Director:  Leslie Liedel, Ph.D.

The Stephen J. Laut, S.J., Honors Program is intended for students with a record of exceptional academic achievement and the desire to participate in a program of greater academic challenge. The aim of the program is to give talented and motivated students the encouragement for intellectual exploration in the company of fellow Laut Scholars. In the context of a comprehensive liberal arts college, the role of the honors program is to introduce students to aspects of the arts and sciences that are not available in the regular curriculum. Awakening curiosity and offering new experiences are central to its purpose. Students who successfully complete honors requirements are recognized at graduation and receive a diploma attesting to this distinction.

Requirements

1. Students fulfill requirements as indicated by core and major.
2. Freshmen honor students participate in a 2 credit seminar that introduces them to the Laut Honors Program and its mission through a guided project. All upperclass honor students take a 3 credit seminar. These seminars, arranged in a flexible curriculum, are designed to be interdisciplinary, multimedia and project-oriented.
3. Each of the honors seminars is guided by a faculty member who provides for speakers, readings and special trips. Seminars meet once biweekly and are graded Cr/NCr. A Laut scholar in good standing has met the attendance and participation requirements of the Honors Seminar. Though the seminars are graded Cr/NCr, Laut Scholars must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3. Students with deficient grades may petition for a probation year. Students are also expected to preregister for seminars and to maintain an uninterrupted registration in the Honors Program.

Admission

All students who participate in the Laut Competitive Scholarship are automatically asked to seek admission in the Honors Program. Interested first year students who did not participate in the Competitive Scholarship, but who meet the criteria of that scholarship competition, are also welcome to submit an application. At the end of the first year, Laut Scholars must have a minimum of a 3.3 and submit an application to join the Laut Honors Program. Students with at least a 3.0 may petition to participate in the program on probation. Interested sophomore students who were not part of the first-year Laut program but who at the end of their freshmen year have earned a 3.3 may also apply to join the program. All applications are due in the beginning of the second year and are available from the program director.