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Honors Program Applications Due May 15, 2010

Heartland Community College is seeking applicants for the College's Honors Program. Initiated in Fall 2009, the Honors Program is designed to meet the needs of highly motivated students who demonstrate a passion for learning and want to take the initiative in their own learning process.

As an Honors Program student, you will challenge yourself academically while enhancing your intellectual skills in a supportive and enriched learning environment that promotes academic excellence and recognizes outstanding performance. You will participate in cultural and social activities that will stimulate your interest in community engagement and passion for lifelong learning.

Who can apply, and what is the application process?

You can apply for the Honors Program between November 2, 2009 and May 15, 2010. To be considered, you must:

  • Be enrolled in one of the College's Transfer Degree Programs
  • Have an ACT score of 25 or higher
  • Write a 300 to 500 word essay on the following topic: In which ways is knowledge related to civic action? (Does knowledge of an important issue require an active response?)

Meeting the minimum criteria will not guarantee admission into the Honors Program. The Honors Program Office reserves the right to select the most qualified candidates.

All application materials are available in the Academic Advisement area of Student Services, located on the first floor of the Community Commons Building on the College's Normal campus. The Honors Program application* also is available for download in PDF format (85 KB, 3 pages). Completed application materials should be submitted to the Records Desk in Student Services. Lincoln and Pontiac students may submit their application materials to advisors at the Lincoln and Pontiac Centers. You may also mail completed applications to:

  • The Honors Program
    c/o Academic Advisement
    1500 W. Raab Rd.
    Normal, IL 61761

*Note: You must download and install Adobe® Acrobat® Reader in order to view and print the Honors Program application.

What is the registration process?

If admitted to the Honors Program, you will make class registration appointments with an academic advisor. You may register for core classes within the program and any additional courses at this time. Program personnel also will help make arrangements to attend an Honors-specific orientation session, which will cover course details, program faculty, social and educational events, information about the College and the educational resources available to students. As part of the orientation, Honors Program students will complete an application for provisional membership in the Heartland chapter of Phi Theta Kappa -- International Honor Society of the Two Year College. During the second semester, Honors Program students earning a 3.5 GPA can join Phi Theta Kappa. Membership dues will be paid by the Honors Program. Visit Phi Theta Kappa's Web site at http://www.ptk.org/.

Benefits of the Honors Program

  • Priority enrollment for all Honors Program course sections
  • Smaller class sizes
  • Honors Program designations on official Heartland transcripts
  • Increased likelihood of full or partial scholarships from transfer institutions
  • Competitive advantages in the job market
  • Phi Theta Kappa memberships during the second semester will be awarded to all qualified students

What Honors Courses Would I Take?

Honors courses will be taken as a cohort, which would account for a portion of your credit load per semester. A sample schedule of courses follows:

  • Spring 2011: Year 1/Semester 2
    Tuesday and Thursday
    9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
    English 102 and a Social and Business Sciences General Education course (e.g., Sociology 101).
  • Fall 2011: Year 2/Semester 1
    Tuesday and Thursday
    9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
    Communications 101 and a Humanities and Fine Arts General Education course (e.g., Religion 215).
  • Spring 2012: Year 2/Semester 2
    Tuesday and Thursday
    9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
    Honors Seminar II and a Math and Science General Education course (e.g., Biology 114).

How can I apply?

If you are interested in applying or learning more about the Honors Program at Heartland Community College, contact the Academic Advisement Office at (309) 268-8033 or visit them on the first floor of the Community Commons Building on Heartland's Normal campus. Otherwise, contact Ed Carroll at (309) 268-8582 or ed.carroll@heartland.edu or Deborah Gentry at (309) 268-8428 or deborah.gentry@heartland.edu.