Approved by: Academic Affairs
History: Updated 2023
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Related Forms, Procedures and References:
For Questions Contact: Chair of Honors Committee | 414.382.6303 | patti.varga@alverno.edu
At Alverno, undergraduate students are nominated for honors by their major discipline faculty and their support discipline faculty following a review of their academic work. Honors acknowledges undergraduate service-minded scholars. The criteria for honors are centered on two broad categories, academic excellence and service excellence. These two categories are rooted in the philosophy underlying the Alverno curriculum, which effectively integrates academic achievement with professional and personal life.
Nominations for honors are submitted to the Alverno College Honors Committee by the faculty of the student’s major and support areas. Nomination letters include detailed information on how the student has met the criteria for honors. The criteria for honors nominations include Independence, Mastery, Integration Habituality, Resilience, Commitment, Enthusiasm, Creativity, and Influence Awareness. These nominations reflect the student’s entire journey at Alverno. The Honors Committee members represent all academic areas of the college. This committee reviews the nominations submitted by the faculty looking for key characteristics and distinctive qualities that include independence, commitment, resilience, enthusiasm, creativity, influence, and mastery. The committee deliberates until they reach a unanimous decision and a final list of honor graduates.
Honors at Alverno is a recognition earned by students’ performance throughout their academic career. The criteria are rigorous and describe an exemplary Alverno graduate. Students are recognized on their transcript, on the graduation program, and by being given a gold cord to wear with their graduation regalia.