Student Handbook

H O N O R S

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a
 Welcome to the
Honors College
Congratulations on your admission to the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College!
We are delighted you have chosen Valencia to continue your education. As Honors
Director, I want to welcome you to a dynamic community of faculty and students
dedicated to excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Though Fall 2012 marks the beginning of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors
College, the honors tradition at Valencia College is over twenty years old and was
founded to provide students the opportunity for academic and personal growth in a
unique environment where intellectual exploration and quality teaching are the primary
goals. You now become part of that tradition. You will be expected to challenge your own
presumptions, to think creatively, to be audacious in your acts and ideas. In short, you will
be expected to be exceptional.

Still, we do not expect you to do this alone. Fellow honors students will offer
encouragement; some will become lifelong friends. Honors faculty will eagerly focus on
your success as they constantly assess your potential. Advisors and staff will assist and
offer direction when needed. Even after graduation, the honors alumni network will form
the basis of your continuing commitment. As part of this extended honors community, you
too will be expected to lend vitality to the whole by participating in service and leadership
opportunities, by being engaged in the classroom and in the college­—by being not just
an honors student but also an honorable individual. I have no doubt you will meet this
challenge and exceed your own expectations.

Again, I offer a warm welcome and congratulations as you embark on this

exciting journey of self-discovery; and I look forward to working with you with
great anticipation.

Best Wishes

Valerie Burks
Director, Honors College

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The vision of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff
Honors College is to discover potential in
students and inspire excellence.

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 Honors Program Staff
Honors Office
Phone: 407-582-1980
Fax: 407-582-1671
Email: [email protected]

Valerie Burks, Director

West Campus, 3-137, 407-582-1373
East Campus, 4-117A, 407-582-2659
Email: [email protected]

B. Clyburn, Honors Program Assistant

West Campus, 3-136, 407-582-1729
Email: [email protected]

Honors Counselors/Educational Advisors

East Campus Lorraine Amos, 5-210F
407-582-2394
[email protected]

Mayra Carranza, 5-210D

407-582-2016
[email protected]

Osceola Campus Celeste Henry, 2-140B

407-582-4840
[email protected]

West Campus Tullio Bushrui, SSB-132

407-582-1126
[email protected]

Winter Park Linda Villar Firmani, WP 209

407-582-6887
[email protected]

Webpage: valenciacollege.edu/honors
Facebook: facebook.com/valenciahonors
Twitter: twitter.com/valenciahonors

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Contents
Expectations of Honors Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Honors College Program Tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Honors Courses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

FAQs about Honors Classes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Scholarship Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Graduation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Honors Student Advisory Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Making the Most of Your Honors Experience

Service Learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Study Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Perks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Become Involved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

BayCare Student Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Alumni Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Planning Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Honors Resource Centers

As an honors student, you will have access to the Honors Resource Centers on East and
West campus. The Honors Resource Centers provide a place for honors students to
study, access computers, and meet with fellow honors students. On West campus, the
resource center is located in the library, room 201B; there are three computers for student
access. On East campus, the resource center is located in the library, room 117; there are
two computers for student access, and students may check out laptops reserved for
them at the Audiovisual Services desk. Each resource center has a coded entry to control
access. The code is emailed to students upon admission and updated regularly.

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 Student Expectations
Students of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College are members of
a community that embraces diversity and individuality while sharing a common
commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. In this spirit, these
expectations have been set forth:

• Students are expected to exemplify academic and personal integrity by being

familiar with and conscientiously adhering to all aspects of the Valencia Student
Code of Conduct (see valenciacollege.edu/pdf/studenthandbook.pdf).

• Students are expected to abide by accepted standards of academic originality

and creativity, to conduct themselves honorably in collaborative and group
work, and to refrain from resubmitting work prepared for one course in another
without permission of both professors.

• Students are expected to demonstrate respect for fellow students and

for faculty at all times and to contribute meaningfully to a productive
classroom environment.

• Students are expected to be ambitious learners, exhibiting academic enthusiasm

and intellectual curiosity.

