curricular activities are experiences outside of the classroom that connect you to the Seneff Honors College, Valencia College and the community. Co-curricular activities are designed to reinforce classroom learning as well as build relationships with faculty and peers. Co-curricular activities are offered in a variety of ways. They can be workshops, community service events, service to the Seneff Honors College such as assisting with recruitment efforts, and attending events on campus such as Peace and Justice Institute offerings.

Students in the Seneff Honors College are required to do 15 hours of co-curricular activities each term and, along with taking Honors classes and earning a high Grade Point Average, are a part of the requirement to graduate with an Honors diploma. You can search the available co-curricular options at valenciacollege .edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar .cfm. The calendar will show the title and location of the

activity, along with the number of hours that activity will earn. In order to earn credit for participating in the activity you must complete the Co-curricular Activity Confirmation Form located on the Honors Calendar website (see above). The form should be

completed within 7 days of the activity to make sure you keep an up-to-date list of your co-curricular activities, but must be submitted before the term ends.

If there is an event occurring at the College or in the community that you believe would be a great opportunity for everyone in the Seneff Honors College, you can complete the Request to Add Event to the Honors Calendar form for inclusion consideration. Individual volunteerism in the community is a valuable endeavor but will not be considered as a co-curricular event for Honors credit as our events should foster connection with other Seneff Honors College faculty and students. Attendance at any non-calendar events must have prior approval from your Track Coordinator.

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Transfer

When thinking about transfer, it is never too early to start. In fact, students should begin planning for transfer during their first year at Valencia. Those who wait until their second year often find themselves scrambling to research options and put together the right transfer strategy. Your approach will vary depending on what school(s) and program(s) you choose. Generally speaking, there are three distinct paths you can take, each requiring different planning and preparation:

• Honors-to-Honors: If your goal is to transfer to an honors program or college at a

four-year school, you will require considerable lead-time to investigate the options. Your first question will be whether or not they allow transfer students to enter the program and graduate on par with ‘native’ students (i.e., students who began at that institution). Many will allow transfer students to enter the program; but, when you scratch beneath the surface, you may find that it is next to impossible for transfers to complete the requirements for honors graduation. Your best bet is to communicate with the program director early and often. For students desiring the transfer to The Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida, Valencia College is one of a handful of schools that have an honors-to-honors articulation agreement with UCF. Graduating students wishing to transfer to The Burnett Honors College should have a minimum of 18 credits of honors work at Valencia and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.

• Private and Out-of-State Colleges and Universities: Valencia College has an

excellent tradition of placing honors students in some of the most elite institutions in the country, including Amherst College, Emory University, Smith College, Columbia University, and UC-Berkeley. In most cases, transferring institutions will evaluate your Valencia transcript course by course. Very rarely do students lose a great deal of coursework in transfer. Still, you will want to communicate with the institution directly before making final decisions. It is well known that some institutions are more transfer-friendly than others. Speaking with a transfer admission specialist at the school will give you a good sense for this, as will doing research online or consulting one of the useful peer-to-peer discussion sites, such as collegeconfidential .com.

• Florida Public Colleges and Universities: Perhaps the easiest transfer situation

to manage is when students are transferring to a Florida public college or university. Statewide articulation agreements guarantee that courses you take at Valencia will, with few exceptions, transfer to the accepting institution. Even so, you will want to make sure you are taking the right classes at the freshman and sophomore level to be prepared for upper division coursework. Florida has established an online advising and transfer tool to assist students throughout the process: floridashines .org. This site allows students to determine how best to chart

a path to the baccalaureate program of their choice.

Become Involved

To whom much is given, much is required. Honors students are expected to participate

in the life of the program and the college by regularly attending meetings, events, and academic discussions and by treating all faculty, staff, and fellow students with respect. Beginning students should plan to become involved at the college in a way that speaks to their individual interests and offers a possibility for positive impact. A few of the clubs and organizations at Valencia include:

• East Campus Student Research Community • West Campus Book Club

• Phi Theta Kappa – the international honors society for two-year colleges • Brain Bowl – a Jeopardy-style academic competition

• Valencia Voice – the college newspaper • The Phoenix – the college literary journal

• Valencia Volunteers – providing service opportunities to Valencia students* • Student Government Association

• Model United Nations – academic simulation of the United Nations • Student Leader Team – providing peer assistance and education

This is just a sampling of the clubs and organizations available at Valencia. For a full list, visit valenciacollege .edu/studentdev/clubs2 .cfm or drop by the Student Development

office on your home campus.

* Students who document at least 100 hours of service while at Valencia will be eligible to graduate with a service cord.

BayCare Student Assistance Program

College can be stressful. If you need support, advice, or just a friendly ear, help is only a phone call away. Call 800-878-5470. BayCare Student Assistance Program is a free service to Valencia students.

Alumni Network

In 2009, the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA!) was formed by graduating honors students to raise scholarship funds and provide transfer assistance to current honors students. A wide network of former Valencia honors students can be found at

undergraduate, graduate and professional schools throughout the nation. Amongst the AHA! members are two Jack Kent Cooke scholars, several past members of the All-USA Academic Team, and countless recipients of other prestigious scholarship awards; these honors alumni have been extremely generous with their time and advice. Each summer, AHA! holds an event to which students in the Seneff Honors College are invited. This offers an excellent opportunity for current students to meet and connect with the honors alumni network.

