Honors program students with a faculty member at the Honors Scholar Expo

Honors Program

Central Piedmont Community College’s Honors Program provides academic engagement experiences centered on experiential learning, research, civic participation, global learning, leadership and technology literacy.

Highlights

Adviser talking with a student across a table during registration

Priority registration

As an honors student, you can register for classes early, securing your first-choice courses.

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Seamless transfer

You’ll receive recognition on your transcript and benefit from honors-to-honors partnerships with several bachelor's degree granting institutions.

Honors students presenting at an expo at Central Piedmont and capitalizing on networking opportunities.

Networking opportunities

Connect with fellow Honors Program scholars, as well as professionals and experts in various fields.

Three Central Piedmont staff members smiling together in an office

Coaching and mentoring

Enhance your academic, professional and social skills through tailored coaching and mentoring sessions with Honors Program faculty, staff and scholars.

About the program

As a Truist Honors Program student, you will complete designated Honors Program courses, become an active member of your campus community and develop an ePortfolio summarizing your accomplishments and experiences.

Honors student sharing their academic discipline at a Central Piedmont expo

Complete designated honors course sections.

Students must complete 9-12 credit hours in designated honors course sections. If a program requires 60 credits or less, three honors courses are required. If a program requires 61 credits or more, four honors courses are required.

Honors program students standing on stage in front of a Central Piedmont Community College backdrop

Attend ten activities or events.

You must attend at least one event related to each of the honors program foundations. Additionally, you must attend / complete each of the following events / activities:

  • Event: interview workshop (required session)
  • Event: resumé workshop (required session)
  • Activity: develop LinkedIn profile

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Eligibility and application

You may apply for the Honors Program during the spring or fall semester if you have graduated from high school and are enrolled in a degree-seeking program with 39 or more credits remaining to degree completion. The program offers pathways for admission that evaluate a student's full potential, using criteria beyond GPA, ensuring a broader range of student qualifications are considered.

How to apply

  1. Submit the online application: Please note that the application cannot be saved, so plan to start the application when you have sufficient time to finish it. Essay and Writing Requirements for students to apply to the Honors Program:
    1. Essay requirement: If your GPA is below 3.0, submit a 500–600-word essay on your use of critical thinking in daily life, detailing a challenging decision you faced and your reasoning process. This essay will be uploaded as a file in the application.
    2. Writing requirement: There are two writing prompts. Your responses are scored based on content, grammar, structure and thoroughness of the response. Responses must be the applicant's original work. AI-generated or plagiarized submissions will lead to disqualification.
  2. Interview: Qualified candidates may be invited for a brief interview with the Honors Advisory Team.
  3. Submit the scholarship application: Complete the general scholarship application followed by the Truist Scholarship Application.
Process & Application

Honors-to-honors agreements

Central Piedmont’s Truist Honors Program has honors-to-honors partnerships with bachelor’s degree granting colleges and universities. This partnership provides opportunities for honors scholars to join students from partner institutions at events, as well as pursue a more seamless transfer experience. Although each partnership is different, all are designed to support your transition from Central Piedmont’s honors program into the partner institution’s honors program.

Success stories

Success stories
"The Truist Honors Program empowered me to grow as a leader, researcher and global citizen."
Tiffany Zamora
Honors program student Tiffany Zamora staring into the distance with her head resting on her hand

Frequently asked questions

Designated honors course sections are not harder. Instead, the courses view content through the lens of one of the following Honors Program foundations.

  • Log in to MyCollege
  • Select 'Search for Sections'
  • Then select 'Advanced Search'
  • Select 'Term'
  • Scroll down to find “Course Type”
  • Select “Honors”
  • Then select 'search'

Designated honors program courses include high quality enrichment experiences that are intellectually challenging and result in deeper learning. Assignments, activities, assessments and projects in an honors program course place an emphasis on student engagement, active learning, exploration and discovery, while also promoting the five Honors Program foundations.

Scholars in the honors program are expected to earn a “B” or higher in honors course sections.

You may be in designated honors courses with other Truist Honors Scholars and non-honors students. Truist Honors Scholars must earn a “B” or higher for the course to count towards Honors Program completion requirements.

Yes. Truist Honors Scholars must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA to remain in the program. Truist Honors Scholars accepted without a 3.0 GPA have two semesters to raise their GPA to 3.0.

An ePortfolio is an electronic/digital compilation of the work and experiences collected throughout your honors program experience. The ePortfolio should be related to designated honors course section coursework, events, activities, and engagement experiences (i.e., videos, photographs, essays, writing samples, posters, projects, coursework, etc.). Included work should be exemplary and display skills such as critical thinking, communication, adaptability, personal growth, and additional skills valued in academia and the workplace.

  • Honors Associates Hood
    100% completion of the honors program and a Central Piedmont degree. "Graduated Honors Program" noted on transcript and certificate of completion.
  • Honors Certificate of Completion
    100% completion of the honors program for transfer scholars. "Graduated Honors Program" noted on transcript and certificate of full completion.
  • Honors Certificate of Partial Completion
    For transfer students, a minimum of 75% completion of the honors program requirements, at least one designated honors course with a B or higher, and a Central Piedmont degree. "Honors Program" noted on transcript and certificate of partial completion.

Need more information? Reach out to the Honors Program staff.