• Students are expected to participate in the well-being of the honors

community by regularly attending meetings and events, by taking part in
service activities, by keeping informed of program happenings, by behaving
appropriately in the Honors Resource Centers, and by contributing to the
development of the program.

• Students are expected to understand their role as exemplars, to act accordingly

both on and off campus, and to refrain from activity that may be detrimental to
the reputation of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College, to Valencia
College, or to other honors students.

• Students are expected to hold fellow honors students accountable when these
expectations are not met.

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3
 Honors College
Program Tracks
Interdisciplinary Studies
The INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TRACK is designed to create an integrative, holistic
education experience that empowers a global and diverse perspective. The courses are
team-taught by four faculty members from several disciplines and provide students with
a strong background in liberal arts. The program has been recognized by the National
Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges as
one of the best general education programs in the country. Students who complete the
Interdisciplinary Studies Track will be able to:

• Apply principles of dialogic argument in written and verbal communication;

• Compare, contrast, and explain the significance of different historic ages;

• Compare, contrast, and integrate knowledge of diverse cultures and disciplines.

To satisfy the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Studies Track, students must complete
a total of 24 credits of honors coursework, at least 18 of which must be in three of the
following courses:

IDH1110 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I (6 credits)

equates to Freshman Composition I (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Humanities (Non-Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
OR

IDH1112 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education (6 credits)

equates to Humanities (Non-Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
AND

IDH1111 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II (6 credits)

equates to Freshman Composition II (Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Natural Science (Non-Laboratory, 3 credits)
(offered only in spring term)
AND

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IDH2120 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III (6 credits)
equates to Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Social Science (3 credits)
(offered only in fall term)
AND

IDH2121 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV (6 credits)

equates to Humanities (HUM Prefix, Gordon Rule Writing, 3 credits)
Natural Science (Non-Laboratory, 3 credits)
(offered only in spring term)

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum

of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding
summer).

This may include international travel experience, field trips to cultural locations, colloquia,
reading circles, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list
of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege.
edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your campus
honors counselor.

Leadership Track
The LEADERSHIP TRACK is designed to create citizen scholars – individuals whose action
is informed by theory. Students who complete the Leadership Track will be able to:

• Develop a working, evolving, and individual leadership theory or style;

• Practice leadership principles through their campus activities and continued

community involvement;

• Identify opportunities to make social change.

To satisfy the requirements of the Leadership Track, students must complete the
following courses:

A. SLS2261H – Leadership Development-Honors (3 credits)

B. At least two of the following courses (6 credits)

1. SPC1608H – Fundamentals of Speech-Honors

2. ENC1101H – Freshman Composition I-Honors
3. ENC1102H – Freshman Composition II-Honors
4. Any Honors Gordon Rule writing courses (to see a full list of Gordon Rule
honors classes, students should consult the current Valencia catalog)

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 C. At least one of the following courses (3 credits)

1. POS2041H – U.S. Government-Honors

2. INR2002H – International Politics-Honors
3. AMH2010H – U.S. History to 1877-Honors
4. AMH2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present-Honors
5. SYG2000H – Intro to Sociology-Honors
6. PSY2012H – General Psychology-Honors

D. Experiential learning (2 credits) (SLS2940H – Service Learning-Honors

and /or Internship)

E. Additional honors coursework (9 credits) – Students are encouraged to work

with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and
prerequisite requirements for their intended majors.

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a

minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment
(excluding summer). This may include community service, campus leadership,
involvement with Phi Theta Kappa activities, mentoring programs, speaker
series, and/or service to the Honors College. You can find a list of approved
co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at valenciacollege.edu/honors/
current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your
campus honors counselor.

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Undergraduate Research Track
The UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRACK is designed to create students who are
familiar with the process, practice, and principles of scholarly inquiry in an academic
community and is especially suited for students who plan to attend graduate or
professional school. Students who complete the Undergraduate Research Track will
be able to:

• Complete a discipline-specific research project;

• Present research in a peer-reviewed, academic setting.

