Commonwealth Honors Program

Achieve Distinction as a Mount Student

Are you an ambitious student who wants to go deeper into your academic studies? If so, you may want to apply to the MWCC Commonwealth Honors Program.

The Commonwealth Honors Program enables highly motivated students to join with faculty from various disciplines to form a community that supports scholarship, personal growth, and service. Program opportunities include special honors courses, colloquiums, research contracts, tutorials, and individual advising.

Benefits of the Honors Program

The Commonwealth Honors Program offers students the opportunity to study and learn in a challenging educational environment. Students benefit from:

• Use of an exclusive Honors Center (a convenient place to meet, study, print, and collaborate with other Honors students) in Room H312.
• Priority registration.
• Small class sizes.
• Special recognition at graduation (with a signifying stole to be worn) and designation as “Commonwealth Honors Program Scholar” on official transcripts.
• Recognition as a Commonwealth Honors Scholar by all Massachusetts public universities.
• Participation in the UMASS, Amherst Undergraduate Conference.
• Special monthly meetings to foster a sense of belonging and community with fellow Commonwealth Honors Scholars.
• Field trips, special gatherings, and more!

Honors Program Mission

The Mission of the Mount Wachusett Community College Honors Program is to provide academically talented students with an enriched learning environment. Through the program, students are challenged to develop and enhance skills in intellectual curiosity, independent research, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The program helps students achieve their transfer and career goals.

Honors Program History

In the fall of 1991, Mount Wachusett Community College became one of only four Massachusetts community colleges to offer an honors program. In 2000, the Mount’s Honors Program became the first state or community college program to be granted Commonwealth Honors Program Status. In the summer of 2007, the Mount’s Honors Program became the first community college in the Massachusetts state system to be reaccredited.

The Commonwealth Honors Program is perfect for students seeking transfer to a competitive four-year college and/or seeking additional intellectual pursuits. The Commonwealth Honors Program is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and the Northeast Regional Honors Council (NCHC) and is approved as a Commonwealth Honors Program by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE).

Contact the Honors Program Coordinator

Kara Roche, Professor, (978) 630-9851, k_roche@mwcc.mass.edu

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Phone

By submitting this form, I understand that the information I provided will be used in compliance with MWCC’s Privacy Policy.

Submit

Honors Program Requirements

Incoming Students

Students are welcome to commence their academic program as a member of the college’s selective Honors Program. Students entering MWCC should meet the following criteria:

• A 3.3 or higher high school GPA for incoming students who graduated within three years of their admission to MWCC.

Currently Enrolled Students

Students should make an appointment to meet with the Honors Program Coordinator to discuss academic preparation and must meet the following requirements based on at least one semester of coursework of six credits or more:

• A 3.3 GPA or higher.
• A 3.0 GPA or higher with a strong MWCC professor recommendation and approval of the Honors Coordinator.

Program Requirements

• Must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher at the time of graduation to earn a Commonwealth Honors Scholar credential and should maintain that GPA throughout all semesters.
• Must maintain GPA: If a student’s GPA dips below a number that becomes unattainable to earn a 3.3 by the time of graduation, the student will be notified and removed from the program.
• Must have a declared degree program by the time of graduation.
• Must successfully complete four honors courses, by achieving a minimum grade of “B” in each course. These courses typically include:
  • Honors ENG 102 College Writing II, an honors-level version of College Writing II.
  • The Honors Research Seminar/Colloquium, HUM 283. The research seminar is an interdisciplinary thematic course, designed and team-taught by MWCC faculty.
  • The remaining two-course requirements may be satisfied by component courses or specifically designated honors courses. See more information below:
    • Honors-designation Courses
      • Each semester, the college will offer honors courses to students.
      • These courses will rotate, and honors students will have priority registration to enroll in these classes to fulfill their degree programs as well as their Commonwealth Honors requirements.
    • Component Courses
      • “Component” courses are courses already required by a student’s degree program. A component course requires an additional assignment of independent research, resulting in a tangible product such as a written paper, service learning, a special project, a speech presentation, a poster presentation, and/or a presentation at the UMASS, Amherst Undergraduate Honors Conference. Component courses result from a written agreement between a faculty member and the student, approval of the Honors Program Coordinator, and approval of the Division Dean.
  • Honors Program requirements may be substituted with the approval of the Honors Program Coordinator or the Division Dean.

Applications