Student honors & awards

Edmund J. James Scholars —
Student procedures and rules

Becoming a James Scholar

Students will be invited to become a James Scholar for the upcoming fall semester after the spring academic review is completed.

Those eligible to join:

  • Current College of Media students who are already certified as a James Scholar
  • Current College of Media students who have completed less than 75 hours and are included on the Dean’s List for the spring semester
  • Students who transfer into the College of Media who are certified by their previous college as a James Scholar
  • Students who transfer into the College of Media for the upcoming fall semester who have completed less than 75 hours, are in the top 20 percent of the incoming class, and who have at least a 3.5 GPA
  • Students who transferred into the College during a spring term will fall under the rules of a current student for fall review
  • Qualifying students may enter the program for either the sophomore or junior year but not for the senior year alone

If invited to become a James Scholar, you must notify the James Scholar coordinator of your acceptance or denial of the offer by the date specified in your notification letter.

Requirements for remaining in good standing as a James Scholar
  • Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Take a minimum of 14 graded credit hours each semester
  • Complete at least one honors course each academic year which can consist of:
    • taking a Campus Honors course or
    • completing an Honors Credit Learning Agreement (HCLA) with a professor in a course you are registered for or
    • working on an honors project as an independent study with a College of Media professor
  • Students who are studying abroad are exempt from these requirements during the semester(s) they are abroad. Students who are only gone for one semester need to complete the honors course during the semester they are on campus.
  • If a student is graduating in the fall, he or she should complete his/her honors course during the fall semester.
  • James Scholars status will be reviewed after each spring term, and students will be notified of their continuance or dismissal from the program before the next fall term begins.
HCLA procedures
  • Contact the professor who teaches the course you wish to use as an HCLA course.
  • Be ready to submit a proposal in which you state the extra work you are suggesting or the project you would like to work on.
  • Work with your professor to come to an agreement on a clear and approved proposal.
  • Obtain an HCLA form from the Student Services Center in 18 Gregory Hall or online and have the professor sign the form.
  • Attach the approved course/project proposal to the HCLA form and turn it in to the Student Services Center.
  • If you will be completing an independent study, you will also need to complete a petition as well as an Independent Study form.
  • Notify your advisor when you are completing a campus honors course or HCLA.
  • If you will be completing an HCLA for a current course, the HCLA form must be turned in by the end of the fourth week of classes.
  • If you will be completing an honors project or independent study, the necessary forms must be turned in by the seventh day of class.
The "H" grade reminder

During the last week of classes, remind your professor that you have been working on an HCLA and he/she will need to designate an "H" grade when entering grades for the semester.

After grades have rolled, check to be sure that you have received an "H" for the appropriate course.

If an "H" was not recorded, contact your advisor who will forward the information to the data and records administrator; your professor will be contacted and asked to complete a Grade Change Form.

Student expectations for completing an HCLA

Be ready to:

  • approach your professor with a clear plan describing the work you wish to complete
  • complete extraordinary work in the course; it is the discretion of the instructor to determine whether the HCLA project is in addition to regular coursework or if it is to be substituted in part for regular coursework
  • complete the project by the end of the semester the course is taken
  • meet with your professor every so often to discuss your progress
  • devote approximately 15 additional hours of work time to an HCLA project

Consider the following:

  • HCLA courses are a unique way to enhance your classroom experience by collaborating with your professor.
  • Your options for the course are many and you should base them on your areas of interest.
    • Think about personal or career interests; use your project as an opportunity to research an area of personal interest, make professional contacts, enhance your resume, or give you the opportunity to work with a prospective employer.
    • Think about your professors' interests; ask to participate in their research processes in a variety of settings; be open to their suggestions on project ideas.
  • You cannot take an honor’s course CR/NC, and you must receive at least a B- for your professor to give an “H” grade for the class.
  • Your instructor may decline to grant honors credit if the HCLA project has not been completed satisfactorily. The instructor is the sole judge of whether honors credit is to be granted.