For Students

An interior shot of the Honors Village looking out at the building entrance.

GET TO KNOW THE W.A. FRANKE HONORS COLLEGE

Participate in undergraduate research and creative inquiry, join the club, have an impact, and gain professional development experience. You're a Franke Honors Wildcat. 

Calendar of Events

Academic Resources

Franke Honors Advisors

These are the people who are best positioned to make sure you're set up for success during your time in the Franke Honors College. They can answer your questions about courses and credits and ensure you have access to opportunities. 

Research and Creative Inquiry

No matter your degree path, you can go beyond the traditional classroom experience. Be curious. Be innovative. Make choices and evaluate outcomes. Not only is that a gratifying experience in itself, but it looks amazing on grad school and job applications. 

Academic Programs

As a Franke Honors student, you can participate in unique minors, certificates, and degrees. These are designed to compliment coursework in your chosen major, deepen your educational experience, and prepare you for a successful postgrad experience. 

Customize your Academic Experience

Your Franke Honors advisor will guide you through this, but it's important to familiarize yourself with the many different ways to earn honors units—from individual study courses to honors contracts and study abroad. Have the experience you want and stay on track with your graduation goals.  

Honors Courses

HNRS courses are usually interdisciplinary or experiential in nature. Many count toward general education requirements. Honors sections of courses allow you to earn honors units for courses that you take in your degree path. 

The Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis is the culmination of the Honors experience. It can take many forms—your imagination and passion are the limit. While it's a large project, it doesn't have to be an overwhelming one. Check out the Thesis Guidebook for a timeline and helpful info to keep you on track, starting your first year. 

Build Connections

 

PATH Mentorship Program

The Partnerships Through Honors peer-to-peer mentorship program benefits both mentees and mentors and will help you get the most out of your Franke Honors experience. 

Clubs

Franke Honors Ambassadors, Honors Student Council, and Honors Service club are fantastic ways to connect with other Franke Honors students, have fun, and build skills during you undergraduate career. 

Common Reading

Each year, a group of students and faculty select the Common Reading Book. This is a book all Franke Honors students are encouraged to read and discuss throughout the year, with a culminating event in the spring. 

Study Abroad

Expand you horizons, literally, with an Honors study abroad experience. There are several opportunities to earn Honors units while exploring another part of the globe, ranging from 5-week summer experiences to full semesters with the Honors Semester Global Experience Policy. 

Black Excellence Scholars

The Black Excellence Scholars program centers the experiences of Black and African American students and integrates culturally responsive, culturally conscious pedagogy. 

Service Learning

In alignment with academic programming that creates opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and make real impact, the Franke Honors College offers multiple ways to get involved with service to the community.

Fund Your Dreams

Scholarships & Grants

There are SO many scholarships available to Franke Honors students—from stipends to cover housing or conference fees to awards based on field of study. If you have questions about internal scholarships, reach out to Angie Valdez, Assistant Director of Internal Scholarships.

Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Housed in the Franke Honors College, but available to all students, the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (ONCS) is here to help you fund your dreams during undergrad and beyond. If you have questions about nationally competitive scholarships, contact Valeria Quijada, Assistant Director, Nationally Competitive Scholarships.

Fund Your Research

The Franke Honors College is constantly looking for ways to better support students through undergraduate research opportunities. Part of that support comes in the form of funding. If you have questions about funding your research, contact Tori Nardinelli, Assistant Director of Research, Creative Expression and Professional Initiatives. 

Set Yourself Up for Success

Create an Email Signature

Add a level of professionalism to your communications by setting up an email signature for your CatMail. Taking a few minutes to do this now will save you a lot of time down the line, and including details like your student id will help faculty and staff find your student record and address your questions and concerns efficiently. 

Here's an example (You can copy/paste, just make sure you change the details to your info!): 

Wilma Wildcat
Biochemistry Major
Class of 2026
W.A. Franke Honors College
The University of Arizona
Student ID: 12345678
Email: wilmawildcat@arizona.edu
Phone: 520-621-6901

How to set up an email signature: Google  How to set up an email signature: Outlook

Franke Honors Resume Guide

This guide provides some information and links to great resources that will help you as you apply for jobs, internships, and more!

