Honors Coordinators:

Dr. Lynne Andreozzi Fontaine
Psychology Dept.
Knight Campus
Room 3093
401-825-2239
landreozzifont@ccri.edu

Karen Kortz
Physics Dept.
Flanagan Campus
Room 1204
401-333-7443
kkortz@ccri.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Why do I have 2 courses on my transcript now?
The system of showing Honors courses on your transcript has changed.  You will now be added into a 0.5 credit Honors course to show that you are doing a special Honors project.  Because of this, you will receive a grade for your normal coursework and a separate grade for your Honors project.

Am I eligible?
At the beginning of each semester, emails are sent to each eligible student.  The requirements are 12 credit hours and a GPA of 3.25.  If you do not meet these requirements but wish to do an Honors project, you may talk to a faculty member and see if they will recommend you, and you can do a project.

How do I participate?
Approach a faculty member (usually one with which you are currently taking a course) about doing an Honors Project with them.  Together, determine the scope and depth of the project, and fill out an Honors Application. During the semester, work on your project and complete it.

What are the deadlines?
The deadlines for the application and for dropping the Honors Section are given in Deadlines.

Why should I participate?
The best answer is personal satisfaction.  Completing an Honors Project will enhance your education at CCRI and allow you to work with members of the faculty who you normally wouldn't be able to work with.  It won't hurt your transcript either, since all Honors Courses are listed on your transcript.  Participating in the Honors Program will enhance your transfer appeal to other universities.  In addition, if you complete four Honors Projects, you become an Honors Program Graduate, an honor recognized at graduation and noted on your transcript (and it looks good on your resume!). Also, participating in the Honors Forum will give you similar benefits.

Can I do an Honors Project in any of my classes?
Yes!  You can do an Honors Project in any class that you find interesting and want to investigate in more depth.  The class does not need to be in your major.

What is an Honors Program graduate?
A graduating individual who completed at least four honors projects.  Honors Program graduates get special recognition at awards night and graduation.

What is the Honors Forum?
The Honors Forum is a showcase of Honors Projects at the end of each Spring semester.  The projects are shown during the reception after a talk by an invited speaker. It is a chance for you to present and show off your Honors Project that you put so much time into.

Why should I participate in the Honors Forum?
First of all, you get to display the hard work that you did on your Honors Project over the course of the semester. It give you a good opportunity to learn to present your ideas to others and discuss and defend them.  Also, participation is a good addition to your resume.  In addition, the Forum is judged, and cash prizes are given to the top projects.

Who do I contact with questions?
Please contact the Honors Coordinators with any questions you may have.

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Application

Is it possible to do an independent study with Honors?
Yes.  Instead of completing one application through the Honors program, you need to complete an independent study application (through the academic deans, found on the Independent Study Webpage) and a separate Honors application to do an Honors project with that independent study.

How do I fill out the application form?
The directions are given under Application Form.

How do I turn in my application form?
You can hand it to one of the Honors Program Coordinators (Lynne Andreozzi Fontaine in Room 3093 at the Knight Campus; Karen Kortz in Room 1204 at the Flanagan Campus) or leave the application in their mailbox.  You can also mail it to them through campus mail or regular mail.

Can I turn in the application late?
The application deadline is set so all the paperwork can be done in time.  Please contact the Honors Program coordinators if you have extenuating circumstances.

Can I fax in the application?
No. We need the original signatures of your and your faculty advisor.

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School Paperwork

What if I change my mind during the semester and don’t want to do an honors project?
You must let the Honors Program Coordinators know before the "last day to withdraw and receive a W" as designated by the registrar each semester (listed in Deadlines).  If you do not let the coordinators know before this date, you will need to officially petition the college to drop the honors portion of the class.

Do I need to pay extra tuition because of the extra 0.5 credit?
No, the 0.5 credit for each honors project is a gift from the College and does not count towards tuition payment.  However, if you do the Independent Study with Honors, these are credits that you need to pay for, since it is signing up for another class.

How does the paperwork work?
The Honors Coordinators will add you to a new 0.5 credit Honors course.  There are several steps involved, which is why it might take a little while from when the application is due to when changes in your course are reflected on Pipeline.

Do I need to turn in anything to the Honors Program Coordinators?
Other than the application, no.

Do I get a separate grade for the honors portion of the class?
Yes.  You will receive 2 grades, one for your normal classwork, and one for your Honors project.

What happens if I transfer?
The CCRI Honors Program has articulation agreements with the RIC and the URI Honors Programs.  You will be accepted into their honors program, provided a portfolio assessment.

Can transfer credits to CCRI count towards the 12 credits needed for eligibility to the program?
Yes.  Please contact the Honors Program Coordinators if this applies to you.

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Projects

How much time should the project take me?
Using the extra 0.5 credits as a guideline, you should spend about 20 hours on your project.  Most students spend more time on their project.  This means that you cannot do your project the night before it is due or even during the last week.  It is something you should work on throughout the semester.

What are some project formats people have done?
Examples are research paper, PowerPoint presentation, poster presentation, display of artwork, and assorted short assignments.  You can use any format, provided it is appropriate for the project you are doing. We strongly encourage you to participate in the Honors Forum at the end of the Spring semester.

What are some example projects?
You can look at approved projects from previous semesters to see some example projects.  Other projects are listed in example projects.

What are some examples of projects that have been rejected?
Not many projects are rejected, and those that are rejected are generally given advise on how to change the project so it can be approved.  For example, for an Honors project, a student wanted to tutor other members of his class.  While this is a wonderful thing to do, it is not a significant academic undertaking.  It was suggested that the student research ways to learn the material and write a manual on how to better study and learn the subject for the class.

Can I do one project for two courses?
Each Honors project must be its own project.  However, you can have a project that continues, as long as there is a final product for each individual Honors project.

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Other Questions

How do I know if my project is approved?
Your course name will change to "Honors in..." on Pipeline.  However, this will not happen until after mid-term grades are done.  You can also check under Approved Projects, where the approved projects for each semester will be listed.  If you have questions, please contact the Honors Coordinators.

How many honors projects can I do per semester?
You can do up to two honors projects during the Spring and Fall semesters.  During the Summer semester, you can do one project per session.

Can I do a project without a faculty advisor?
No, you need a faculty advisor.

What if my professor doesn’t want to participate?
This can happen as many professors do not feel they can devote enough time to you to make your project worth while.  You can have a faculty advisor who is not your professor.  So, if this happens, you can ask your professor for a recommendation of another professor who they think might do it, or you can ask the department chair for any recommendations.

Can I do a honors project in a summer course?
Yes!  However, because of the compressed schedule, you need to be sure to start at the beginning of your course.  The application is due on Monday of the second week of classes.

What happens if I don’t complete the project?
If you talk with your professor, you may be able to arrange to receive an incomplete for the Honors class.  This way, you will have the opportunity to finish the project on your own time.  However, because you did not satisfy the requirements for the Honors project, your professor may instead give you an F or W.  It is important to keep in contact with your advising professor!

Are there any recognitions of my work?
The Honors courses you have completed are are noted on your transcript.  If you do four Honors Projects, you will be an Honors Program Graduate and get a special ribbon and recognition during the awards ceremony and for graduation.  Winners of the Honors Forum receive a cash prize and a certificate of recognition.

Is the Honors Program affiliated with Phi Beta Kappa?
No, they are two separate entities, although they share many students.


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