Office of Academic Affairs - Hostos Community College

The Honors Program

Program Overview

The Hostos Community College Honors Program provides an enriched academic, cultural and social experience to intellectually inquisitive and motivated students in the Liberal Arts (A.A).; Liberal Arts in Science A.S.; Associate in Science in Chemical, A.S; Associate in Science in Civil Engineering Engineering, A.S.; Associate in Science in Electrical, A.S; Dental Hygiene A.A.S.; Business Management, A.S; Microcomputer in Business, A.A. S.; Accounting, A.A. S.; and Office Technology, A.A.S.

The program offers students an academic environment that values and promotes critical thinking, analytical writing, and research and information competency skills through an innovative and challenging curriculum. Attendance at cultural events, conferences, honors seminars and an Honors Institute provide an intellectual community that encourages and supports students in pursuing their goals.

The program will offer greater academic opportunities to a previously underserved population, to prepare talented and ambitious students for the challenges of higher education, and to support a successful transition to senior colleges and expanded career options. A fundamental program goal is to promote self-confidence and increase self-esteem in students who need the encouragement to excel and the courage to continue their education and fulfill their life goals and dreams.

Required Program Curriculum

The Honors Program provides students with an enriched and supportive learning environment, including faculty mentoring, early and guaranteed registration, peer support, and more. The diploma and transcript of the successful Honors Program graduate will indicate that the student has graduated with honors.

Upon acceptance into the Honors Program, each student will be assigned a faculty mentor who will provide guidance in planning his or her academic program. Students will work with their faculty mentors and the Honors Program director to ensure satisfactory completion of all program requirements:

Students will be required to complete an honors option, consisting of a minimum of 6 hours of credit-bearing Honors Courses or Honors Contracts. Students completing their honors requirements through Honors Contracts may work on only one Honors Contract per semester.

Honors students will participate in an Honors Colloquium every semester. Students will also perform fifteen (15) hours of voluntary community service per semester as a means of underscoring the importance of civic responsibility.

Attendance at cultural events, academic seminars, and conferences will foster a multicultural academic environment in which all students will learn to appreciate the many cultures which they represent as well as prepare students to participate fully in a diverse global environment. The Honors Student, therefore, will participate in at least two (2) such extracurricular activities per semester. While in the program, students will receive incentives and privileges associated with the Honors Program.

The number of students accepted into the Honors Program is predicated on financial ability and will be determined each academic year.

All honors contract courses that are successfully completed will be noted on the student’s transcript with an “H” designation.  Students who complete all the Honors Program requirements will receive a transcript that clearly states they were graduated with honors.

Eligibility

Full-time and part-time students may be considered for the Honors Program upon entering Hostos, as continuing Hostos students with no more than 30 hours of completed coursework, or as transfer students at the beginning of the second year. Successful completion of the CUNY basic skills assessment tests are required for application to the program.

First year admission

• A minimum of an 85 or better high school average;
• Combined SAT score of 1100 (pre-2004) or 1700 (post-2004);
• An essay describing educational goals and the importance of the Honors Program in achieving those goals; and
• Two letters of reference.

Second year admission

• 3.5 G.P.A.;
• An essay describing educational goals and the importance of the Honors Program in achieving those goals;
• The completion of one (1) Honors Course or Honors Contract; and
• Two letters of reference from Hostos Community College faculty.

Retention in the Program

• 3.5 G.P.A. calculated per semester;
• Satisfactory progress toward completion of all program requirements; and
• Completion of at least six credits per semester without any grades below “B-”.

Honors Privileges

Advantages of being an honors student include:

• Use of the study room
• Small honors classes
• Priority registration
• Tutoring
• Personal advisors
• Participation in Winter Institute, Summer Institute
• H on the transcript, recognition at graduation

Program Funding

No financial assistance is available through the program. Students in the Honors Program are responsible for all costs normally associated with college matriculation. After completing one honors section or contract, students are eligible to apply for the Eugenio María de Hostos Scholarship.

For information contact:
Dr. Carl James Grindley,
Honors Program Director
Office of Academic Affairs
Eugenio Marķa de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York
500 Grand Concourse, B-442
The Bronx, NY 10451
cgrindley@hostos.cuny.edu
(718) 319-7907