Co-Curricular Requirements

 

In an effort to maintain a close-knit community and maximize student potential, the Global Honors Program involves both Academic and Co-Curricular Requirements. The following is a description of the Freshmen Co-Curricular Requirements.

Freshmen Development Groups

Freshmen spend one hour, twice a week, in an informal development group designed to help them succeed in Honors and to help them adjust to university life in general. Each Development Group of six to ten freshmen is led by two upper-class Honors Students who serve as a guides and mentors for the group. These groups are great places to form strong friendships, to participate in fun and engaging activities, to discuss what’s going on in your classes, and to get any help you may need during your new university adventure.

Activity Groups

Honors students of all grade levels participate in Activity Groups, weekly meetings that revolve around specific subjects, interests, and hobbies. Students have the choice to attend the same group every week or attend any one of the 20+ groups that are offered each semester. Past groups have included “Arts and Crafts,” “Documentary Film Series,“ "Access the World,” “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” “Documentary Film Series,” “Short Story Roulette,” “Pump You Up,” and “Acoustic Sessions.”  These groups are student-initiated and student-run and are always changing! Discussions, speakers, and fun activities every week make these specialized groups very enjoyable.

Community Service 

Students will be provided with weekly updates of community service opportunities on-campus and off-campus.  New students are required to perform 10 hours of community service each semester. While this may sound daunting, the Honors Program offers different Community Service Opportunities nearly every weekend. You can also perform these duties at Community Service Events in your hometown. Past opportunities have included Relay for Life, the Susquehanna River Clean-Up, Campus Clean-Ups, Food Drives, Clothing Drives, Blood Drives, Sleep-Out for the Homeless, And THON.

Public Issues Forums

This is an opportunity for students to get together in small groups and discuss controversial topics with each other and the community. They are presented with three different viewpoints of one issue and then broken up into groups to debate the pros and cons of each. Past Forums have addressed topics such as National Language, Media Censorship, Mental Health, and Gun Control.

 Academic Events

The Honors Program offers an array of different Academic Events each semester. Our Speaker Series includes professors and community members who speak abotu controversial topics such as Drunk-Driving, Atheism, or Politics. We take students on field trips each semester to local museums and historic sites. Also, each semester a professor gives a "Last Lecture"including the advice they would give if it were the last time they would ever speak to students.