Honors Program

Any Stark State, College Credit Plus (CCP) or transfer student who has completed 12 credit hours of college-level coursework must have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of application to be considered for admission to the Honors Program. 

Any Stark State, CCP or transfer student who has not completed 12 hours of college-level coursework at the time of application (such as recent high school graduates or current CCP students) may be eligible for program admission if they meet one of the following criteria: 

• ACT score of 25 or above or SAT score in 80th percentile or above. 

• Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or above. 

The admission of students to Honors Program does not guarantee admission to any majors, minors or fields of concentration at Stark State. Graduating high school students may apply to the Honors Program during the admission process pending graduation and/or test scores. 

Honors courses from other colleges or universities can be transferred to Stark State and will be accepted as fulfilling requirements for our Honors Program, provided that they meet our Honors Program criteria.  A maximum of two honors courses transferable to Stark State with a “B” or better will be accepted as honors credit.

Failure to meet the following requirements may result in dismissal from Stark State’s Honors Program: 

• Minimum six credit hours or two courses per academic year (fall and spring). 

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 once admitted into the program. 

• Students who fall below a 3.25 cumulative GPA will be required to meet with their honors advisor and will be granted two semesters to bring their GPA back to 3.25. 

• First semester: Reach minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. 

• Second semester: Reach minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA. 

• Students should meet with their assigned honors advisor before enrolling for each semester. 

• Students must sign an honors contract (also signed by the instructor) that specifies honors course requirements for each honors class. 

• Students must receive no less than a “B” to earn honors credit for any honors course. Honors credit will be posted to the student’s record and will appear on the student’s transcript. 

• Recommendation: Completion of at least one (not necessarily honors) summer course each academic year.

In addition to honors coursework, honors students will be required to complete the following in fulfillment of The Honors Experience: 

• Join and contribute to a student organization, service or cultural activity at Stark State or in the community. 

• Attend and present at an annual Stark State Student Symposium or any other experience as approved by Honors Program Oversight Committee (HPOC). Students can present: 

• An honors course project. 

• An independent study or capstone project. 

• An internship project. 

• A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project. 

Presenting at other technical or non-technical meetings, conferences, symposiums, workshops or local chapter meetings may also count toward this requirement. 

Stark State honors students will be required to successfully complete a minimum of four honors courses (12 credit hours) to qualify for graduation with honors (see Section 3). Honors scholars are recognized in the following ways: 

• Honors scholar designation on diploma. 

• Notation on official transcript of honors credit earned for each course. 

• Honors medal presentation ceremony. 

• Honors medal worn at commencement. 

Non-Honors Program students who want an opportunity to earn the Honors Program course credit are encouraged to do so. Honors courses emphasize a breadth and depth of academic experience designed to enrich the students who participate in them. Students who wish to take honors courses, but who are not enrolled in the honors program, must have an overall GPA of 3.0 as a Stark State student and permission from the instructor of the course. They must also fill out an application form (either online or available in hard copy from the office of the dean of student success). 

The application is subject to approval by the Honors Program Oversight Committee (HPOC) and/or the dean of learning and engagement. The HPOC and the dean of learning and engagement reserve the right to approve or decline applicants according to materials provided. 

If a student decides to take an honors course, within the first two weeks of the semester they must obtain the permission of the instructor and complete the application form online. In addition, the instructor must inform the HPOC and the Dean of learning and engagement and complete the Honors Course Contract by the deadline posted. Both student and instructor must agree to the terms of the honors contact by virtue of their signatures. Non-Honors Program students who take honors courses are allowed to take a maximum of two honors courses without being enrolled in the Honors Program.

Violation of any Stark State College policy may result in dismissal from the Honors Program. Students must maintain the College’s code of conduct and academic honesty standards (See Policy No.: 3357:15-13-26 and 3357:15-19-10). Students who wish to appeal their final grade must follow Policy No.: 3357:15-13-27.