Honors Augmentation Contract

When is the HAC due?

During the fall and spring semesters, HACs must be submitted to The MHC by the Friday of the third week of classes.  In summer and winter terms, HACs must be submitted to The MHC by the end of the first week of classes. 

What are the expectations?

• HACs are only accepted for upper-division, in-person sections.
• HACs are an enhancement or augmentation of the existing course. Examples include, but are not limited to: reading an extra book that is relevant to the course; completing a hands-on activity that non-honors students do not complete; attending an event that is relevant to course material. 
• The HAC can be an extension of a current class assignment, can replace an existing assignment/exam or can be an additional assignment.
• A HAC could provide students the opportunity to explore an idea to be developed into a Capstone Experience/Thesis (CE/T). Scholars who already have a CE/T in mind might use the HAC to complete the preliminary steps (HSRB/CITI training or a literary review).
• The HAC project could be used to better prepare a scholar for graduate-level work.

What makes for a successful HAC?

It is difficult to generically state what makes a good HAC project since they can be conducted in any discipline at WKU. However, the main common quality uniting all successful HAC projects is that they are thoughtfully designed to give the scholar an “honors experience,” rather than simply being a matter of “more work.”

An augmentation is generally not just "more work" or "busy work" but an activity that takes the course material to the next level. Although writing assignments may be appropriate, we would like to encourage faculty and scholars to think beyond "just writing a paper".

Often, successful HACs allow scholars to engage with the course’s material in a more hands-on way than is usual for the class.  Rather than learning principles abstractly, the scholar can conduct a project that allows for first-hand experience, which could include taking a field trip, doing a case study, or conducting a separate lab assignment.  For example, a scholar could create an original musical composition, write an original computer program, present his or her project to the class, or conduct interviews in the community rather than solely researching online or in the library. 

What are the general categories of HACs?

• Field-based projects, including observations and field research
• Curricular design (primarily, but not exclusively for students preparing to teach)
• Presentations (to class(es), conference or third party)
• Supplemental reading
• Writing projects
• Performance projects
• Community engagement projects
• Lab research projects

Projects can incorporate as many of these categories as appropriate.

Is funding available to support HACs?

MHC scholars are eligible to apply for an Honors Development Grant (HDG) of up to $500 to offset the cost of special materials or travel associated with the HAC.

What is the process?

• Scholars are encouraged to approach their professor during the first week of classes to discuss the options for a HAC.
• Scholar starts the MHC HAC Application (and obtains all signatures) and if the HAC application is acceptable, the faculty member sends the form to their department head for approval.
• Once approved by the department head, the scholar sends the approved HAC application to The MHC by the third week of classes.
• The successful completion of the HAC is recorded on TopNet when final grades are submitted.

What are the grading considerations?

• The HAC project can be evaluated to be included within the final grade, or it can be a non-graded component that, when completed, merits honors credits.
• Honors credit can only be received for courses in which students receive an A or a B.