Appendix K from 2004 Review of Honors and Scholars Program
Full Report showing App K isn't at OSU

An Ideal Honors Experience

Students who participate in OSU's diverse honors programs expect to receive unique educational experiences that are challenging, enriching, and useful for their career aspirations. The prestige associated with an OSU degree "with honors" or "with distinction" is different from that associated with Latin Honors, which is based solely on grade point average (e.g., cum laude with a GPA of 3.5). Honors students make a commitment to take challenging curriculum with in-depth courses throughout their undergraduate careers. In return, the University community pays special attention to these talented and highly motivated students, as described below.

The Review Committee suggests that a faculty committee in each College discuss the merit and feasibility of the following long-term goals. Meeting these goals requires considerable coordination among the colleges, the University Honors & Scholars Center, the Office of Admissions, and the Office of Residence Life. Many of these goals are already being achieved, as documented in the Committee's report. We realize that new strategies and resources will be needed to accomplish all of these goals, and some goals may be modified upon further study and discussion.

• Incoming Honors students should be strongly encouraged to live in an honors residence hall so they can benefit from special residence programs, resident advising, and frequent interactions with other Honors students during their first year. The University should offer enough honors housing to accommodate all students who want it. Ideally, many of these students will continue to live in an honors residence hall during their second year as well, and some will return as resident advisors.
• All Honors students should receive well-informed, personalized advising about academic requirements and enrichment opportunities, beginning at the start of their freshman year. Students should have flexibility when deciding which courses they will take, and their advisors should ensure that their program of study is sufficiently enriched. Each Honors student also should receive periodic advice about graduate and professional schools and other career options.
• All Honors students should take a minimum of 2-3 Honors courses per year during their first two years. This will ensure that they are enrolled in small classes taught by highly involved faculty. Honors courses are the best way to bring students and faculty together, while also facilitating greater interactions among Honors students. During the third and fourth years, small-enrollment upper-level courses (including graduate courses) often can substitute for honors courses.
• All Honors students should commit to an enriched honors program that fulfills their GEC requirements and the requirements of their chosen major. This may include an academic minor and/or independent research, depending on the student's interests and career aspirations. Each College should have methods for monitoring the progress and quality of the student's honors curriculum.
• During their freshman year, Honors students enrolled in colleges that offer the option of an honors thesis or project should be informed about the opportunity to pursue this option. To encourage adequate participation in independent research and writing, each college should set a target level of the minimum number of Honors students who should complete a thesis and thereby graduate "with distinction".
• All Honors students should be strongly encouraged to study abroad or participate in special internships that will enrich their educational experience, especially during summer quarter, spring break, or winter break. Students should be informed about fellowships and scholarships that can cover all or a part of the costs of these valuable types of experiences.
• To encourage leadership and citizenship, all Honors students also should be strongly encouraged to participate in University and community service throughout their time at Ohio State.
• All Honors students should have opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities that are specifically designed for this group of students. Input from students should be solicited to make these events as appealing as possible. Each student should be encouraged to take part in at least one special event each quarter during their firs two years.