The Park University Degree with Honors Program: Independent Research Course Requirements

1. Honors Course Enrollment

Students will enroll in HN300 (Research and Writing Orientation), a one credit-hour class-room course, for one semester. After successful completion of HN300, students will enroll in HN303 and HN304 (Honors Scholarship), two credit-hour courses, for two consecutive semesters, working one-on-one with their self-selected faculty mentors. After successful completion of HN303 and HN304, students will enroll in the two credit-hour course HN400 (Honors Seminar) for one semester working with their mentors to complete their projects. The Director completes the enrollment process for the research courses, not the student or the mentor. Honors courses for students at the Parkville campus must be scheduled during the 16-week format. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with the Director by replying to e-mails and phone calls within 48 hours.

2. Mentor Selection

Students will complete a research proposal and identify a faculty mentor while enrolled in HN300. The student will, following discussion with the Program Director, invite the prospective faculty to participate as a mentor. The Program Director will contact the mentor with necessary information. Mentors are requested to maintain regular contact with the Director throughout their three-semester weekly interaction, either face-to-face or on-line, with their student mentees.

Students may change mentors during project completion only in consultation with the present mentor and the Program Director.

3. Syllabi and Schedules

Mentors are required to post syllabi each semester by the second week. Syllabi will be approved by the Program Director or Assistant Director. Students should meet with mentors during the first week of each semester to develop a syllabus and a meeting schedule. The schedule should contain tentative goals reflecting steady progress on the part of the student toward completion of the research project. It should also contain dates for the semester update (see below), a mandatory meeting for students while enrolled in HN303 and HN304 with the Honors and Scholarship Committee. Those dates arrive via e-mail early each semester and are posted on the Announcements page at the website.

4. Mentor/Student Meetings

Students should meet weekly throughout the semester, both face-to-face and electronically (e-mail, e-companion, etc.) with their mentors. A minimum of 10 progress reports recording discussion topics and future planning for each meeting must be submitted via email by the student to the mentor and copied to the Program Director throughout the semester. Progress reports submitted as a group at the conclusion of the semester will not receive credit. A student may not score an “A” in any Honors course if 10 journal entries have not been completed.

Please see instructions regarding progress reports.

Go here for a progress report template.

5. Grade Determination

The mentor awards the student a grade based on the mentor’s grading plan and the submission of progress reports. Students may not earn an “A” in a course unless all progress reports are completed and submitted to the Director and the mentor. Honors course grades are weighted; a grade of “A” will contribute 5 points to calculation of the GPA, rather than the traditional 4 points. Thus, heightened expectations exist for the quality of performance by an Honors Program student who earns an “A”. Courses receive an Honors notation on the transcript.

6. Mentor Stipend

Mentors receive a modest stipend for work with Honors Program students. The stipend is dependent upon certain actions on the part of the mentor, including syllabus posting, regular meetings with students, over-seeing student completion of a minimum of 10 journal submissions per semester, and attendance at one HN302 Research Project Update or HN400 oral practice per semester. Mentors should include their participation in the Program on professional development and achievement documents.

7. Course description and expectations

HN300: This course provides a foundation for the completion of the final project in the Honors Option Program as well as opportunities to gain experience in conducting research. One hour credit. Topics covered include types of research and sources, survey and questionnaire structure and delivery, the purpose of the IRB, development of the research question, and selection of a mentor. During this course students request that faculty serve as mentors in consultation with the Program Director. A research proposal with tentative sources is completed and submitted by semester’s end.

HN303: This course allows an advanced Honors Program student to advance in work on the research project; significant progress on the project is required. Two hours credit. Mentors and students should decide together what will represent significant progress and include those criteria in the posted syllabus. Students may want to complete research that will require submission to the IRB. During the semester, the student and mentor will participate in a public project update hosted by the Honors and Scholarship Committee; see Important dates at the Announcement link on the website. Students are expected to furnish a written narrative and deliver a 10 minute oral report detailing the project research question/topic, thesis/hypothesis, observations/research, and sources relating to the project. Please see Honors Project Update Instructions. The Committee and other attendees may supply suggestions for the student. By course conclusion, students should have a detailed research source list and a tentative outline of the project in hand. Students should meet weekly throughout the semester, both face-to-face and electronically (e-mail, e-companion, etc.) with their mentors. A minimum of 10 progress reports recording discussion topics and future planning for each meeting must be submitted via email by the student to the mentor and copied to the Program Director throughout the semester. Progress reports submitted as a group at the conclusion of the semester will not receive credit.

HN304: This course allows an advanced Honors Program student to advance in work on the research project; significant progress on the project is required. Two hours credit. Mentors and students should decide together what will represent significant progress and include those criteria in the posted syllabus. During the semester, the student and mentor will participate in a public project update hosted by the Honors and Scholarship Committee. Students are expected to furnish a written narrative and deliver a 10-15 minute oral report detailing progress made on the project since the first presentation and summarizing the project. The report will include the project research question/topic, thesis/hypothesis, observations/research, sources relating to the project, and a tentative outcomes prediction. Visuals are strongly recommended. The Committee will expect to observe significant progress since the first update. Please see Honors Project Update Instructions. The student will identify the venue for the public oral presentation to be presented during the following semester (see HN400 below). The Committee and other attendees may supply suggestions for the student. By course conclusion, students should have nearly completed research and the gathering of data/information and have a solid written draft of their project in hand. Students should meet weekly throughout the semester, both face-to-face and electronically (e-mail, e-companion, etc.) with their mentors. A minimum of 10 progress reports recording discussion topics and future planning for each meeting must be submitted via email by the student to the mentor and copied to the Program Director throughout the semester. Progress reports submitted as a group at the conclusion of the semester will not receive credit.

HN400: This course requires final development of the public presentation of the project conducted by the student under guidance of their advisor(s). A major component of this course is the public presentation or other proper forum which allows exposure of the final product. Three hours credit. The student should complete the project early in the semester and prepare for public oral presentation. That presentation may take place at the Great Plains Honors Conference, a professional conference related to the student’s major and/or at the University spring Symposium or other public venue approved by the Program Director in consultation with the mentor. Mid-semester, the student and mentor will participate in an oral practice session hosted by the Honors and Scholarship Committee. Please see oral presentation practice instructions. The presentation and visuals must be near-complete for this presentation. Committee members will furnish an oral and written evaluation of the student’s presentation to the student and mentor. The presentation must receive a “Meets Expectation” or higher rating before a student may deliver the presentation in a public venue. Students should meet weekly throughout the semester, both face-to-face and electronically (e-mail, e-companion, etc.) with their mentors. A minimum of 10 progress reports recording discussion topics and future planning for each meeting must be submitted via email by the student to the mentor and copied to the Program Director throughout the semester. Progress reports submitted as a group at the conclusion of the semester will not receive credit.

8. Requirements for Successful Program Completion

In order to graduate from the Program with Honors in good standing, students must present a high-quality written bound report of their project to the Director two weeks prior to graduation, with a copy presented to the mentor. Please see printed project instructions. In addition, a successful public oral discussion of the project findings and conclusion attended by the mentor, a member of the Honors and Scholarship Committee, or an appointed representative of the Committee must take place prior to graduation. Students must also attend mandatory meetings scheduled by the Director or Assistant Director throughout their four-semester enrollment. Finally, students must maintain a 3.5 GPA until graduation.

Successful completion of the Degree Program with Honors will be noted in the graduation program as well as on the diploma and transcript. Graduates of the Program with Honors will receive a medal to wear during the graduation ceremony.

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