Radford University Undergraduate Catalog, 2011-2012

Honors Academy
Dr. Joe King, Director
Floyd Hall, (540) 831-6125
The Honors Academy is a Center of Excellence
at Radford University that provides opportunities
for faculty-student collaborative
scholarship and recognizes outstanding student
achievement. Each semester the Honors Academy
offers courses that are populated by Honors
Academy members and taught by faculty dedicated
to designing classes that provide for enhanced
student engagement in the subject matter of the
course. Honors coursework not only involves
more hands-on activities, but also provides opportunities
to enhance one’s critical thinking as
well as oral and written communication skills.
To graduate in one’s major as a Highlander
Scholar (see below), the student completes 27 of
their credit hours toward graduation as honors
coursework including a senior capstone project.
The Honors Academy also supports a residential
community in Floyd Hall and the Honors Academy
Student Organization that provides forums
for interaction among academy members.
Students who wish to learn more about the
Honors Academy are invited to visit the Academy
office in Floyd Hall or call Honors Academy
Director Dr. Joe King, Professor of Psychology,
at (540) 831-6125.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment in honors sections is limited to
students described below. New freshmen whose
high school transcripts indicate the potential for
academic success are invited to join the Honors
Academy. Transfer students and current
Radford University students who have demonstrated
academic excellence are invited to join
the Academy and to enroll in honors courses.
Highlander Scholars who have already been
admitted to the Academy may enroll. Finally,
any other student who has written permission
from the course instructor may enroll.
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HIGHLANDER SCHOLARS
Highlander Scholars are students in the Honors
Academy who are making progress toward
completing the graduation requirements of the
academy. These exceptional students design
an Honors Plan of Study (HPS) in collaboration
with their academic advisor(s). The plan
of study requires a minimum of 27 hours of
honors courses and is subject to the approval of
the appropriate department chair and the Honors
Academy Advisory Group. The courses include
Core Curriculum courses, a departmental
component and a capstone project. The Honors
Plan of Study is flexible and is compatible with
course requirements in every department.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Students who are not invited into the Honors
Academy when they are admitted to the
university may apply to the Academy after
their first semester at Radford University. To be
considered for admission, the following grade
point averages are required: 3.0 for freshmen,
3.3 for sophomore class standing, 3.4 for junior
class standing and 3.5 for senior class standing.
Moreover, at the time of admission, students
must demonstrate the potential to complete
Honors Academy requirements.
To retain their status in the program, Highlander
Scholars must continue to meet eligibility
requirements and make satisfactory progress
toward completing the Academy’s graduation
requirements.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
GRADUATION
To graduate from the Honors Academy as a
Highlander Scholar, students must have a minimum
3.5 overall GPA and complete at least 27