The University of Northern Colorado Honors Program provides a platform for high-achieving students to challenge themselves academically while engaging in a diverse community of peers and faculty.
Designed to foster intellectual growth, the program offers an enriched curriculum that spans disciplines and encourages innovation, leadership and research.
Busisiwe Chimembe, a sophomore in human services, is the Honors Program’s Communications Assistant. She releases the newsletters and helps around the office.
“I’ve never been somebody to just take the easy way out,” Chimembe said. “I feel like the Honors Program does a good job of challenging you and having the support systems that you need.”
Open to undergraduates of all majors, the Honors Program is currently structured in two tiers: the Honors Interdisciplinary Program (HIP) and the Upper Division Honors Program (UDHP), with the HIP program ending this spring.
The HIP program is pursued during a student’s first two years of college and emphasizes a broad exploration across different fields. Small, seminar-style classes provide an intimate learning environment where students can collaborate and engage in meaningful discussions.
Replacing the HIP, the new tier is a freshman honors program, where incoming freshman or transfer students have the ability to check out the program in a year's time, rather than two years. No portfolio is needed, and it will be much more accessible.
“For a lot of the heavy curriculum majors, like business, nursing and theatre, honors is somewhat harder to do just because they already have so much on their plate,” said Clare Bolon, a senior in anthropology. “So, having it be just a year and just being a few classes makes it more accessible to those students.”
The UDHP allows students to advance their focuses on research and creative work, culminating in the completion of an honors thesis or equivalent project.
“You get to choose whatever you want to research,” Bolon said. “It could involve your major or it doesn't have to.”
Bolon is researching ‘How does the lack of pockets in adult women’s clothing affect their agency in everyday life?’. She made a survey looking at the quantitative and qualitative sides of her research, receiving 160 responses and is still researching new methods.
Students work closely with faculty mentors to design and execute their projects, often contributing original ideas to their chosen fields. The thesis process allows students to explore topics of personal and professional interest while developing skills in analysis, organization and presentation.
Beyond academics, the Honors Program fosters a sense of community among its members.
“Finding a community that you feel safe in in college is really what helps you thrive,” Bolon said. “Finding that place where you feel confident and you feel comfortable and you have people who are there to support you, will always help in the struggles of your life.”
Regularly scheduled events, workshops and networking opportunities enable students to connect with their peers, alumni and faculty. These connections often lead to collaborations that extend beyond the classroom, creating an integrated academic and social experience.
“Personally, it’s great since there’s like-minded people who are interested in different things than I am,” Bolon said. “They have the same drive that I do.”
“It was just kind of an instant community,” said Lyndsey Hughes, a sophomore in criminology and criminal justice. Hughes is a first-generation student who struggled to find her footing in her first year. She found friendship and family within the program.
Participants in the Honors Program gain access to several benefits, including priority registration, dedicated honors housing and opportunities for scholarships. The program also facilitates engagement with national and international honors organizations, enhancing students’ exposure to broader academic and professional networks.
“The research on the things you’re going to be doing, it’s just really going to help you,” Chimembe said. “It’s a way to demonstrate the research that you’ve done, and you can show ‘I’m very serious about this,’ and I know a lot of employers would love to see something like that.”
“I have been to a national honors conference,” Bolon said. “We go as delegates, and we go to different workshops and take notes and bring it back to our honors program to see what we could potentially implement to have a better program.”
The Honors Program actively seeks to recruit a diverse group of students who demonstrate curiosity, initiative and a commitment to excellence. Admission is based on a combination of academic performance, extracurricular involvement and a demonstrated passion for learning. Prospective students must submit an application that highlights their achievements and outlines their academic goals.
To graduate with honors, students must maintain a high GPA and meet the program’s specific course and project requirements. Those who complete the program receive special recognition at commencement and an honors destination on their transcripts, marking their achievements to future employers and graduate schools.
“I can tell you that being in honors gives you skills that can help you in the workforce,” Bolon said. “I have a lot of skills that I can put on my CVs. It’s a lot more in depth than what you just learned in class.”
The program also plays a critical role in UNC’s broader academic community, contributing to the university’s mission of fostering innovation and scholarship.
Faculty who participate in the program bring their expertise and mentorship to the table, enriching the experience for students. This exchange of ideas helps create an intellectually stimulating environment that benefits the entire campus.
“They help a lot,” said Bolon, who is actively working with two faculty members on her thesis. “You also get to learn from their experiences, and they’ve been invaluable to me.”
For students seeking to maximize their undergraduate experience, the UNC Honors Program serves as a pathway to personal and professional growth. By combining academic rigor with meaningful engagement opportunities, the program prepares graduates to excel in their chosen fields and make impactful contributions to society.
“Personally, I feel like I know what I’m doing a lot more,” Hughes said. “It’s a good community and everyone is genuinely so nice and there for all the same reasons of just wanting community and to be challenged.”
Interested students are encouraged to explore the Honors Program’s website or visit the campus honors office for more information. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with opportunities for admission at multiple points during a student’s academic career. Whether pursuing interdisciplinary exploration or advanced research, the program offers a supportive and challenging environment for those eager to push the boundaries of their education.
“I did not know what I wanted to do when I first came to UNC,” Chimembe said. “I changed my major a whole bunch of times. The Honors Program provides you with so many resources and so many different things to help you understand what it is to be a college student.”
Students who participate in the program often leave not only with enhanced resumes but also with the skills and confidence to tackle complex challenges in an ever-evolving world.
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