Honors Credit Learning Agreement Guidelines
James Scholars are required to complete one course or honors section of a course each semester while in residence to remain certified in the program. The most common way to meet this requirement in FAA is for students to complete an Honors Credit Learning Agreement (HCLA) form with an individual instructor for a course in which they are already enrolled. Completion of such an agreement makes the class eligible for honors credit for that individual student.
Download a PDF of the Guidelines for your Instructor
General Guidelines
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Student and instructor agree upon a course-related project of an extraordinary nature to be completed in addition to regular coursework.
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Forms or products of the learning agreement are subject to professional standards of the discipline and to the approval of the instructor.
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Honors credit should represent an additional 15 hours of work for the student.
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Appropriate examples of honors credit include: research papers (8 to 10 pages), special lab experiments, preparations of films of photographic essays, independent research on teaching methods, and others at the discretion of the instructor.
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Beginning-level studio and practical courses for non-majors of not appropriate for honors agreements.
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Students seeking honors credit for a course in Music must have their HCLA approved by both the instructor and Dr. Edward Rath, Associate Director, School of Music, Music Building Office 3053.
Student Responsibilities
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Meet with the instructor to agree on a project and complete the HCLA form. The HCLA form is available in the FAA College Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office, 110 Architecture Building.
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Return the signed form to the FAA College Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office by the 4th week of class.
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Complete the terms of the contract and earn a B- ("B minus") or better grade for the class.
Instructor Responsibilities
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Check for **Registered Honors** next to the student's name under the Registration Status column in both the class roster and the grade submission forms. If this designation is absent, the instructor should contact the FAA Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office, 333-6061, faa-uaa@illinois.edu.
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Assign an honors grade from the drop-down menu on the final grades roster if the student successfully completes the honors agreement and deserves honors credit. Honors grades have an "H" after the grade (e.g., AH) and are only given in the student receives a B- "B minus") or better in the class.
Questions?
Please direct any questions to:
College of Fine and Applied Arts
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
110 Architecture Building
217-333-6061
faa-uaa@illinois.edu
