Honors Experiences
As an honors student, you will attend events and participate in service projects that will broaden your horizons and enhance your learning experience at Lamar University. Since the intent behind these activities is to help you develop life skills and ensure your experience at Lamar goes beyond academics, any course-related work does not count.
To count Honors Experiences as your High Impact Educational Practice, you must complete at least 40 experiences and document each one in your ePortfolio, including sharing critical thinking about your activity. For instance, you could examine what you learned about the topic and/or yourself and, if relevant, how the experience may help you reach your career goals.
Honors Experiences may include most any intellectual or cultural event held on campus, such as:
- Honors events (extra for Honors Scholars Day)
- Home for the Holidays (off campus)
- Theatre performances
- Art exhibitions
- Academic lectures
- Research presentations
- Creative activities
- Leadership meetings
- Volunteer experiences (on campus and off campus) - list hours served (2 hrs = 1 experience)
Be sure to also document your Leadership Positions. These experiences are crucial in developing the soft skills (leadership, organizational, networking, cultural competence, etc.) that are essential for your career path after Lamar University.
You Will Document All of Your Honors Experiences In Your ePortfolio (eP) in an aesthetic you desire. Please label your website tab: HIEP - Honors Experiences.
To help you develop your critical thinking skills, document each Honors Experience in your eP by including:
- At least one paragraph that demonstrates how you have thought about the activity in an objective and critical way.
- Prompts to consider answering:
- What did I learn about the topic?
- What did I learn about myself?
- How will this experience help me reach my career goals?
- Who was my mentor, and how did this person help me improve my life skills (eg. public speaking, time management, etc.)?
- Pictures/videos accompanying your text are also encouraged, as websites are meant to showcase a variety of mediums to communiate your message.
Your Honors Experiences should be current in your eP every Spring of each academic year. (Winter Break is a great time to double check that you have documented your most recent experiences.)
Once you complete all experiences (minimum 40 required), submit the HIEP form for review.
How to Stay on Track: You should record eP journal entries about, on average, one activity per month during the Fall and Spring semesters and two activities during the summer (10 per year).
Of course, you may attend, volunteer or lead as many activities as you wish throughout the year. Make the most out of your time at Lamar University!
You should have at least 40 Honors Experiences documented in your eP by the time you graduate in order to qualify for HIEP. We highly recommend you document your 40 and submit your HIEP form at least one semester prior to graduation.
Need a refresher from Honors Orientation?
You can always revisit your HLC on LULearn.