Welcome to the LSA Honors Program FAQ Page! This page will be updated regularly throughout the term to reflect the ongoing changes to life and study at the University of Michigan. Please note the search bar on our website allows users to search for additional information within Honors only. Refer to departmental or office websites for specific information.
2023-24 School Year
Where can I find the most up to date information related to the upcoming academic year?
The Campus Maize and BluePrint website is updated regularly to reflect the University’s plans for a public-health informed term. Information about returning to campus, class formats, campus life, and health and wellness can be found.
If I have quick questions, what is the best way to ask them?
Please email questions to ask.honors@umich.edu. An advisor will respond to your inquiry as soon as able.
The front desk team is available to answer general questions through the Honors Chat function. Hours: Weekdays 10A-12P ET
How will my class be taught?
The LSA Course Guide now reflects if classes will be online, in-person, or hybrid.
I am living in the dorms, where can I find up to date information?
The Michigan Housing FAQ page includes updated information related to move-in, community responsibilities, housing contracts and more.
Questions related to Honors Housing contracts should be sent to housing@umich.edu.
I am an incoming international student, when will I learn more?
The International Center is working to keep up to date information available on their website. Please take a moment to review the most recent articles on the front page of the International Center website, in addition to the International Center Updates Regarding COVID-19 webpage
Are there going to be engagement activities in the winter term?
The Honors Program will be offering a variety of remote and in-person engagement activities throughout the fall and winter terms to provide opportunities to interact with the Honors cohort and engage in learning opportunities.
You can visit our Honors Community webpage to learn more about community-building opportunities for the term. Keep an eye on our events calendar and This Week in Honors to learn more about upcoming events.
If I am not living in Honors Housing, can I still participate in Honors engagement activities?
Yes! Honors will offer a variety of events in accordance with public health guidelines. These events will be planned by the Honors team, allowing for any Honors student, regardless of location, to participate safely.
Where can I find information about events?
Events information can be found on the Honors Event Calendar and in our This Week in Honors newsletter.
What are the important deadlines for the upcoming term?
Please see the Office of the Registrar’s Academic Calendar and Registration Deadlines
Resources for Wellness and Time Management
Wellness Resources:
University Health Service: Resources for Stress and Mental Health
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
SilverCloud: An Interactive Mental Health Resource
Honors Coffee Chat: Real Talk: We're Tired, but Wellness is Important
Crisis Text Line: Free, anonymous, 24/7 support is provided by a trained Crisis Counselor. Text 741741. In partnership with The Steve Fund, people of color can text STEVE to 741-741.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Project Lifeline (LGBTQ+): Call 1-866-488-7386
Time and Stress Management Resources:
LinkedIn Learning Work Flow and Productivity Collection
Getting Things Done: Productivity and Time Management
Managing Stress with Todd Dewett
About the Honors Program
What is Honors?
The Honors Program is a Michigan Learning Community for students who wish to be a part of a more rigorous and engaged undergraduate experience in the liberal arts.
What are the benefits of Honors?
There are many benefits to participating in the Honors Program. Students in Honors are able to take Core classes with a familiar cohort and have the opportunity to interact with students from across disciplines in LSA. Through courses, engagement activities, and living in Honors Housing students are able to build a community with peers with similar interests and university experiences. In addition, students receive a personalized advising experience with our Honors Advising team.
Do I have to write a thesis to graduate with Honors?
To graduate with honors, a student needs to complete a thesis or HELA/HIMP project. Many recent graduates say that completing their thesis was the highlight of their collegiate experience!
How large are classes?
Honors Core Course lecture sections range in size from 40-150 students while discussion sections are designed to be smaller, with no more than 18 students in each section. In addition to Core Courses, Honors sections can be found across many divisions of LSA.
Additional course information for the upcoming academic term can be found here.
Do Honors students have early registration?
Honors students do not have early registration. They do, however, have access to Honors class-sections in many academic fields in LSA.
How large is the incoming Honors class?
The incoming class size typically ranges between 350-450 students.
Does the Honors Program offer financial aid to incoming freshmen?
There is no financial aid offered through the Honors Program for incoming first-year students. However, opportunities to earn scholarships, fellowships, or grants are available to students later on. You can learn more about Honors awards and grants on our website.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid or the LSA Scholarship Office to learn about additional funding resources and support.
Community-Building Opportunities
This year, virtual Honors Community opportunities include:
- Honors First-Year Kickoff (fall)
- Honors DEI
- Honors Reads
- Honors Cinema
- Honors in the Arts
- #HonorsConnect for incoming students.
You can visit our Honors Community webpage to learn more about our community-building opportunities.
Keep an eye on our events calendar and This Week in Honors to learn more about upcoming events!
