Honors Admissions

Policies and Procedures
(for DuPont, Alison, Stark, and 1743 Scholars)

Beginning in the Fall Semester 2005, entering Distinguished Scholars are provided with $2,500 to defray the costs of a learning experience that will enrich and enhance their education at UD. This document describes the policies and procedures that govern how these funds should be requested and spent.

Any time a Distinguished Scholar wishes to spend all of part of his or her enrichment funds, that individual must submit a formal request to the Director of the Honors Program. The exact form and content of that request will depend on whether the scholar is proposing to spend funds on a “traditional” or “nontraditional” learning experience.

Traditional Experience

A traditional experience is a learning opportunity commonly and routinely available to all UD students. Currently, three activities carry the label “traditional.” These are study abroad, service learning abroad and undergraduate research that involves domestic or international travel. The student must apply to and be accepted into one of these programs according to the procedures of that program.

To request funds for one of these three experiences, a scholar must complete an Enrichment Funds Request Form (PDF format) that provides the details of the experience and submit that form to the Director of the Honors Program.

In the case of undergraduate research involving travel, the scholar must also obtain a letter or e-mail from the faculty member who is sponsoring the research and who will be traveling with the student. This communication should confirm the faculty member’s approval of and participation in the research experience.

Approvals of requests to fund traditional experiences are expected to relatively quick and almost automatic.

Non-Traditional Experience

Distinguished Scholars are encouraged to think creatively and to construct interesting and innovative experiences to enrich the UD education. Because such experiences will by their very nature be unique to a specific student, additional description and explanation will be necessary.

In such instances, a 2-3 page proposal should accompany the request form. This proposal should (1) describe the activity for which funds are being requested, (2) explain and justify how this activity will enrich the student’s education, and (3) provide a budget that shows how the requested funds will be spent. The request form and the proposal should be submitted to the Director of the Honors Program.

This proposal will be evaluated by a committee of Distinguished Scholars who have already spent their enrichment funds. The committee will be chaired and meetings will be called by the Director of the Honors Program. This committee may approve a proposal; it may reject proposals it deems unworthy or unsuitable; or it may offer specific suggestions for revision that will make a proposal acceptable.

The Director will notify each student of the committee’s decision shortly after it is made.

Post-Activity Report

Upon completion of his/her activity, each Scholar will be required to submit a brief report that outlines the experience and accomplishments. This report will be displayed on the Honors Program web site for a minimum of one semester.

Timetable for Submission of Proposals

Traditional and nontraditional proposals will normally be evaluated once each semester. Deadlines for submission of the request form and the accompanying proposal are March 15th for Summer Session or Fall Semester activities and October 1st for Winter Session or Spring Semester activities. The committee will meet and evaluate the proposals shortly after those dates.

If a unique and special opportunity for enrichment arises outside of these deadlines (i.e., after October 1st, but a decision is required before March 15 th), the committee will consider that proposal in a special meeting called by the Director.

Questions

Any questions about these policies or procedures should be addressed to the Director of the Honors Program.

Enrichment Funds Request Form

Post-Activity Reports

	Disbursement of Enrichment Funds Policies and Procedures (for DuPont, Alison, Stark, and 1743 Scholars) Beginning in the Fall Semester 2005, entering Distinguished Scholars are provided with $2,500 to defray the costs of a learning experience that will enrich and enhance their education at UD. This document describes the policies and procedures that govern how these funds should be requested and spent. Any time a Distinguished Scholar wishes to spend all of part of his or her enrichment funds, that individual must submit a formal request to the Director of the Honors Program. The exact form and content of that request will depend on whether the scholar is proposing to spend funds on a “traditional” or “nontraditional” learning experience. Traditional Experience A traditional experience is a learning opportunity commonly and routinely available to all UD students. Currently, three activities carry the label “traditional.” These are study abroad, service learning abroad and undergraduate research that involves domestic or international travel. The student must apply to and be accepted into one of these programs according to the procedures of that program. To request funds for one of these three experiences, a scholar must complete an Enrichment Funds Request Form (PDF format) that provides the details of the experience and submit that form to the Director of the Honors Program. In the case of undergraduate research involving travel, the scholar must also obtain a letter or e-mail from the faculty member who is sponsoring the research and who will be traveling with the student. This communication should confirm the faculty member’s approval of and participation in the research experience. Approvals of requests to fund traditional experiences are expected to relatively quick and almost automatic. Non-Traditional Experience Distinguished Scholars are encouraged to think creatively and to construct interesting and innovative experiences to enrich the UD education. Because such experiences will by their very nature be unique to a specific student, additional description and explanation will be necessary. In such instances, a 2-3 page proposal should accompany the request form. This proposal should (1) describe the activity for which funds are being requested, (2) explain and justify how this activity will enrich the student’s education, and (3) provide a budget that shows how the requested funds will be spent. The request form and the proposal should be submitted to the Director of the Honors Program. This proposal will be evaluated by a committee of Distinguished Scholars who have already spent their enrichment funds. The committee will be chaired and meetings will be called by the Director of the Honors Program. This committee may approve a proposal; it may reject proposals it deems unworthy or unsuitable; or it may offer specific suggestions for revision that will make a proposal acceptable. The Director will notify each student of the committee’s decision shortly after it is made. Post-Activity Report Upon completion of his/her activity, each Scholar will be required to submit a brief report that outlines the experience and accomplishments. This report will be displayed on the Honors Program web site for a minimum of one semester. Timetable for Submission of Proposals Traditional and nontraditional proposals will normally be evaluated once each semester. Deadlines for submission of the request form and the accompanying proposal are March 15th for Summer Session or Fall Semester activities and October 1st for Winter Session or Spring Semester activities. The committee will meet and evaluate the proposals shortly after those dates. If a unique and special opportunity for enrichment arises outside of these deadlines (i.e., after October 1st, but a decision is required before March 15 th), the committee will consider that proposal in a special meeting called by the Director. Questions Any questions about these policies or procedures should be addressed to the Director of the Honors Program. Enrichment Funds Request Form Post-Activity Reports