HCCE Frequently Asked Questions
All University of Houston undergraduates! Students do not need to be members of the
Honors College, and there is no fee to earn the designation. All undergraduates in
good academic standing with the University of Houston may participate. Students who
fulfill the requirements of the program and have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA for
their last 54 hours of enrollment at UH will receive the designation. Petitions will
be accepted for students who do not meet the GPA guidelines.
Co-Curricular is a term to describe learning that happens outside the classroom that
is experiential in nature, meaning students are working on a project, in a real-world
setting, conducting research, traveling, etc. Co-curricular programs that count towards
HCCE must have three elements: 1) experiential component for students, 2) an element
of mentorship and feedback, 3) reflection on the experience.
There is a list of approved programming for the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement (HCCE) designation that students can select
from when working towards the credential. The HCCE advisory board meets monthly and
reviews co-curricular program proposals from co-curricular mentors on a rolling basis
for inclusion.
Mentors of co-curricular activities and programs are encouraged to consult with the
director of Co-Curricular Honors (hcce@uh.edu) and apply online for inclusion in the
HCCE designation program. The HCCE advisory board meets monthly and reviews proposals
on a rolling basis. University of Houston faculty and staff directors of co-curricular
activities or programs are the individuals who request that a co-curricular activity
or program be considered for approval.
Off-campus, co-curricular activities such as internships, research, or service may
not have a UH Co-Curricular Mentor. In those instances, students may submit the Off-Campus
Petition Form to request that an off-campus activity be counted towards their Honors
designation. Students will still be required to complete a reflection if their off-campus,
co-curricular experience is approved.
No problem. Those students who have participated in activities supported by the designation
but have not applied to the program will receive an invitation to join or can apply
online. The activity must have been submitted by the co-curricular mentor in advance
and must have been approved. Also, students must complete the reflection component
in a timely manner. Students do not have to be pursuing the designation to participate
in approved mentored co-curricular activities.
All students completing the HCCE designation must complete a reflection component
that integrates all experiences completed for the Honors designation. All students
earning the designation will be encouraged to develop an ePortfolio, which integrates
and showcases their engagement activities in novel ways. Students may enroll in and
complete the ePortfolio course (HON 4130). Other comprehensive reflective experiences
include exCITE talks, jobCITE talks, writing a personal statement or cover letter
with support from the UH Writing Center, applying for a major award with support from
the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards.
Students may repeat experiences but may not earn more than four points for any one
experience. Also, students must complete at least four unique experiences across two
of the three categories of Co-Curricular Experiences. Students should communicate
with the director of co-curricular Honors if they have questions.