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• All-USA Community College Academic Team: The All-USA Community College

Academic Team is presented by USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa and sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group. Twenty students will be selected to the national team, each receiving a $2,500 scholarship and medallion. Students nominated to the All-USA Community College Academic Team are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Team.

• Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team: The Coca-Cola Scholars

Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team. Fifty students will be named Gold Scholars, each receiving a $1,500 scholarship, fifty students will be named Silver Scholars, each receiving a $1,250 scholarship, and fifty students will be named Bronze Scholars, each receiving a $1,000

scholarship. A state may have multiple Gold, Silver, or Bronze Scholars. All scholars will also receive special medallions. The top scoring student in each of the fifty states will be named a New Century Scholar and will receive a $2,000 stipend. • Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund supports several

scholarship programs for students of Latino background. To learn about these programs, visit the HSF webpage at hsf .net.

For more information about these and other transfer scholarships, contact Dr. Cheryl Robinson at crobinson@valenciacollege.edu.

Transfer Scholarships

A number of schools have scholarships for transfer students graduating from honors programs. The following is a partial list of colleges and universities that offer honors-specific transfer scholarships:

• Hamilton Holt School at Rollins College • University of Central Florida

• New College of Florida • Stetson University • University of Tampa • Florida Atlantic University • Florida International University • Illinois Institute of Technology

Honors students may also be eligible for the following

prestigious scholarships:

• Hites Scholarship: Established by a generous gift from Robert F. Hites to the

Valencia Foundation, the Hites Scholarship is awarded each year to the most outstanding graduate of the Seneff Honors College.

• Association of Honors Alumni Transfer Scholarship: Each year, the Association of

Honors Alumni (AHA!) selects a graduating honors student as the recipient of this scholarship, which is partially funded by the rose sale at Commencement.

• Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: The Jack Kent Cooke

Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship honors excellence by supporting outstanding community college students with financial need to transfer to and complete their bachelor’s degrees at the nation’s top four-year colleges and universities. The Foundation provides up to $30,000 per year to each of approximately 70 deserving students selected annually, making it the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country.

• Guistwhite Scholarships: The purpose of this merit-based program is to recognize

the scholarly achievements of Phi Theta Kappa members and enhance members’ attainment of baccalaureate degrees. Up to 20 members will receive scholarships of $5,000 each for completion of baccalaureate degrees. To be eligible, a student must post a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and transfer to a college or university upon completion of coursework at a community college.

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INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TRACK

(24 credits of honors coursework)

Courses Term Grade Credits

At least three of the following:

IDH 1110 or IDH 1112 – Interdis. Stud. in Gen Ed I _________ _________ _________ IDH 1111 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed II _________ _________ _________ IDH 2120 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed III _________ _________ _________ IDH 2121 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed IV _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ Co-curricular Activities

Date Activity Hours

__________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________

LEADERSHIP TRACK

(23 credits of honors coursework)

SLS 2261H – Leadership Development – Honors _________ _________ _________

Two of the following:

SPC 1608H – Fundamentals of Speech – Honors _________ _________ _________ ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors _________ _________ _________ ENC 1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors _________ _________ _________ Honors Gordon Rule Course _________ _________ _________ Honors Gordon Rule Course _________ _________ _________

One of the following:

POS 2041H – U.S. Government – Honors _________ _________ _________ INR 2002H – International Politics – Honors _________ _________ _________ AMH 2010H – U.S. History to 1877 – Honors _________ _________ _________ AMH 2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present – Honors _________ _________ _________ SYG 2000H – Intro to Sociology – Honors _________ _________ _________ PSY 2012H – General Psychology – Honors _________ _________ _________ SLS 2940H – Service Learning – Honors _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ Co-curricular Activities

__________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________

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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRACK

(24 credits of honors coursework)

IDH 2911 – Honors Research Process _________ _________ _________

Individual Honors Study Plan

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ IDH 2912 – Honors Project _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ _______________________________________ _________ _________ _________ Co-curricular Activities

__________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ Co-curricular Activities

__________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________

GLOBAL STUDIES TRACK

(23 credits of honors coursework)

Courses Term Grade Credits

SLS 1501H – Honors Seminar _________ _________ _________ IDH 2028 – Honors Capstone _________ _________ _________ SLS 1122H – New Student Experience – Honors _________ _________ _________ ENC 1101H – Freshman Composition I – Honors _________ _________ _________ HUM 102OH – Introduction To Humanities – Honors _________ _________ _________ ECO 2013 – Principles Of Economics-Macro _________ _________ _________ SPC 1017H – Interpersonal Communications – Honors _________ _________ _________ PAX 1000 – Introduction To Peace Studies _________ _________ _________ ENC1102H – Freshman Composition II – Honors _________ _________ _________ ANT 2000H – Introductory Anthropology – Honors _________ _________ _________ REL 2300H – Understanding Religious

Traditions – Honors _________ _________ _________ SLS 2940H – Service Learning– Honors _________ _________ _________ INR 2002H – International Politics– Honors _________ _________ _________ EVR 1001 – Introduction To Environmental Science _________ _________ _________ WOH 2003 – A History Of Genocide _________ _________ _________ or POS 2041 – U.S. Government _________ _________ _________ ECO 2023 – Principles Of Economics-Micro _________ _________ _________

Co-curricular Activities

__________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________ __________ _________________________________________________ _________

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