The University Honors Program is a four-year university wide program providing access to excellence for students who are academically talented . The Program provides a challenging educational experience to qualified students, serves as a laboratory for academic innovation that will improve undergraduate education, and provides a place for students to discover the best in themselves. Through small classes emphasizing writing and critical thinking skills and close, continual academic advisement, the Honors Program seeks to provide an education for its students which is similar to that they would receive at a small college.

The Honors Program encourages students to enhance their undergraduate experience with out-of-classroom academic experiences. Honors students have been active participants in Northeastern's Annual Student Research and Creative Activities Symposium and also present papers at other academic conferences. Honors students also are active campus leaders.

The University Honors Program is an integral part of the Northeastern community. It helps students to reach their full potential as undergraduates and prepares them for the challenges of graduate education or employment.

Advantages of the Honors Program:
1) Small class size encourages/allows for interactive learning experiences and greater student-professor communication.
2) The pace of Honors courses is rigorous, stimulating and challenging.
3) Tuition scholarships are available to especially qualified students.
4) Priority registration allows Honors students to register for the courses they want at the times they need.
5) The Honors Program offers a distinctive community for students to interact with each other and with faculty. Social events, conferences and special seminars add to the Honors Program experience.
6) Students who graduate from the Honors Program are designated Honors Scholars, a distinction which is reflected on their diplomas and transcripts.

Eligibility for the Honors Program:
1) Entering freshmen with enhanced ACT composite scores of 26 or higher OR students with a class rank in the upper ten percent of their high school graduating class with an enhanced ACT composite scores of at least 23 are eligible to apply to the Honors Program.
2) Transfer students and students enrolled at NEIU for at least one semester who have a GPA of 3.25 or above on a 4-point scale are eligible to apply to the Honors Program.
3) Other students who demonstrate scholastic potential and the desire to enter the Honors Program may petition the Honors Program Advisory Committee through the program office.

For more information regarding the University Honors Program please contact Ricki J. Shine, Coordinator at 773/794-6277 or by e-mail at r-shine@neiu.edu.