Admissions

The CBU Honors Program offers a variety of ways to enrich your college experience by balancing a rigorous curriculum with a plethora of cultural, artistic, and social activities. 

So many! You become a member of an interdisciplinary organization that encourages learning beyond the classroom and will be able to participate in a variety of educational and social activities throughout each semester at little or no cost. The classes taken in the Honors Program are smaller in size and a variety of special topics courses are offered. Many Honors Program students are visible leaders on the CBU campus and in the community who are involved in a variety of areas such as Student Life, Athletics, and Campus Ministry. Upon graduation with an Honors Diploma you receive a special designation on the diploma itself, are publicly recognized at the commencement ceremony, and receive an Honors medallion to wear at commencement. Additionally, graduating students receiving the Honors Diploma will receive a special gift and a swanky dinner. 

No. While you may receive scholarships from the University due to your academic merit, there are no scholarships offered by or based on your membership in the Honors Program.

Yes and no. The Honors Program does not require you to perform community service nor prove any hours of work. The Honors Program supports and sometimes hosts community service activities where all members are invited to participate, such as September of Service.

All students who are able to demonstrate a high level of academic ability and motivation, are encouraged to apply. The selection process weighs several factors, including test scores (if available), high school GPA (3.5 or above), extracurricular involvement, and demonstration of writing ability. If you are currently enrolled at CBU but are not a member of the Honors Program, we encourage you to apply if you meet the above requirements or feel that you have other academic qualifications that make you eligible. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Honors Program, you should complete application materials for admission at CBU and then the separate application for the Honors Program, accessible on the Honors Program website. All applicants are required to fill out the application form in full, which includes an essay portion.  

Yes. Students who are currently enrolled at CBU but are not members of the Honors Program or students who are transferring to CBU from another university are encouraged to apply if they meet the above requirements or feel they have other academic qualifications that would make them eligible. 

If you are no longer interested in pursuing the Honors program, it is recommended you express this to the Honors Program Director instead of falling inactive. Any student is able to leave at any time that they believe the program may not be the best fit for their academic needs. 

Yes. The standard of behavior for CBU Honors Program students is higher than those who are not a part of the CBU Honors Program. All students are expected to be role models who act honorably by upholding high ethical principles and high character that reflects respect towards others. All Honor students are expected to live out all Lasallian principles and all other policies and expectations outlined in the CBU student compass. 

Being a part of the CBU Honors Program is a privilege, not a right, and will only be awarded to those that demonstrate behavior that is positively reflective of our Lasallian core principles. If an Honor student consistently violates the CBU Honors Program expectations of being a student of strong character and conduct or adversely affects the program or its reputation, they may be subject to removal from the CBU Honors Program or referred to the student conduct process, in addition to being addressed by the Director and or the Honors Council. 

A student on probation whose following semester GPA is less than 3.2 will be dropped from the CBU Honors Program and must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA before being eligible to petition for readmission. If you are a student who is on probation for non-participation and fails to complete the necessary number of Honors courses and participation points, you will be removed from the CBU Honors Program. 

If you have been removed from the CBU Honors Program because your cumulative GPA fell below a 3.2, you can be readmitted to the Honors Program once your cumulative GPA reaches a 3.2. Students who wish to be readmitted after their cumulative GPA reaches a 3.2 must email the Director of the CBU Honors Program. This email should include an explanation of both why the student wants to return to Honors Program Status and why the student believes their performance will be able to sustain Honors Program Status.  Students will not be considered readmitted to the CBU Honors Program until they have received a confirmation email. The Director, in consultation with the Honors Council, has the discretion to readmit the student after an examination of the petition and all relevant records.

No. You must apply to be in the Honors Program and you will be notified by the Honors Program Director whether or not you are admitted into the program for that academic year. Selection is not determined by criteria alone, but through the application process. 

Yes. To remain in good standing in the CBU Honors Program, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2. Students whose cumulative GPA drops below a 3.2 will be placed on probation. The purpose of probation is to recover the student’s GPA, so they can stay in good standing and graduate with an Honors Diploma. During probationary status, students can continue to enjoy all the benefits of the CBU Honors Program. Probationary status lasts for the next semester during which the student is enrolled. During this probationary period, students must raise their cumulative GPA to at least 3.2. Students on this probationary period who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.2 will be removed from the CBU Honors Program. However, students who achieve a semester GPA of at least 3.2 during the probationary term will have probation extended for one, and only one more semester, where students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.2 will be removed from the CBU Honors Program and lose all benefits and privileges associated with the CBU Honors Program. Note: Students on probation sometimes enroll in summer courses. Courses taken during the summer term will not count against a student, but if they raise a student’s GPA to 3.2 or better, the student will be placed back in good standing.

If you do not complete an Honors course for two consecutive semesters or fail to meet your requirements for your participation points, you may also be placed on probation for non-participation. The following additional steps should be taken for all students on probation:

1. The student must meet with the Director of the CBU Honors Program. B. The student must establish a working plan for how to recover their GPA and or participation in the CBU Honors Program. 
2. Note: If a student’s GPA drops below 3.2 due to extraordinary circumstances involving illness, mental health difficulties, extreme family situations, or the like, the student may petition the Director for continuation of Honors Program status. The petition must include a brief explanation and the minimum official documentation necessary (e.g., notes from healthcare providers). The Director, in consultation with the Honors Council, has discretion to decide such cases, and must approve continuation of Honors Program status in writing and include a term date by which the cumulative GPA must reach 3.2. 

No. Honor students do not need to pay any additional fees. One exception is that there may be a few events where students are expected to cover a portion of the cost of attending an event. 

A total of seven Honors courses must be taken with a grade of “C” or better including Honors Capstone (HUM 498). You must also possess a cumulative GPA of 3.2 at graduation to receive the Honors Diploma. 

There is no prescribed list of Honors courses that must be taken but most students begin by taking Honors World Literature I and II during their first year which substitutes for English Composition I and II and English Literature. One course that all students must take in order to receive an Honors Diploma is Honors Capstone (HUM 498) traditionally taken during one’s senior year. 

No, the Honors Program does not require the student to enroll in Honors courses, but Honors students get first priority in the many interesting Honors courses, often including special topics not usually covered in regular studies.

The Honors Board is a group comprised of Honor students who help plan, organize, and execute Honors related activities sponsored by the Honors Program. Board members typically “adopt” a few activities or events each semester in which they are in charge of publicizing, organizing, getting materials, and hosting. They also are ambassadors for the Honors Program in general by encouraging members to participate in Honors events, take Honors courses, and help recruit potential CBU Honors Program students.

In the spring of each year the Honors Board solicits applications for the Board to current Honors Program students. Interested students must shadow the Honors Board in order to be eligible to apply to the Board. 

Each semester, the Honors Program’s Board of Directors plans a variety of events for honors students. Activities may consist of outings to art galleries, a freshman retreat, a camping retreat for upperclassmen, lectures, professional development events, a murder mystery night, game nights, Broadway and other theatrical productions, dances, Honors conferences, and many more. 

Exactly! If you meet the requirements to join the Honors Program, then there is no good reason to miss the opportunity to be a member by not applying. The Honors Program enables students to make the most of their college experience.