Honors Connect

Being an Honors Student is about more than just academic course work. It is also important that Honors Students become active members of their Program, their campus, and their community as a way to give back to the systems that have supported them and to broaden their experience base.

Group of students sitting outside of library with coffee drinks and chatting.
Honors Program

Requirements For Graduation and Program Completion

Honors Connect is required to be eligible for any Honors scholarships and to receive priority registration status.

Students should participate in a mix of activities to stay engaged with their Honors community. Points will be earned based on activity type and activity options and points will be communicated to all students through the Honors email newsletter. Alternative activities can be considered on a case-by-case basis for students whose schedules do not allow regular attendance at the designated activities, including students with outside work or family commitments and commuter students. Students may log alternate activities and will be notified if those activities do not meet the minimum threshold to be considered community engagement.

  • First Year Experience Students must participate with at least 5 Honors Connect Points each semester of their first year to receive the First Year Experience completion.
  • University Honors Program Students must participate with a least 5 Honors Connect Points each semester to remain active in Honors Program and receive University Honors distinction at graduation.
  • Honors Capstone Experience Students must participate with at 5 Honors Connect Points each semester to receive the Capstone Experience completion on their Transcript.

Requirements For Priority Registration Status

Students who earn a minimum of 10 Honors Connect points during the past semester are eligible to be on the list for priority registration for registration of classes during the following semester, as long as they continue to be eligible for priority registration based on all other requirements through their registration date and are making adequate progress through the curriculum toward Honors Program completion. Adequate progress through Honors Program curriculum is determined by having a plan filed with the Honors Program that is shared with the major advisor, included in the student’s Plan of Study/Degree Worksheet in Degree Works, as well as the student being on track as stated in the plan. All decisions regarding on track status are determined by the Honors Undergraduate Academic Engagement Executive Director.

Honors Co-Curricular - Categories and Points

Workshops – 2 points each

Examples include:

  • Grad School: What is it, do I need it, and how would I pay for it?
  • How to Win with Your Presentation
  • Best Kept Secrets of College
  • Scholarships and Fellowships 101
  • Resume writing for Honors Students

Faculty Mixer Events – 2 points each

Examples include:

  • Coffee with the Profs – In Fall semester, a chance to meet with faculty across various departments in an informal setting.
  • Faculty Colloquium Series – Presentations by professors regarding an area of their current research, such as “Costume and Identity” by Dr. Tom Endres or “Wolves in Mythology” by Dr. Kristin Bovaird-Abbo.

Honors Community & SHAC Activities – 2 points each

Examples include:

  • Cosmic Ice Skating
  • Day Hikes
  • Self-Care Saturday
  • Crafting (topics vary)
  • Game Nights
  • Bob Ross Paint Along
  • Open Mic Nights
  • McNair Scholars events
    • McNair Scholars Research Reception – 2 points
    • Cohort activities – 1 point

Campus and Community Events – 1 point each (Max 5 points)

Submit your campus and community events through “Campus and Community Events” Assignment in Canvas.

Examples include:

  • Community Events
  • Cultural Center Events
  • Leadership Activities such as being an officer in a campus organization or participating in student government.
  • Performing and Visual Arts Sponsored Events (spectator)
  • UNITE Workshops
  • Other extra-curricular activities – including activities and events hosted by Stryker Institute for Leadership, President’s Leadership Program, Reisher Scholars, clubs or RHA.
  • Participating in local or regional or national performing arts groups or productions.
  • Additional campus or community events you attend can be requested for points.

Honors, OUR, and McNair Advising and Consultations 1 point each (Max 5 points)

  • Advising 1:1 meetings with Honors or McNair staff
  • Undergraduate Research or Writing Consultations with Honors, McNair or OUR staff
  • McNair Writing Conferences
  • McNair Individual Success Planning meetings

Honors Leadership Activities – 2 points each

Examples include:

  • Attending a SHAC meeting
  • Participating on a panel or as an Information Table volunteer at a UNC recruitment event
  • Ambassador activities

Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors – 1-4 points (may vary by activity)

  • Attendance or presenting at a research conference or symposium
    • Presenting/performing at a juried (selective) conference (includes Fall Symposium) – 4 points
    • Presenting/performing at a non-juried (non-selective) conference (includes Student Showcase) – 3 points
    • Attendance at an off campus – regional or national conference (not presenting) – 2 points
    • Attending on campus research events (e.g. Fall Symposium, Student Showcase, Honors Research Night) – 0.5 points per presentation review (reviews submitted through QR link provided at the event). Maximum of 2 points per event.
  • Applying for grants or submitting for publication
    • Applying for a campus-based research or other creative project grant – 1 point
    • Applying for a National or Regionally competitive grant – 3 points
    • Submitting creative works or research for publication – campus based – 2 points
    • Submitting creative works or research for publication – National or Regionally based – 4 points
  • Research Mentoring Programs
    • Participation in the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program – 2 points
    • Participation in the LEAP cohort program (Through College of NHS) – 2 points
  • Performing and Visual Arts events
    • Performing or exhibiting at performing or visual art event- 4 points if by audition or selection process/3 points otherwise
    • Set designer, theatre tech crew, director, stage manager or other similar (unpaid) role at a performing or visual arts event – 2 points
    • Attendance as spectator at an on campus performing or visual arts events- 1 point (max 5 points per semester)
    • Attendance as spectator at off campus performing or visual arts events – 1 point (max 5 points per semester)

Attendance and point verification information will be available through the Honors Program Student Canvas shell. If you do not have access to the Honors Canvas, please contact honors@unco.edu. Students must upload their verification of outside events and activities through the form link available in Canvas. Honors activities and events always include a post survey accessed through a link or QR code, and completion of the post survey is required for points to be allocated.

2026-2027 Honors Program Requirements and Benchmarks

5 Points

  • Eligibility for Honors Scholarships (not guaranteed, just eligible to be awarded)
  • Active Status to remain in Honors.

10 Points

  • Eligibility for Priority Registration (if all other requirements are met)

Top 10 High Point year end earners (cumulative points for the year)

  • High point earners will be recognized each year
    • High point winners recognized at the Honors Banquet
    • Top 10 receive a swag bag.