For Students

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.