Applying to Honors EXCEL

Applications are now open for Fall 2021 admission into the Honors EXCEL program .

• Call for Applications
• About the Honors EXCEL Program
• Student Eligibility
• Project Eligibility
• Want to Learn More?
• How to Apply

Call for Applications

Are you a WVU student who will be a junior by Fall 2021? Are you passionate about research, community service, global engagement or creative arts, and looking for ways to enrich that passion through experiential learning? Then join the Honors Experiential and Community Engaged Learning (EXCEL) program by applying with a project idea for Fall 2021 admission!

Honors EXCEL applications for Fall 2021 admission will be accepted until the final deadline of May 1 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The priority deadline is April 15 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). To apply, read and follow the detailed instructions listed below, and submit your application on the Honors College applications portal.

About the Honors EXCEL Program

The Honors EXCEL program supports WVU undergraduate students as they create, develop and implement experiential and community-engaged learning projects on a topic of their choice. Honors EXCEL students develop and implement their projects over three to four semesters, supported by the Honors EXCEL program through  tailored courses, experiential learning, dedicated mentors and affiliate faculty, and project funding. A detailed, semester-by-semester description of the program and of its components can be found in the Honors EXCEL Program Handbook.

Student Eligibility

West Virginia University students from all specialties and fields of study (social sciences, STEM, the arts, the humanities, etc.) are invited to apply for Fall 2021 admission, provided they:

• will be juniors by the Fall 2021 semester;
• will have at least 3 semesters remaining until graduation
  
• have earned a GPA of 3.4 or greater*
• *Students with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.4 may also apply, supported by a letter of recommendation from an academic adviser, or WVU faculty or staff.

Eligibility for Honors EXCEL is not dependent on previous enrollment in the Honors Foundations program.

Project Eligibility

Students may apply with any project idea, coming from any field or academic specialty. It is expected that most project ideas will be in their early stages, and not yet fully developed. 

A strong project proposal:

• is long-term (three-four semesters),  innovative and appears feasible; 
• is mentored by a WVU faculty or staff member;
• enhances a knowledge base or skill set already being developed or pursued by the student (either through coursework or through extracurricular activity);
• builds on prior work, research or scholarship & proposes appropriate methodologies, processes or practices;
• includes aspects unique to the student;
  
• (Although all projects will likely involve collaborations with faculty, staff, community members or other students, all projects must demonstrate a sense of ownership by the student.)
• has an expectation of positive impact on the community (broadly defined).

Otherwise, the theme and topic of your project idea are limited only by your imagination. For ideas and examples, check out the Project Inspiration page of the Honors EXCEL program.

Want to Learn More?

We are more than happy to address your questions, to provide you with additional information about the program and the application process, and to support you as you design your project idea and application.

INFO SESSIONS

To learn more about the Honors EXCEL program and about how to apply for admission, stop by during any of these online info sessions:

• Thursday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, March 2 at 4 p.m.
  
• Monday, March 8 at 5 p.m.
  
• Friday, March 19 at 3 p.m.

WORKSHOPS

In addition to the Info Sessions, at our open workshops students who are interested in applying to the program can get feedback on their project ideas or draft application. Missed our info sessions? That's okay! You can stop by our workshops for a brief introduction to the program and the application process.

• Tuesday, March 23 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  
• Thursday, April 1 from 12 p.m. (noon) to 1 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, April 7 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Friday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon)
• Wednesday, April 21 from 12 p.m. (noon) to 1 p.m.
• Monday, April 26 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  

OFFICE HOURS

You can also stop by with your questions about the Honors EXCEL program, the application process, or feedback for your project idea during our weekly open office hours.

• Office Hours – with Dr. Dana Huebert-Lima
  Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m.
  Email us for Zoom details.
• Office Hours – with Eugen L. Nagy
  Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m.
  Email us for Zoom details.

EMAIL

Contact us by email at HonorsEXCEL@mail.wvu.edu.

How to Apply

The Honors EXCEL application process for Fall 2021 admission is open from Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 12 noon to the final deadline of Saturday, May 1 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

In order to apply,

• read and follow the detailed instructions listed below
• submit your application through the Honors College applications portal.

CHECK-IN

Before you submit your application, verify that it is ready to be submitted by answering the following questions:

1. What is your project idea? How do you plan to accomplish it over the next three to four semesters?
2. Who will help mentor you on your project? (We can help you find a mentor if you contact us beforehand!)
3. Who will be impacted by your project? ( community impact)
4. How have your previous curricular or extracurricular experiences prepared and qualified you to take on this project?
5. How will this project enrich your undergraduate academic experience?

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

To submit your application to the Honors EXCEL program, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Go to the WVU Honors College application portal website.
2. Register for an account by clicking the “Register” button, and entering your name, WVU MIX email account, and a password, and clicking “Create Account.” (Please note: if you have already created an account on this page to apply to another Honors program, you do not need to do so again.)
3. Sign in using your MIX email account and the new password.
4. Click "View programs."
5. Scroll or search for "Fall 2021 Honors EXCEL Program Application." Click on "More."
6. Read through the explanation of the program, then click "Apply." This will take you to the application checklist page. This page will let you see where you are in the application process.
7. Look at the task list. You will see two tasks: "Fall 2021 Honors EXCEL Program Application" and "Request Mentor Confirmation."  Note: You must complete the application form first. After the application form is completed, you will be able to complete the mentor confirmation task.
8. Click on the "Fall 2021 Honors EXCEL Program Application." 
9. Complete the application form. Note: you can scroll to the bottom of the page and save your application at any time by clicking the "Save & Continue Editing" button. It is recommended that you draft your essays in a word processor (such as Microsoft Word, Notepad or Google Docs) first, before adding them to your application.
   
10. Use the application form as a space to outline your project. Answer questions thoroughly and honestly. Pay attention to the character limits.
11. When you have completed your application, click "Mark as Complete." Note: Marking your application as complete is not the same as submitting it. Please continue to follow the instructions below to ensure your application is submitted properly. 
12. On the left-hand side, select the task, "Request Mentor Confirmation." Click "Request a Recommendation" and identify your project mentor, who will support you throughout your Honors EXCEL project. Click “Send Request.”
    
    - The person you have identified will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their confirmation.  
    
    - After submitting the request, click on “Mark as Complete.” Note: you need to mark all the steps as “complete,” before submitting your application. However, marking a task as “complete” does not mean that the application has been submitted.
    
    
13. If your GPA is between 3.0 and 3.4, you will also need to obtain a letter of recommendation.
    
    - On the left-hand side, select the step titled "Request GPA Recommendation." Click on “Request a Recommendation” to identify a recommender. Click on “Send Request.” The person you have identified will receive an email asking them to submit a letter of recommendation.
    
    - Your recommender should be your academic advisor or another WVU faculty or staff member who can vouch for your ability to complete your project and/or speak to any extenuating circumstances which may have impacted your GPA.
    
    - Click on “Mark as Complete.” Note: marking this task as “complete” does not imply that the application has been submitted. Please follow the steps below to submit your complete application.
14. After completing all the tasks (1. "Fall 2021 Honors EXCEL Program Application," 2. "Request Mentor Confirmation," and, if needed, 3. "Request GPA Recommendation") click the "Review” button. Carefully review your application to check for any typos or missing information.
15. When you are satisfied with your application, click “Submit Your Application.”
16. Congratulations! Your application has now been submitted.
17. After submitting your application, you can always check its current status by logging in to the main application page ( https://wvu.smapply.io/prog/).