The Tyler Junior College’s Honors Program was established in 1999 and is still rapidly growing.
“The Honors Program has about 120 students as of right now, but is expanding. ” Jessica Bullock the professional assistant and advisor for the Honors Program said.
T.J. McLemore, the Honors Program coordinator, has been with the program since last fall and Bullock has been there since October.
Honor students are allowed to have a 3.0 GPA to get into the program but must maintain a 3.3 GPA to stay. Students also have to complete 12 hours of community service each semester, and all the students must complete 15 hours of honors courses. Out of those five courses one of those courses has to be the Leadership Development course.
“It’s the program’s capstone course, it just helps our students become better leaders,” said Bullock.
If the students fail to uphold a 3.3 GPA while in the program he or she will be placed on probation for the following semester.
“The Honors Program is the best and brightest students at TJC, as well as the best and brightest professors at TJC,” said Bullock.
The classes for the Honors Program classes are not like the normal college courses; these classes have a lower number of students, allowing them to have more of a one-on-one relationship with the professor. However there are only a selected few classes that are classified as honors.
“In a way, it’s easier because you have a way of connecting with the professor, or whoever is teaching,” Lee Parker, an honor student said.
Students with any degree plan may join the Honors Program as long as they meet the qualifications for the program.
The Honors Program’s faculty and staff are working on housing and full scholarships for both the current students and the new ones to come.
The Honors Program is located in the Rogers Student Center on the third floor room 304A.
The honor students have their own lounge and computer service with access to free printing. There is also a built in classroom where the classes are held.
“We have just rearranged and changed up our honor student lounge…and we also have a coffee bar that is free to honor students,” said Bullock.
“It has a more homey feeling,” said Ashley Frizzell an honor student.
The Honors Program has many likes on Facebook and an email address of honors@tjc.edu. An online application will be available in February of 2013 for students enrolling in the fall of 2013.