To satisfy the requirements of the Undergraduate Research Track, students must

complete a total of 24 credits of honors coursework:

• Honors Research Process (2 credits) – this honors course will introduce

students to the process of research, (i.e. the tools, concepts, and resources
necessary to search, evaluate, and use information in a variety of formats and
subject disciplines). The focus will be to analyze and utilize information critically
using a broad range of materials and interdisciplinary concepts needed for
honors research and academic/professional success.

• Individual Honors Study Plan (12–15 credits) – honors courses designed to

enhance the individual student’s research plan, developed in consultation with
the Honors Director and a Faculty Advisor. Approved study plans are kept on
file in the Honors Office.

• Honors Project (1 credit) – the student will complete, under the guidance of
a faculty advisor, a project that will define and execute a research question.
Guidelines will be established regarding format, standards, and review of
projects.

• Additional honors coursework (6–9 credits) – students are encouraged to work

with an advisor to choose honors courses that fulfill general education and
prerequisite requirements for their intended majors.

In addition to the above coursework, students will be required to participate in a minimum

of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding
summer). This may include participation in the editing and publication of a Valencia Honors
research journal, presentation of original research at local, regional, and national honors
and/or discipline conferences, and/or presentation of original research at Valencia. You
can find a list of approved co-curricular activities on the honors calendar (available at
valenciacollege.edu/honors/current-students/honors-calendar.cfm) or by contacting your
campus honors counselor.

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 Honors Courses
In addition to track options, there are a number of honors classes students can take to
fulfill program and elective course requirements. The following courses are available as
honors sections:

AMH 2010H U.S. History to 1877

AMH 2020H U.S. History 1877 to Present

AML 2021H Survey in American Literature

ARH 2051H Intro to Art History II

AST 1002H Astronomy

BSC 1005H Biological Science

BSC 1010H Fundamentals of Biology I

BSC 1011H Fundamentals of Biology II

BSC 1026H Biology of Human Sexuality

BSC1050H Environmental Science

CHM 1045H General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis I

CHM 1046H General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis II

DEP 2004H Developmental Psychology

ECO 2013H Principals of Economics-Macro

ECO 2023H Principals of Economics-Micro

ENC 1101H Freshman Composition I

ENC 1102H Freshman Composition II

GLY 2100H Historical Geology

HUM 1020H Introduction to Humanities

HUM 2220H Humanities – Greek and Roman

HUM 2223H Humanities – Late Roman and Medieval

HUM 2232H Humanities – Renaissance and Baroque

HUM 2234H Humanities – Enlightenment and Romanticism

HUM 2250H Humanities – Twentieth Century

HUM 2310H Humanities – Mythology in Art and Literature

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IDH 1110 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I

IDH 1111 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II

IDH 1112 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education

IDH 2120 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III

IDH 2121 Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV

IDH 2955 Honors Study Abroad

INR 2002H International Politics

LIT 2090H Contemporary Literature

LIT 2120H Survey in World Literature – Enlightenment to Present

LIT 2174H Multimedia Literature & The Holocaust

MAC 1105H College Algebra

MAC 2233H Calculus for Business and Social Science

MAC 2311H Calculus with Analytic Geometry I

MAC 2312H Calculus with Analytic Geometry II

OCE 1001H Intro to Oceanography

PCB 1440H Florida Environmental Systems

PHY 2048H General Physics I with Calculus

POS 2041H U.S. Government I

PSY 2012H General Psychology

SLS 2261H Leadership Development

SLS 2940H Service Learning

SPC 1608H Fundamentals of Speech

STA 2023H Statistical Methods

SYG 2000H Intro to Sociology

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10
FAQs about honors classes
What is different about honors classes?
Honors classes at Valencia emphasize program outcomes by helping students to
recognize and weigh different perspectives in primary and secondary sources, to
produce original work and scholarly research, and to connect learning across academic
disciplines. Also, honors classes are smaller than non-honors classes, with enrollment
capped at 20 students per class.

Are honors classes harder?

