Honors students develop individual senior projects based on their professional goals, interests, and areas of strength. In most cases, students invite faculty to serve as mentors (and committee members) in the semester before they start their senior capstone research. Eligible mentors include all UH Mānoa faculty. Mentors can be from the student’s major department or from another program where their expertise is relevant to the student’s project.
After selecting a mentor, students invite at least one additional person to serve as a committee member. Eligible committee members include UHM faculty, faculty from other UH campuses, or relevant subject-matter experts from outside UH (with agreement of the mentor).
The faculty mentor and committee member(s) work closely with Honors students over a 2+-semester period. First, the mentor helps the student develop their project proposal and approves it before capstone work formally begins. During the capstone process, the mentor offers advice and support, and assesses student work in their capstone classes. Finally, after the student submits their final capstone to Honors, the mentor and committee member provide their assessment of the final project.
Mentors are among the most committed and engaged faculty on our campus and are dedicated to supporting the educational and professional development of students. For everyone who serves as a faculty mentor or committee member, Honors is deeply grateful to your contributions to undergraduate inquiry-based learning and success.