Special Programs and Services

The Experiential Education and Internship Program

The Experiential Education and Internship Program is designed to provide students an opportunity to integrate a practical work experience with their academic program of study. The program is open to undergraduate students pursuing a certificate, associate or bachelor degree at Siena Heights University who meet the University internship guidelines and registration requirements. Work experiences contributing to the development of the student may be arranged with industry, education, business, the arts, social services, government, and various other career fields.

All students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to participate in the program. Students must also receive approval from their respective departments and the Career Services Office on the Adrian campus.

Library

The Siena Heights University Library offers a diverse and robust collection of electronic and print resources to accommodate students on and off campus. The library supplements this collection through participation in local resource sharing as a member of the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET) and the Michigan Electronic Library Catalog (MeLCat), as well as traditional interlibrary loan with partners around the nation. In addition to its informational offerings, the library offers computers and printing, a conference room, a classroom and formal and informal study spaces to meet a broad range of student needs. The SHU Library staff is user-focused and available to assist students with everything from using library resources to research assistance and citation help. Students can access the library’s collection and gain more information about the library via the SHU library website. Links to the website are located on MySiena.

Honors Program

Honors Program Mission Statement

The Siena Heights University Honors Program provides a liberal arts enriched university experience to highly motivated undergraduate scholars. Each scholar, under the guidance of the program director and their academic advisors and mentors, develops a personalized honors curriculum with a purposeful combination of creative academic experiences, team-based community engagement, and leadership development opportunities that are consistent with the mission and learning outcomes of Siena Heights University. The goal of the program is to develop leaders who will serve others in our challenging world by making the most of the gifts that have been bestowed upon them for the common good.

SHU CAS Honors Program Details for First-Time SHU Students

First Time in Any College (FTIAC) Admission Process

1. High school students with a core grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
2. A complete application includes: a completed program information form (https://sites.sienaheights.edu/landing-pages/honors-program-application/), a personal statement from the student regarding why you would like to be considered for participation in the program, and at least one letter of reference from a teacher and/or guidance counselor.
3. Completion of an interview with the honors program director or a designated honors committee faculty member during the academic scholarship days, a Siena Heights Orientation (SHO) day, or by arrangement with an honors program committee member.

NOTE: A demonstrated commitment to the program objectives of scholarship and servant leadership should be highlighted in both letters. All applications are considered and reviewed at the discretion of the honors program director and the honors program committee.

Program Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 20 credits of honors-designated academic credit, including as many honors courses and honors-specific sections of the following courses as possible:
   • the honors-designated section of First Year Experience, ACD-130H, 3-cr
   • honors fall semester seminars: HON100, HON240, HON340, and HON440; each 1-cr
   • LAS 141H, LAS 241H, LAS 341H/330H, and LAS 441H/430H; each 3-cr
   • McNair program courses and S-STEM program courses may be counted toward the honors total as they require an additional level of effort and/or commitment to academic rigor.
   • Additional credits acquired via “leveled up” sections of regularly scheduled courses or study-abroad opportunities (see next section). All of these will be arranged by contract between the student, the course instructor, and the honors program director.
   • The student may also take Siena Heights University graduate courses which have no prerequisites, or have prerequisites that the student has satisfied. (PENDING)
2. Students have the option to complete an honors research thesis (up to 4-credits) in partnership with a faculty mentor in partial fulfillment of the 20-credit hours. The completion of an honors research thesis must be approved by the honors program director, division assistant dean, and the faculty mentor.
3. Students must complete the requirements of their major and the honors requisite coursework with a combined 3.25 GPA in order to receive the honors designation on their transcript and diploma. All honors coursework must be completed with a grade of ‘B’ or higher in order to meet the requirements of the honors program.

Reguarly Scheduled Honors Courses

Fall semester: ACD130H, HON100, HON240, HON340, HON440
All other program credits are to be earned in contracted honors sections of regularly scheduled courses, known as “leveling up” a course.