Admissions
How can I join Honors?
There are several ways to join the Honors Program. More information on how to join Honors can be found on our Prospective student website. Please email honors.admissions@umich.edu with specific questions.
Do I need an invitation?
No. All LSA students are welcome and encouraged to apply to the Honors Program. Please take a look at our Prospective Student Website to learn more about the Honors Program.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no additional application fee when applying to the Honors Program.
Can I participate in both Ross and the Honors Program?
Yes. Students who are interested in joining Ross after their first year can participate in Honors during their first year, but would then exit Honors when they leave LSA. If, however, a student is interested in pursuing degrees in both Ross and LSA, they are able to rejoin LSA and Honors mid-way through your sophomore year. This dual degree option is rigorous, requiring 150 credit hours and generally five years.
Can I be in the Residential College and the Honors Program?
Yes. We have a number of students who are joint with other Michigan Learning Communities, including the Residential College (RC). Being in both the RC and Honors, you will be living in RC housing, rather than Honors housing. Students are welcome to engage in all Honors community events. Students in the RC will have two academic advisors. One primary RC advisor and one Honors advisor. To learn more about specific academic requirements, students are encouraged to meet with both advisors.
Is it possible to continue with Honors while completing classes in another UM College?
Yes, it is possible for students, in their first 2 years, to pursue a dual degree with another college on UMs campus. How you enroll in another college will vary depending on which college you are interested in joining and when. For example, some students start in Ross and are able to join Honors after their first year. Students enrolled in the College of Art and Design and the School of Music and Dance start in both colleges at the beginning of their freshman year. Ross students admitted as freshmen can join Honors at the end of their freshman year. LSA students interested in Engineering are typically able to join Engineering at the end of their first year. Last, there are junior year admit programs, such as the School of Information and the Ford School of Public Policy. To learn more, please reach out to honors.admissions@umich.edu
Student Orientation
When will I know when I’m meeting with my advisor during Orientation?
Students will receive an email to their UM email account prior to their orientation date. The email will include the exact time of your meeting with your advisor and includes Zoom links for Honors orientation activities. In general, orientation activities occur between 8:30a and 6:00p EDT
Parent Orientation Sessions
Parents who have provided the Office of New Student Programs with their email addresses will receive an email from the Honors office with information about our Honors Parent and Family Orientation Q&A sessions.
Is there a platform to meet my classmates before the term begins?
Students are encouraged to joing #HONONLINE, a summer undergraduate digital citizenship program for incoming students.
In addition, we invite parents and students to engage in our digital communities on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Advising
How do I make an appointment?
To sign up for an advising appointment, please visit Honors ‘Make An Appointment’ webpage. At this time, all advising sessions are remote.
Do I have to meet with my assigned advisor?
While all Honors students are assigned an advisor and meet with that advisor during New Student Orientation, after Orientation, students are welcome to schedule an appointment with any academic advisor that has availability.
Can I transfer credit from another Institution?
The Transfer Credit Equivalency (TCE) website houses previously reviewed and approved courses from other institutions. Transfer Credit Evaluations are not conducted by the Honors Program advisors. Students are encouraged to reach out to an Honors advisor prior to registering for courses that are not already approved.
Information about AP and I.B credit can be found on the Undergraduate Admissions webpage.
Housing
Please visit the Housing website FAQ for the most up-to-date information about the fall 2021 term.
Am I required to live in Honors Housing?
Students in Honors are not required to live in Honors Housing. Please note all Residence Halls are operated through Michigan Housing. "Honors Housing" refers to the designated block of rooms in South Quad.
Is South Quad housing guaranteed?
Living in South Quad is never guaranteed for Honors students, that being said, it is highly likely that students interested in Honors Housing, who plan on living with another Honors student, who have turned in their application on time, and who are not in another MLC, will be housed in South Quad. More information can be found on our Prospective Student Website and on the Michigan Housing website.
Can I have a roommate who is not part of the Honors Program and still live in Honors Housing?
Students who select a roommate who is not in Honors will not be placed in Honors Housing.
As an incoming freshman, when will I find out who I am living with?
During the beginning of August, Michigan Housing will be reaching out to students via their UM email account. For the most up to date information, please visit the Michigan Housing FAQ website.
What precautions do I need to take before moving in?
Students living in campus housing over spring/summer can find inforamtion on the Housing FAQ page.
Students living in M Housing this fall are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Information on how to report your vaccination status can be found on the Campus Maize and BLUEprint website.
Information about move-in is currently available on the Housing FAQ page.
When is Honors move-in?
Housing will communicate information in early August about Move-In dates and times. Check your umich.edu email regularly.