Check out the Franke Honors Resume Guide

Bookmark these Pages

For Students
Franke Honors Events Calendar
Franke Honors Advising
Franke Honors D2L Portal

Check Your Email

The Franke Honors College sends a brief email every Sunday during fall and spring semester to keep you in the know on upcoming events and opportunities. Give it a quick read to make sure you're connected with all the opportunities available to you!

Helpful How-to's

 

Get to Know the Honors Village

Whether or not you live in the Honors Village, it is a space for you to study, eat, relax, and connect with other Franke Honors Wildcats. 

Image
A map of the first floor of the Honors Village

Image
A map of the second floor of the Honors Village

Beyond Franke Honors

The University of Arizona has a wealth of resources available to all students.

Resources      Student Success       Current Research, Internship, and Fellowship Opportunities

 

FAQ

Check out the Advising page on our website to find your advisor!

Your Franke Honors Advisor is a great person to talk to about Franke Honors requirements, how to get more involved in the Franke Honors community, understanding your general education requirements, and learning more about campus resources. For major-specific questions, we recommend reaching out to your assigned major advisor.

  • Complete your Honors unit requirement (Check your Advisement Report to learn more)
  • Earn and maintain a cumulative 3.4 GPA
  • Complete your Honors Thesis

Check your Advisement Report on UAccess and then contact your Franke Honors Advisor with any questions!

Contact your Franke Honors Advisor. We are here to help!

No. You just need to earn a 3.4 GPA by the time you graduate. If your GPA falls below that prior to your senior year, your Franke Honors Advisor may reach out to inquire about your situation and offer support, but you will not be removed from Franke Honors.

  • No. Students only need to complete one thesis project. Whichever field of study you complete your thesis in will be the subject in which you graduate with Honors. For example, a student who completes a thesis through their major department of Engineering would graduate with Honors in Engineering.
  • However, students do have the option of completing multiple theses. Talk with your Franke Honors Advisor to learn more!

  • We have several student organizations to explore, including Honors Student Council, the Franke Honors Ambassadors, PATH Mentoring, and more.
  • Attend Franke Honors events! Stay up to date about upcoming events through our Calendar.

  • Check Scholarship Universe
  • Contact Angie Valdez, Assistant Director of Internal Scholarships
  • Contact Valeria Quijada, Assistant Director of Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Contact Tori Nardinelli, Assistant Director of Research, Creative Expression, and Professional Initiatives.

Our Values in Practice

The W.A. Franke Honors College has committed to the below values and is constantly working to better live up to them. Learn more about the college's mission and history, view the Strategic Map, and read the full values statements here

 

WE SEEK

We are curious. We don’t wait for life to happen. We seek solutions, diverse perspectives, and knowledge, and we proactively participate in the world through research, creative inquiry, and global engagement.

WE CONNECT

We take an interdisciplinary approach to making meaning through our work. Our scientific studies inform our creative writing, and our passion for art history impacts the way we solve engineering challenges. Our greatest aha moments come when we connect with new people, perspectives, and ways of thinking.

WE CREATE

We put our knowledge into practice when we create, from developing community partnerships and creating inclusive spaces, to writing poetry and producing advanced technologies. We invest in the “now what” of our scholarship.

WE EVOLVE

Our work requires evolving alongside new technologies, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic realities. These complex challenges require bold thinking and big solutions. If we hold back for fear of failure, we cannot succeed. Sometimes our efforts will miss the mark; we learn and move forward.

WE CELEBRATE

We hold each other up. We take breaks. We have fun. We celebrate our successes and grow through our failures. We are honest about our struggles and respectful of every member of our W.A. Franke Honors College community.

TOGETHER, WE ARE FRANKE HONORS WILDCATS

Sharing knowledge, perspectives, and experiences allows us to examine issues holistically. We commit to intentional efforts to ensure differences are welcomed and every individual feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. We remember that our differences don’t hinder us, they give us boundless potential, and we value each other for the different perspectives we bring.