• Honors Scholars will be responsible for “leveling up” courses of their choosing in order to satisfy the additional credit hour requirement of the program. “Leveling up” is a form of differentiated learning, where course instructors and students work together to design educational experiences that are worthy of the honors designation. As a guideline, the amount of honors work can be equivalent to one credit hour of effort, where the honors scholar will complete four credit hours of work for an honors designation on a three credit hour course. The honors student and course instructor will work together to determine what additional work would be the equivalent of one credit hour of effort. The additional work should challenge the student to expand their perspective and experience set, with an additional benefit of making the course more interesting for both the student and the instructor. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • A final project that is presented to the class or recorded and shared on the Honors or SHU website. Can also be a multimedia project.
  • Additional literature work/annotated bibliography that compliments the course reading list, followed by a paper on a topic agreed to by the student and the professor; the additional literature may be a research area for the instructor that would lead to changes in the course or a new course/research project.
  • A final reflection paper in which the student is challenged to build logical connections between the course content and their major, or it could answer a question of interest to both parties.
  • An experiential or project-based learning experience

What is earned upon completion of 20 credit hours of honors coursework?

1. Honors designation on transcript.
2. Honors designation on decorative diploma mat and frame.
3. Honors medallions at commencement.

Additional benefits of enrolling in the honors program include:

1. Priority registration of classes.
2. Opportunity to engage in honors only designated courses and sections of courses.
3. Invitation to honors program events, which may include a Fall welcome dinner, community bonding events, and a graduate honors banquet.
4. Scholarships for honors students as funds become available – associated with academic scholarship days.

Honors Program Committee

The Honors Program Committee consists of the program director and three faculty members from three different divisions. This committee works in partnership to review student applications, course proposals, thesis projects, and policies.

Honors Program Admission Policy for Currently Enrolled SHU Students

Current SHU students who have completed less than 75 credit hours towards their undergraduate degree requirements with a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.5 are eligible to apply for the Honors Program. For consideration, candidates must submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and complete an interview with the Honors Program Director. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and candidates will be notified in writing of the director’s decision.

Honors Program Admission Policy for Transfer Students

Transfer students who have completed less than 60 credit hours towards their undergraduate degree requirements with a cumulative transfer G.P.A. of at least 3.5 are eligible to apply for the Honors Program. For consideration, candidates must submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and complete an interview with the Honors Program Director. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and candidates will be notified in writing of the director’s decision.

For transfer students that were honors program members at their transferring institution, the SHU Honors Program will accept transfer honors credit of up to 16 hours. To complete the SHU Honors Program requirements, the student must complete a minimum of 4 Honors credit hours at Siena Heights University. The Honors Program encourages that this be completed through the Honors research thesis (4-credits) in partnership with a faculty mentor in partial fulfillment of the required total of 20-credit hours. The completion of an honors research thesis must be approved by the honors program director, CAS program director, and the faculty mentor.

Honors Program Probation Policy

The Siena Heights University Honors Program requires that members maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.25 throughout their undergraduate studies. At the end of each semester, transcripts will be reviewed and those that fail to meet this standard may be placed on probation from the Honors Program. The Program Director will notify students who have failed to meet the G.P.A. standard and invite them to a required meeting to discuss their academic status. Failure to attend this meeting may result in immediate dismissal from the program. Members placed on probation will have one semester to raise their G.P.A. above the 3.25 program minimum.

Honors Program Suspension Policy

If an Honors Program scholar is suspended from Siena Heights University for a violation of the Academic Dishonesty Policy, this student will be dismissed from the Honors Program immediately. If a scholar is placed on probation or suspended from Siena Heights University for a violation of the Student Code, they may be dismissed from the Honors Program, depending on the severity and circumstances of the violation. The Director of the Honors Program will investigate the situation and notify the student of their decision in writing.

