Students in UF’s honors program will now navigate a point system to complete the program.
In the past, honors students were required to take four honors courses and participate in an internship, research, community service or study abroad. Students entering the honors college after Summer B 2012 will be required to graduate with honors from their college and earn at least 14 points for participating in both academic and enrichment activities.
“A lot of students … were finding it difficult to find four honors courses that they wanted to take,” said Kevin Knudson, honors program director. “We’re looking to improve the number of students who complete the program.”
About 25 percent of students who enter the honors program complete it, Knudson said.
Activities are worth one to three points, and students will need at least eight academic points and six enrichment points.
Acceptable activities range from taking a course or completing a second major to participating in Florida Alternative Breaks or studying abroad. For example, a one- or two-credit course is worth one academic point, and a semester abroad is worth two enrichment points.
“We’re optimistic that this will make it somehow easier for students to complete the honors program,” Knudson said.
Students who entered the program before Summer B can complete the program with the old requirements or the new requirements.
Hema Kher, a 21-year-old health science senior and president of Honors Ambassadors, said she likes the diversity of activities included in the new requirements.
“It challenges students to get involved in more activities,” Kher said. “This will help fix the misconception of the honors program being a two-year program.”
A full list of recognized activities and the associated point values can be found online at www.honors.ufl.edu/completion-requirements.aspx.
