Program Governance & Policies
University Honors is a living-learning program (LLP) within the Honors College and our college is part of Undergraduate Studies here at the University of Maryland. As a community, we are subject to and abide by the rules and regulations they lay out for our mutual welfare, wellbeing, and overall success as a learning environment. As a student in this program, you will also follow protocols to effectively navigate the UH curriculum. Below you will find detailed information about each of these levels of governance and their policies. Please read them. Know your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of our living-learning community.
Undergraduate Studies Student Policies
The office of Undergraduate Studies (UGST) creates the policies that outline your rights and responsibilities as a UMD student. Here you will find information about the principles of academic integrity that govern your commitment to learning, including the campus policy on excused and unexcused absence and student conduct, which are operative in all of our classrooms. Finally, UGST is the home of the Student Ombuds, who can be a confidential resource when you encounter problems in class around student rights or grading that you cannot solve with the professor or Director of UH.
As UH is one program among 8 in the Honors College, we also look to their leadership concerning policies that govern citizenship and the citation they confer when you complete our program. By living and learning in UH, you commit to the terms laid out in the Community Agreement and the Statement of Academic Integrity. Should you find that you are unable to continue with the program, you will want to reach out first to the UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton, and then to Honors College to withdraw.
UH Academic Policies
The University Honors curriculum is designed to be completed in 4-5 semesters, beginning with Gateway Seminar and ending with Vantage Point Seminar. Vantage Point is a culmination course and a space for you to reflect back on the self-knowledge you have gained through your study in clusters and tracks. That is why you ideally finish or are enrolled in your last content seminars when you take Vantage Point.
You are expected to complete your clusters and tracks within 2 years. As one set of clusters will cycle out the year you enter the program, you may also find yourself needing to complete a cluster in 1 year. The life cycle of a cluster is printed on Testudo, on our website, and on the cards in your postcard deck. UH students are expected to plan their schedules according to the cycle of the cluster they choose.
We also understand that sometimes students cannot follow a straight, simple path through the curriculum, and we are prepared to work with you when complications arise. If you anticipate having trouble meeting any of the above requirements, make an appointment to discuss it with the Assistant Director for Academic Life and UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton: dario@umd.edu.
Please note the following FAQs regarding participation in the program:
What happens if I am placed on UH probation?
A student may be placed on probation in University Honors (“UH probation”) if (A) their cumulative GPA is below 3.0, (B) they are found responsible for academic misconduct for receiving an unresolved XF in a non-UH course (regardless of GPA), and/or (C) they are found responsible by the Office of Student Conduct for behavioral misconduct. A student who has been placed on UH probation will have a registration block and will not be able to register for UH (HNUH) courses without permission.
- Low GPA. A student placed on UH probation due to GPA must meet with the Assistant Director for Academic Life to create a recovery plan. In addition, they must request permission to enroll in UH courses every semester until their CUM GPA reaches 3.0. Students are still expected to complete UH requirements by the end of their 5th semester.
- Academic Misconduct. For a student on academic probation due to an XF, the only way to return to good standing in UH is to complete an Academic Integrity Seminar and successfully petition the Appellate Board of the University Student Judiciary (USJ) to remove the X from the transcript. A student with an XF will remain on UH probation as long as the X remains on their transcript, but will be permitted to register for UH classes so long as they are working to resolve the XF. UH students who receive an XF will also be asked to submit to Mr. Dario Middleton (dario@umd.edu) a copy of the “reflective exercise exploring your decision making and ethics in your academic field” that they submit to the Coordinator for Student Conduct. Such a student cannot be awarded the citation unless the X is removed by (a) completing the Academic Integrity Seminar and (b) successfully petitioning the Appellate Board for removal of the X.
- Behavioral Misconduct. Students in University Honors are expected to uphold high standards of behavior in accordance with University Honors commitments to integrity, inclusiveness, and respect. Students not in good disciplinary standing, who engage in violations of the University Code of Student Conduct, or who act out of accordance with program or university behavioral expectations may be placed on academic probation by the Office of Student Conduct and/or may not be able to participate in UH student leadership opportunities. Any student who has been placed on probation due to behavioral misconduct will work with one or more members of the UH staff team, as well as the Office of Student Conduct, to develop a plan for reinstatement.
What if I need to withdraw from UH?
Students who decide to withdraw, for any reason, from the Honors College (and/or the University of Maryland) must submit a withdrawal form available on the Honors College Academic Policies website. UH strongly encourages you to speak with the UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton, about your intentions to withdraw and implications of withdrawing prior to submitting this form. In the case of a temporary withdrawal, you will need to meet with the UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton, to establish agreement terms regarding the completion of coursework.
Under what circumstances could I be dismissed from UH?
The Honors College Community Agreement outlines the terms and conditions of a dismissal from an Honors program:
- Students whose conduct is sanctioned by the Office of Student Conduct, Resident Life’s Office of Rights and Responsibilities, or the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct may be removed from Honors.
- Students receiving lower than a C- in an LLP course may be removed from their LLP and the Honors College.
What happens if I cannot fit a cluster course I need to complete before it cycles out?
The life cycle of a cluster is printed on Testudo, on our website, and on the cards in your postcard deck. UH students are expected to plan their schedules according to the cycle of the cluster they choose. The moment you worry you cannot complete a cluster on time, make an appointment with the UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton.
Can I take Vantage Point before I finish my other UH courses?
Vantage Point is a culmination course and a space for you to reflect back on the self-knowledge you have gained through your study in clusters and tracks. That is why you ideally finish or are enrolled in your last content seminars when you take Vantage Point. If you worry this progression will prove impossible for your sophomore- or junior- year schedule, make an appointment with the UH Advisor, Mr. Middleton.
If you believe you are in need of an Exception to one of our Academic Policies, you should fill out the form below and schedule an appointment with Mr. Middleton to discuss your request.