Many students mistakenly believe that honors classes will be harder than regular classes.
Honors courses provide students and faculty the opportunity to develop ideas and
engage in work that would be more difficult in a typical, lecture-style class. Most students
find they actually do better in honors classes because of the close interaction between
professors and students and the sense of community that develops.

Are honors course grades weighted?

No. Unlike high school, college honors courses are not weighted
in the calculation of your grade point average.

How does grade forgiveness work for honors classes?

You may use an honors section and a non-honors section of the same course
interchangeably for grade forgiveness. That means, if you take ENC 1101H and get an “F,”
you can take ENC 1101 (non-honors) and receive grade forgiveness. However, if grade
forgiveness is applied to an honors section due to your successful completion of a non-
honors section of the same course, no honors credit will be awarded for your successful
completion. For full details, consult the current college catalog.

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 Scholarship
Information
The James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College awards a limited number of full tuition,
non-transferable scholarships to admission candidates who demonstrate academic
promise and who commit to one of the three available curriculum tracks: Interdisciplinary
Studies track, Leadership track, or Undergraduate Research track. All eligible students
who apply for the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College will be considered for
scholarship awards. Awards are renewable for up to four terms.

Initial Eligibility:
1. Apply and be accepted to Valencia.
2. Apply and be accepted into the James M. and
Dayle L. Seneff Honors College.
3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results
are received prior to the start of the term of admission.
4. Meet Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Purposes.
5. Seek an A.A., A.A.S. or A.S. Degree.
6. Enroll in at least nine credits each term.
7. Register for at least one honors class each term.

Renewal Eligibility:
1. Scholarship is renewed on a term-by-term basis.
2. Students must make good progress towards graduation in a curricular track as
determined by the Honors Director.
3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that results
are received prior to the start of classes each year.
4. Continue to be seeking an A.A, A.A.S. or A.S. Degree.
5. Enroll in at least nine credit hours each term.
6. Maintain eligibility to be a student in the James M. and
Dalye L. Seneff Honors College.
7. Complete at least 75% of attempted credits to be
renewed in subsequent terms.
8. All students receiving any form of financial aid must meet the standards of
academic progress as outlined by the federal government. See valenciacollege.
edu/finaid/programs/satisfactory_progress.cfm for satisfactory academic
progress criteria.

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Valencia Foundation Scholarships
The Valencia Foundation offers a number of privately-funded scholarships that are
donated by organizations and individuals interested in supporting Valencia’s students.
The Foundation maintains over 650 named scholarships, academic support funds,
endowed teaching chairs, and fellowships. Students are encouraged to apply for
Foundation scholarships through the separate online application available at
valencia.org/scholarships/scholarship_application.cfm. Eligibility criteria varies.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Each year, a limited number of scholarships are available to fund student travel on the
approved honors international trip. For more information, see the Study Abroad section
of this handbook or visit valenciacollege.edu/international/studyabroad/students/
financialaid.cfm.

Transfer Scholarships
Many four-year colleges and universities have specific honors-only scholarships available
for transfer students. There are also a small number of elite transfer scholarship programs
for which students are eligible and for which we can assist. To learn more, see the
Transfer section of this handbook.

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 Graduation
Requirements
Honors students will be offered three levels of graduation distinction:

1 The term Seneff Honors College Scholars is reserved for those

students who successfully complete the curricular and co-curricular
requirements of one of the program tracks, who earn no less than a “C”
in each honors class,* and who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at
least 3.5.

2 The term Valencia Honors Scholars is reserved for those students who
successfully complete at least 18 hours of honors, who earn no less than a “C”
in each honors class,* who graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of at least
3.33, and who complete 30 hours of approved
co-curricular activities.

3 Students who successfully complete at least 12 hours of honors coursework

within a maximum of 80 total credit hours, who earn no less than a “C” in each
honors class,* and who maintain a cumulative GPA of
at least 3.25 will earn an Honors Certificate.

* See college grade forgiveness policy.

At the Commencement Ceremony, honors graduates walk first in the student

processional and wear stoles, cords, medallions, and/or tassels, depending on the
program they complete.