Graduation/Commencement for SHU Honors Program

Senior Honors Program Scholars must apply for commencement by March 1st of the semester prior to their expected May graduation. The application can be found on the following page of this handbook.

Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is designed to prepare talented undergraduate students for graduate school and doctoral studies. The McNair Scholars Program is one of seven national TRIO programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and funded through the Department of Education. Currently, there are 179 programs at colleges and universities throughout the country.

The program is named for Ronald Ervin McNair, one of the first African Americans in the United States space program. Dr. McNair was a crew member aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded on January 28, 1986. A physicist with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McNair has become a symbol of academic excellence.

In order to be eligible for this program, students must be either a member of an under-represented group in higher education or be a first generation (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree) and low income college student. Additional requirements for applicants include the following: full time student, second session sophomore status, a 3.0 grade point average, declared major, and commitment to attend graduate school leading to a doctoral degree. The McNair program provides a summer research course, research opportunities, graduate school visits, faculty mentoring, and an annual stipend. McNair Scholars attend professional conferences, present their research findings and attend seminars on graduate school admission. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year.

Academic Support

Center for Student Success (CSS)

Career Services

The primary mission of Career Services is to aid students in developing, evaluating and effectively initiating and implementing their own career plans. Careers Services assist students with engaging in self-assessments, obtaining occupational information, and exploring career fields that are relevant to each student’s plan. Integrating career planning into liberal arts core courses as well as senior seminars in a student’s major is vital toward assisting with each plan. Through sponsorships of on-campus employer recruitment, employment fairs, workshops including resume writing and mock interviewing, as well as use of electronic resources, all contribute toward helping the student to reach their career goal. Career Services also maintains an online job board for all Siena Heights University students and alumni.

Disability Resources

The Office of Disability Resources supports the mission of Siena Heights University by working with faculty and staff to provide a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all. Students who have documented disabilities are provided support, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, assuring them an equal opportunity to participate in the educational process at Siena Heights University in accordance with Section 504 and Title II of the ADA law (29 U.S.C. Section 794). Regular meetings are encouraged with students to assist them in reaching their academic goals.

First Year Experience

The First Year Experience supports the institution’s mission by helping students establish a foundation that creates experiences to personally and academically transition and connect first year students with the institution and community. This is accomplished by creating a teaching and learning environment that intentionally engages students in a way that promotes their personal development and holistically helps them to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical leaders which respects the dignity of all.

Student Support Services (SSS)

Authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, this national TRiO program has been serving students on the main campus since 1979. This program is designed to prepare students for graduation from Siena Heights University with a baccalaureate degree. SSS participants will receive services from the first day they arrive on campus until the day of their graduation.

Tutoring Program

The University provides tutoring services for students who may need assistance in multiple subject areas. The Math Lab assists students in all areas of math; the Writing Center assists students with composition skills and writing assignments in all disciplines; the Language Tutor Program assists students in writing, speaking and comprehension of Spanish and/or other languages; and Academic Tutoring Services offers tutoring for students needing assistance in other disciplines not mentioned in the previously listed opportunities. Tutoring services may be accessed through the library or through the site director of the degree completion center.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a free resource on the Adrian campus. Staffed by talented undergraduate students, the Writing Center offers help at all stages in the writing process. Students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center for a drop-in session or to schedule an appointment. More information can be found at writingcenter.sienaheights.edu.

The aim of the Writing Center is to help students become better, more confident writers. Therefore, no practices will be followed that involve completing the work for students. The staff does not write on students’ papers, suggest specific details to add or delete, correct papers, suggest grades, comment on grades that have already been given, or work with students who admit to plagiarizing.

The Writing Center offers a variety of hours to accommodate class schedules, and students are encouraged to stop by or schedule an appointment.

The College of Professional Studies and Graduate College students have access to writing assistance through a dedicated Graduate Assistant assigned to assist students with scholarly writing. eTutoring services are also available. Students who wish to utilize these free services should contact their advisor.