What is the Scholars Program?
The Scholars Program is a selective all-university four-year honors program for students of exceptional merit. The program is rapidly expanding and includes academic expectations, extracurricular activities and community involvement. Each year, Binghamton University invites over 120 freshman to join the Binghamton Scholars Program. The program provides high-achieving students with the following:
What are the values of the Scholars Program?
The Scholars Program values the Core Commitments as outlined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. These values are:
Striving for excellence: developing a strong work ethic and consciously doing one's very best in all aspects of college.
Cultivating personal and academic integrity: recognizing and acting on a sense of honor, ranging from honesty in relationships to principled engagement with a formal academic honor code.
Contributing to a large community: recognizing and acting on one's responsibility to the educational community and the wider society, locally, nationally, and globally.
Taking seriously the perspectives of others: recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one's own judgment; engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work.
Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning: developing ethical and moral reasoning in ways that incorporate the other four responsibilities; using such reasoning in learning and in life.
(taken from "Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility", a pamphlet from AAC&U)
How can I apply to the program and how are students selected?
There is no application process. A committee in the Office of Admissions selects students from admitted freshman based on SAT scores, academic records, and extracurricular and leadership activities and invites them into the program
When do students receive invitations to the program?
Invitations to join the Scholars Program are sent out in the spring before the student's freshman year.
Is this program for students in a specific major?
The Scholars Program invites students from all schools and majors. The Scholars Program curriculum is designed to enhance your undergraduate experience, no matter what you are studying. Some students prefer to take courses that relate to their major, while others take things completely outside of their realm. For example, a science major may take "Great Ideas in Physics" or "Peace and War in Literature". It is a flexible curriculum and we would love to help you make the most of your choices while you're here!
What are the benefits of being a Scholar?
Some of the benefits are: housing priority in the freshman year, priority registration (see below), small classes that are limited to scholars and meet General Education requirements, and project-centered courses with opportunities to work closely with faculty members. For more details about benefits, please download the handbook from the Documents section.
Can I get housing priority every year?
No, scholars have priority housing choices only in their FIRST year, and you must turn all your housing forms in on time in order to receive priority.
What is required of me as a Scholar?
Students are required to maintain a minimum 3.25 grade point average as well as to complete all of the requirements of the program, which are listed in the student handbook on this website. They are also expected to abide by BU Rules and Expectations, the student conduct code of Binghamton University. A copy of this is also included in the student handbook. There are also 4 course requirements, a junior year experience, and a senior project. All of this information can be found in more detail in the handbook, which can be downloaded here.
What are some examples of courses I can take in the program?
Descriptions of course offerings can be found here. Some Scholars courses that have been offered recently are:
Do I have to take the core courses before my junior year?
Deadlines for courses are recommended, but not required. It is nice to get the four course requirements out of the way in your first two years so you can focus on your major (as well as Scholars III and IV) during your Junior and Senior years.
Where can I get more information about Scholars III and IV?
All the info you need for Scholars III and IV are listed in the handbook. Please check the handbook for applications, instructions and requirements and then contact us if you have further questions.
What if my GPA drops below 3.25?
You will be put on probation, a letter stating this probation will be sent to you, and you will be given an allotted time to increase your GPA to 3.25 or above. If you fail to bring your GPA to 3.25, you will be terminated from the program.
What if there is a problem with the Scholars portion of my DARS?
If you believe there is a problem with the Scholars Program portion of your DARS report, please contact Mary LaCourt (mlacourt@binghamton.edu). Keep in mind that Scholars III and IV requirements are not updated until the Spring semester of your senior year, after you have had your required meeting with the Graduate Assistant.
Are there any required meetings?
There are two required meetings with the Graduate Assistant: one in the Fall semester of your Freshmen year and one in the semester that you plan to graduate. Failing to schedule either of these meetings will result in your removal from the program. The Graduate Assistant will send an email across the BU Scholars listserv with particular information at the beginning of the semester about the required meetings. If you are graduating in December, you will not receive an email and it is your responsibility to schedule this meeting on your own.
Are there any academic activities other than the courses I am required to take?
There are a few main programs each year that center around academic areas. Each semester, the students in SCHL 227 "Leadership & Project Management" present their final projects at a large event. All Scholars and university members are invited and will receive info through the listserv and B-Line.
Students who graduate from the program will receive a special cord to wear at commencement. This will be included with the graduation gown that is picked up from the bookstore.
The Scholars Program Council has a Student-Faculty luncheon or dinner each year, depending upon availability, and is also planning to start an extra-curricular book club and other academic enrichment events. To make a suggestion or get involved in this, check out the Council's page or email the Academic Enrichment Coordinator, Amanda Jaret (ajaret1@binghamton.edu), the Academic Liaisons Peter Spaet (pspaet1@binghamton.edu) or Albert Hazan (ahazan1@binghamton.edu).
What is the Scholars Student Council?
The Scholars Program Student Council is made up completely of students in the program. The E-Board is comprised of students elected at the end of each year, who are coordinators of specific committees and head up the planning of events. All Scholars are invited to join and participate in Council event. To join, just show up to a meeting! Meetings will be announced through the listserv, so keep your eyes peeled. Click here to go to the Council's website.
What if I have an idea for an event or I want to help organize events for the program?
We want your input! Email a council member or graduate assistant, come to a council meeting or stop by our office hours! If you would like to become a coordinator on the Council's e-board, you must participate in events and meetings as a general member, so talk to a current coordinator for more info! If you would like to get involved outside of the Scholars Program as well, there are a ton of opportunities on campus. Click here for more ways to get involved.
What are your office hours and how can I get in touch with you?
The best ways to get in touch with us are to stop by our office hours, send an email or give us a call. All of our staff contact information and office hours can be found here.
I have a problem or concern, but do not want my name attached to it... can I give some anonymous feedback?
Of course! We welcome your input in all forms, and we want you to feel secure in giving us your honest opinion. We've set up an anonymous feedback form just for this purpose.
How will the Scholars Program communicate with me?
Although some notices will be sent through the postal service, a majority of communication will occur through our listservs, which you are automatically part of. Communication will always come to your BU Email address, so make sure you check it often (or have it forwarded to an address you do check). If you are not receiving email from us, please contact the office to make sure you are on the listserv correctly.