To qualify for honors graduation, students must complete both a regular Valencia College
Graduation Application and a James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College graduation
application by the published deadline. For more about Valencia College graduation, see
valenciacollege.edu/graduation/. The honors graduation application may be accessed at
valenciacollege.edu/honors/current-students/gradapp.cfm.

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Honors Student
Advisory Committee
The mission of the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC) is to promote academic
excellence among honors students at Valencia. The HSAC seeks to foster communication,
to plan events, to make decisions, to develop partnerships, and to coordinate outreach
with the sole goal of enriching the academic experience and quality of education for
honors students at all of Valencia’s campuses.

The HSAC acts as the sole advisory and communication body representing Valencia
honors students on issues relating to academics, fellowship, cultural enrichment, and the
honors student activities budget. It is the aim of the HSAC to provide a voice to all active
members of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College in all matters that directly
impact the same.

Membership in the HSAC is open at all times. All Valencia honors students are invited
and welcome to attend any and all public meetings of the HSAC so long as they meet the
aforementioned criteria. Students are welcome to attend as many, or as few, of the HSAC
meetings as they so choose.

An executive board of officers oversees the agenda and activities of the HSAC. The
executive board is made up of the following elected officers: president, four vice
presidents (one each from East, Osceola, West, and Winter Park campuses), a treasurer,
and secretary. Further, there are several historians who serve to record and assist in
HSAC meetings and sponsored events. Election of the HSAC president is held at the last
meeting of the spring term; all other officers are elected at the first meeting in the fall
term. The 2012-2013 HSAC President is Bonny Pruitt. If you have questions or concerns,
you are encouraged to contact her at [email protected].

Each summer, the HSAC hosts a leadership and planning retreat for the upcoming year.
All new and returning students are encouraged to attend and become involved. The
HSAC is your outlet for service to the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College.

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 Making the Most
of Your Honors
Experience
Service Learning
Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful
community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience,
teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service Learning allows
students and faculty to blend educational goals with their passions. Honors students
can earn honors credit for Service Learning experience and have the opportunity to
explore interdisciplinary connections between different fields of study and thought.
For more information, visit the Service Learning page at http://valenciacollege.edu/
servicelearning/.

Study Abroad
Each year, the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College offers at least one section of
IDH2955, “Honors Study Abroad.” The course is planned in conjunction with one of the
program tracks with the goal of providing every Seneff student the opportunity to travel
internationally as part of the honors curriculum. Student travel on these trips is supported
by scholarship dollars; in 2012, the average cost to the student for a 9-day trip to Italy
(after scholarships) was about $1200. For more information, visit the Study Abroad and
Global Experience page at valenciacollege.edu/international/studyabroad/.

Perks
Some of the perks of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College are:

• Priority registration

• Honors Resource Centers

• Honors-only scholarships

• College-sponsored travel to conferences and on course field trips

• Honors-specific advising

• Graduation recognition

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Become Involved
To whom much is given, much is required. Honors students are expected to participate
in the life of the program and the college by regularly attending meetings, events, and
academic discussions and by treating all faculty, staff, and fellow students with respect.
Beginning students should plan to become involved at the college in a way that speaks
to their individual interests and offers a possibility for positive impact. A few of the clubs
and organizations at Valencia include:

• Student Government Association

• Phi Theta Kappa – the international honors society for two-year colleges

• Brain Bowl – a Jeopardy-style academic competition

• Valencia Voice – the college newspaper

• The Phoenix – the college literary journal

• Valencia Volunteers – providing service opportunities to Valencia students*

• Model United Nations – academic simulation of the United Nations

• Student Leader Team – providing peer assistance and education

This is just a sampling of the clubs and organizations available at Valencia. For a full
list, visit http://valenciacollege.edu/studentdev/clubs2.cfm or drop by the Student
Development office on your home campus.

* Students who document at least 100 hours of service while at Valencia will be eligible to
graduate with a service cord.

BayCare Student Assistance Program

College can be stressful. If you need support, advice, or just a friendly ear, help is only
a phone call away. Call 800-878-5470. BayCare Student Assistance Program is a free
service to Valencia students.

