The Carl And Winifred Lee Honors College

Larry tenHarmsel
Dean

Keith Hearit
Associate Dean

The mission of the Carl and Winifred Lee Honors College is to design and foster curricular and co-curricular programs for the academically talented student. These programs allow students to pursue their major areas of study and to join with other bright students in Honors courses, internships, research projects, community work, and social activities. Faculty who teach through the college are recognized by the University as individuals who are fine teacher/scholars and who enjoy working with students.

The Lee Honors College strives to create an environment for critical thinking and active learning. Bringing together students in small classes allows for a variety of educational approaches which depart from the traditional lecture/note taking format. Teachers are encouraged to broaden the arenas for learning without compromising educational rigor. A variety of programs and activities is available to members of the Lee Honors College. Independent study, special Honors seminars, inter-university enrollment at local colleges, and undergraduate internships in the community may be arranged by Honors students. The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award, administered by the college, provides financial support for a variety of supervised undergraduate projects.

Student involvement is an important aspect of Honors education. Students become involved with the college not only through courses but through the Honors Student Association and Honors housing. The college sponsors trips, speakers, a newsletter, and other cultural and social activities. Through these activities students enhance their affiliation with the University and prepare themselves for leadership positions in their professional lives.

A special focus for the Lee Honors College is community involvement and volunteerism. The Office of Student Volunteer Services housed in the college provides all University students with information and referral services to over 150 local agencies and to state, national, and international volunteer opportunities. Student Volunteer Services also sponsors campus-wide service events such as the College Volunteer Opportunities Fair, Trick-or-Treat For Food Shelf, and Adopt-an-Agency.

The Lee Honors College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Mid-East Honors Association. It is a founding member of the Michigan Honors Association. Honors students and administrators of the college have held office in these organizations and regularly participate on regional and national Honors committees, making presentations to other Honors colleagues.

The Lee Honors College serves as the campus office for the WMU chapter of the national freshman honorary Alpha Lambda Delta and the Honors Student Association. These organizations sponsor academic and social events throughout the school year.

The Academic Program of Study

The Carl and Winifred Lee Honors College admits students in the first two years of their university education, including incoming freshmen, transfer students, and on-campus students. Students are admitted to the college based on high school and university grade point averages, American College Test (ACT) scores, co-curricular activities, an essay and academic recommendations. Students may request an application by calling or writing the Dean of the Lee Honors College.

The purpose of the Lee Honors College academic program of study is to deepen and enrich a student’s undergraduate experience in a way that coordinates with other University requirements. At the freshman-sophomore level, it consists of courses that earn General Education or major credit and which are clustered around a theme in order to allow students to explore relationships among various disciplines. In consultation with an Honors advisor, students enroll in two course clusters consisting of three courses each. At the junior and senior levels, students take two interdisciplinary seminars which examine critical issues within the fields housed in a particular college. A senior capstone project, the Honors College thesis, requires students to prepare and present a paper or performance typical of professional work in their major field.

Upon successfully completing this academic program of study, students graduate from the Lee Honors College and the major college, with special Honors in a specific discipline. They are recognized as graduates of the Lee Honors College at graduation ceremonies. This honor is also noted on the transcript and diploma.

For further information on specific aspects of the Lee Honors College, call or write to the: Dean of the Carl and Winifred Lee Honors College, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008; telephone: 269-387-3230; email: Lee_Hnrs_Col@wmich.edu

Baccalaureate Writing Requirement

Students who have been accepted into the Lee Honors College may satisfy the Baccalaureate Writing Requirement by successfully completing HNRS 4990 Honors College Thesis.

Lee Honors College Courses (HNRS)

Each semester a variety of honors courses, course clusters, and seminars is offered. Many of these are applicable to General Education requirements and other curriculum requirements. Others are variable topic/variable credit courses, enabling the Lee Honors College to offer a wide range of additional seminar and experiential learning opportunities. All courses are described in the Lee Honors College course booklet, which is printed each semester. All Honors courses are so indicated on the transcript.