FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beginning next fall, Northampton Community College will expand its offerings to include an honors program. The program is designed to provide an enriched educational environment for the growing number of high-achieving students who are choosing to complete their first two years of college at NCC before going on to pursue advanced degrees.
A team of faculty and staff led by Assistant Professor of Philosophy Ken Burak has worked for over a year to put the plan together. "It's been very exciting," Burak says. "Our goal is to take students to the next level in terms of thinking critically, creatively and independently. To do that, faculty will be using some innovative teaching techniques. Many honors courses will also include a service learning option that will allow students to apply what they are learning in community service projects."
Dr. Michael McGovern, NCC's vice president for academic affairs says, "The intent of the program is to keep students who are well prepared academically intellectually engaged and to help them to achieve their full potential.
To be eligible to enroll in honors courses, students coming to NCC directly from high school must meet the placement requirements for English I and have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4-point scale or rank in the top 20% of their class. College students who have earned at least a 3.5 grade point average after twelve credits of college work may also enroll. Students who do not meet those criteria, but who present a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, counselor or another person knowledgeable about their academic record will also be considered.
The Honors Program may be completed in conjunction with any major. Participants will be able to select from a variety of honors courses that are part of the general education core. Their transcripts will designate them as honors program graduates if they earn at least 12 credits in honors courses and maintain an overall grade point average of 3.5 or above.
Northampton Community College offers programs in close to 100 fields of study. Honors courses that will be offered during the fall semester include English I, Chemistry in Contemporary Society, Modern Irish Literature, and Principles of Sociology.
Students who qualify for the Honors Program may also qualify for special scholarships. Some cover full tuition. Some cover partial tuition. The deadline for applying for the scholarships is April 1. Northampton Community College awards more scholarship aid than any other community college in Pennsylvania
To learn more about the honors program and/or NCC’s scholarship program or to request applications for either, contact the College’s Admissions Office at 610-861-5500.
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For more information, contact Heidi Butler at 610-861-5453.