Alumni Network
In 2009, the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA!) was formed by graduating honors
students to raise scholarship funds and provide transfer assistance to current honors
students. A wide network of former Valencia honors students can be found at
undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools throughout the nation. Amongst the
AHA! members are two Jack Kent Cooke scholars, several past members of the All-USA
Academic Team, and countless recipients of other prestigious scholarship awards; these
honors alumni have been extremely generous with their time and advice. Each summer,
AHA! holds a luau to which students in the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College
are invited. This offers an excellent opportunity for current students to meet and connect
with the honors alumni network.

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 Transfer
When thinking about transfer, it is never too early to start. In fact, students should
begin planning for transfer during their first year at Valencia. Those who wait until
their second year often find themselves scrambling to research options and put
together the right transfer strategy. Your approach will vary depending on what
school(s) and program(s) you choose. Generally speaking, there are three distinct
paths you can take, each requiring different planning and preparation:

• Honors-to-Honors: If your goal is to transfer to an honors program or college

at a four-year school, you will require considerable lead-time to investigate the
options. Your first question will be whether or not they allow transfer students
to enter the program and graduate on par with ‘native’ students (i.e., students
who began at that institution). Many will allow transfer students to enter the
program; but, when you scratch beneath the surface, you may find that it is next
to impossible for transfers to complete the requirements for honors graduation.
Your best bet is to communicate with the program director early and often.
For students desiring the transfer to The Burnett Honors College, Valencia
College is one of a handful of schools that have an honors-to-honors articulation
agreement with UCF. Graduating students wishing to transfer to The Burnett
Honors College should have a minimum of 18 credits of honors work at Valencia
and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.

• Private & Out-of-State Colleges and Universities: Valencia College has

an excellent tradition of placing honors students in some of the most elite
institutions in the country, including Amherst College, Emory University, Smith
College, Columbia University, and UC-Berkeley. In most cases, transferring
institutions will evaluate your Valencia transcript course by course. Very rarely
do students lose a great deal of coursework in transfer. Still, you will want to
communicate with the institution directly before making final decisions. It is well
known that some institutions are more transfer-friendly than others. Speaking
with a transfer admission specialist at the school will give you a good sense for
this, as will doing research online or consulting one of the useful peer-to-peer
discussion sites, such as collegeconfidential.com.

• Florida Public Colleges and Universities: Perhaps the easiest transfer situation
to manage is when students are transferring to a Florida public college or
university. Statewide articulation agreements guarantee that courses you take
at Valencia will, with few exceptions, transfer to the accepting institution. Even
so, you will want to make sure you are taking the right classes at the freshman
and sophomore level to be prepared for upper division coursework. Florida has
established an online advising and transfer tool to assist students throughout
the process: facts.org. This site allows students to determine how best to chart a
path to the baccalaureate program of their choice.

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Transfer Fair
Each year, the Honors Student Advisory Committee hosts a Transfer Fair and invites
representatives from colleges throughout the nation to Valencia. This provides an
opportunity for honors students to talk one-on-one with admission specialists and
discuss programs and scholarship options. The Transfer Fair is scheduled for the fall
(usually late October or early November each year). Check the Honors Calendar for
specific date.

Transfer Scholarships
A number of schools have scholarships for transfer students graduating from honors
programs. The following is a partial list of colleges and universities that offer honors-
specific transfer scholarships:

• Hamilton Holt School at Rollins College

• University of Central Florida

• New College of Florida

• Stetson University

• University of Tampa

• Florida Atlantic University

• Florida International University

• Illinois Institute of Technology

Honors students may also be eligible for the following

prestigious scholarships:

• Hites Scholarship: Established by a generous gift from Robert F. Hites to the

Valencia Foundation, the Hites Scholaship is awarded each year to the most
outstanding graduate of the James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College.

• Association of Honors Alumni Transfer Scholarship: Each year, the Association

of Honors Alumni (AHA!) selects a graduating honors student as the recipient of
this scholarship, which is partially funded by the rose sale at Commencement.

• Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: The Jack Kent Cooke
Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship honors excellence by
supporting outstanding community college students with financial need to
transfer to and complete their bachelor’s degrees at the nation’s top four-year
colleges and universities. The Foundation provides up to $30,000 per year
to each of approximately 50 deserving students selected annually, making it
the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer
students in the country.

19
 • Guistwhite Scholarships: The purpose of this merit-based program is to
recognize the scholarly achievements fo Phi Theta Kappa members and enhance
members’ attainment of baccalaureate degrees. Up to 20 members will receive
scholarships of $5,000 each, for completion of baccalaureate degrees, awards
totaling $100,000. To be eligible, a student must post a minimum 3.5 cumulative
GPA and transfer to a college or university upon completion of coursework at a
community college.

• All-USA Community College Academic Team: The All-USA Community

College Academic Team is presented by USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa and
sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group. Twenty students will be selected
to the national team, each receiving a $2,500 scholarship and medallion.
Students nominated to the All-USA Community College Academic Team are
automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Team.

• Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team: The Coca-Cola Scholars

Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team.
Fifty students will be named Gold Scholars, each receiving a $1,500 scholarship,
fifty students will be named Silver Scholars, each receiving a $1,250 scholarship,
and fifty students will be named Bronze Scholars, each receiving a $1,000
scholarship. A state may have multiple Gold, Silver, or Bronze Scholars. All
scholars will also receive special medallions. The top scoring student in each
of the fifty states will be named a New Century Scholar and will receive a
$2,000 stipend.

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund supports several

scholarship programs for students of Latino background. To learn about these
programs, visit the HSF webpage at hsf.net.

For more information about these and other transfer scholarships, contact Valerie Burks
at [email protected].

20
Planning Use this section to record your
progress toward honors graduation.

Interdisciplinary Studies Track

(24 credits of honors coursework)

Courses Term Grade Credits

At least three of the following:

IDH1110 or IDH1112 – Interdis. Stud. in Gen Ed I _________ _________ _________

IDH1111 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed II _________ _________ _________

IDH2120 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed III _________ _________ _________

IDH2121 – Interdisciplinary Studies in Gen Ed IV _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

Co-curricularActivities
Co-curricular Activities

Date
Date Activity
Activity Hours
Hours

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

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 Leadership Track
(23 credit hours of honors work)

Courses Term Grade Credits

SLS2261H – Leadership Development-Honors _________ _________ _________

Two of the following:

SPC1608H – Fundamentals of Speech-Honors _________ _________ _________
ENC1101H – Freshman Composition I-Honors _________ _________ _________
ENC1102H – Freshman Composition II-Honors _________ _________ _________
Hon Gordon Rule Course _________ _________ _________
Hon Gordon Rule Course _________ _________ _________

One of the following:

POS2041H – U.S. Government-Honors _________ _________ _________
INR2002H – International Politics-Honors _________ _________ _________
AMH2010H – U.S. History to 1877-Honors _________ _________ _________
AMH2020H – U.S. History 1877 to Present-Honors _________ _________ _________
SYG2000H – Intro to Sociology-Honors _________ _________ _________
PSY2012H – General Psychology-Honors _________ _________ _________

SLS2940H – Service Learning-Honors _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

Co-curricular Activities

Date Activity Hours

__________ _________________________________________________ _________

__________ _________________________________________________ _________

__________ _________________________________________________ _________

__________ _________________________________________________ _________

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Undergraduate Research Track
(24 credits of honors coursework)

Courses Term Grade Credits

Honors Research Process _________ _________ _________

Individual Honors Study Plan

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

Honors Project _________ _________ _________

Honors Electives

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

_______________________________________ _________ _________ _________

Co-curricularActivities
Co-curricular Activities

Date
Date Activity
Activity Hours
Hours

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

__________
__________ _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ _________
_________

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 © 2012 Valencia College | HON041312-03

Name ___________________________________________________________

V-Number_______________________________________________________

Advisor ________________________________________________________

Program Track _________________________________________________

Admit Term _____________________________________________________