Engagement

The Importance of Engagement

The more students are engaged in campus life the more likely they will succeed academically, enjoy their college experience, stay in school, and eventually graduate.

By engaging in scholarship, leadership and service, students will gain experience that employers, scholarship committees, and graduate schools look for in their applicants. Although admission and award committees are primarily interested in academic abilities, they will also evaluate other things, such as level of engagement outside the classroom – in scholarship, leadership and service. In graduate school admissions, the emphasis is increasingly about what their potential graduate student can contribute.

Students can engage in the following areas:

  • Academic Achievement
  • Career Development
  • Diversity and Intercultural Appreciation
  • Leadership
  • Personal Wellness
  • Service

 Academic Achievement

Dean’s List

Undergraduate students are awarded the Dean’s List distinction if they: (1) earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher based on 12 credits or more taken for a grade (C/NC courses do not count), and (2) do not receive grades of W, I, F, or NC for that semester. The grades used for calculation of grade point average will be those earned by a date determined by the Office of the Registrar. Colleges or schools may establish independent criteria for the award of Dean’s List distinction with the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Graduating with Distinction

Graduating seniors who have completed 30 or more credit hours of work at UH Manoa with the following cumulative GPA are eligible for graduation with distinction as noted:

  • 3.5 to 3.74 cum laude
  • 3.75 to 3.9 magna cum laude
  • Over 3.9 summa cum laude

The appropriate designations will be recorded on the diploma and transcripts.  More information can be found here.

Honor Societies

Career Development

Through job opportunities and classes, the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa offers a variety of ways for students to develop career skills that they can use after graduation.

Academics

  • COMG 351: Professional Presentations
  • COMG 455: Conflict Management
  • ENG 306: Argumentative Writing

To find out more, check out the course descriptions.

Resources

Diversity and Intercultural Appreciation

The Honors Program encourages students to take advantage of the myriad opportunities for genuine multicultural and intercultural experience on campus at the University of Hawai`i and in the neighboring communities. Students can begin by joining one of the many international student organizations, participating in multicultural activities of one of our diversity offices, or attending some of the many international events and productions on campus. Ultimately we hope that all Honors students will embark upon a sustained experience in international education, and spend some time taking classes, doing research, and living abroad.

Academics

Activities

Leadership

We encourage our students develop leadership skills and service experience through activities, classes, and resources. Not only are these endeavors to build a CV, but we encourage our students to positively contribute to their community.

Academics

  • CAS 301: ACE Mentoring
  • EDEA 360: Dynamics of Student Leadership
  • EDEA 370: Peer Leadership Education and Mentoring
  • EDEA 460 (Alpha): Topics in Emergent Paradigms of Leadership
  • Engr 250/IS 250: Personal Development for Effective Teams
  • HON 380: Peer Mentoring

To find out more, check out the course descriptions.

Activities

Personal Wellness

Personal wellness, which includes physical, mental, and emotional fitness, is the lifestyle you design to support achievement of the highest potential. The Honors Program values the personal well-being of its students and strongly advocates development of physical abilities and social relationships in balance with academic and professional development.

Academics

Activities

Resources

Service

We encourage students to develop their service experience through activities, classes, and resources available on-campus and in the community. Not only will our students develop their own capacities and CV, but they will be contributing to the well-being of the community.

Academics

  • HON 301: Public Policy-Making
  • HON 303: Civic Engagement

To find out more, check out the course descriptions.

Activities

Resources