University Honors Program

What University Honors Program does

The University Honors Program (UHP) is a university-wide academic enrichment program within the University of Kansas, a public state university governed by the Kansas Board of Regents and located at 1506 Engel Road (Nunemaker Center) in Lawrence, Kansas. Established in 1955 with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, UHP serves approximately 1,700 undergraduate students drawn from across all KU schools and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, supported by a 22-person professional staff led by Director Sarah Crawford-Parker (in role since 2019) and a network of 13+ Honors Faculty Fellows recruited from 25+ academic departments. The program delivers a structured curriculum requiring a first-year seminar (HNRS 190 for direct admits; HNRS 195 for transfers and internal admits), at least 18 honors credits across six or more honors courses, four Enhanced Learning Experiences spanning eight categories (undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, additional majors, service learning, creative activities, leadership, and professional development), and a 3.25 cumulative KU GPA threshold. The incoming cohort carries a 3.92 average GPA.

UHP's product portfolio includes Common Cause — a signature interdisciplinary symposium launched in 2020 that each year focuses on a single UN Sustainable Development Goal; the University Scholars Program (since 1982, 44 cohorts graduated); Honors Opportunity Awards funded through named endowments managed by KU Endowment; and the Honors Faculty Fellows three-year fellowship ($7,500 annual stipend). Distribution follows a sales-led recruitment motion: holistic two-person application review with rolling deadlines (Nov 1 priority, Dec 1 standard, Feb 1 late, March 1 international), high school counselor outreach, campus visits, and integration with KU Admissions events. Retention is anchored by the Honors Living-Learning Community in Templin Hall, positioned directly across from Nunemaker Center, and by advising, faculty mentorship, and ELE programming. Alumni engagement runs through the Honoread annual newsletter, quarterly e-newsletters, and the KU Mentoring+ platform. In January 2022, UHP also assumed governance of KU's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, extending its selective-membership remit.

UHP does not operate as a commercial enterprise. It is funded by the University of Kansas through institutional allocation and supplemented by alumni donations routed through KU Endowment across named funds (Mary Klayder Study Abroad Opportunity Award, J. Michael Young Opportunity Award, McClelland Honors Research Endowment, Schurle Family Study Abroad Fund, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett Outstanding Contribution Award, and a general fund). There is no tuition, fee, or pricing model — program participation is free to enrolled KU undergraduates. The program has held top ratings in every edition of INSIDE HONORS: Ratings and Reviews of 40 Public University Honors Programs (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020) and was a founding member of the National Collegiate Honors Council in 1966. There are no funding rounds, no external investors, no patents, no commercial product launches, and no AI/ML capability disclosures.

Name

University Honors Program

Legal name

University Honors Program (University of Kansas)

Website

https://honors.ku.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University Honors Program is an academic enrichment program within the University of Kansas serving approximately 1,700 undergraduate students through honors seminars, coursework, faculty mentorship, and experiential learning, funded institutionally and supplemented by alumni donations managed through KU Endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Honors Program

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led) (EDAHACAL)

Keywords

• Honors education program
• Undergraduate academic enrichment
• Interdisciplinary learning experiences
• Faculty mentoring seminars
• Living-learning community

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. University-funded program: The program is funded by the University of Kansas and does not generate revenue. It is an academic enrichment program for undergraduate students.
2. Donations and endowed funds: Alumni and supporters donate through KU Endowment. Various named funds support specific purposes: Mary Klayder Study Abroad Opportunity Award, J. Michael Young Opportunity Award, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett Outstanding Contribution Award, McClelland Honors Research Endowment, and general fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University Honors Program is a university-wide academic enrichment program for academically motivated undergraduates at the University of Kansas. It delivers a portfolio of interconnected academic components — first-year seminars (HNRS 190/195), 18+ hours of honors-designated courses, four required Enhanced Learning Experiences, the signature Common Cause symposium on UN Sustainable Development Goals, and scholarships/awards — culminating in a graduate honors designation upon meeting a 3.25 KU GPA.

Product overview

The University Honors Program is a university-wide honors education program at the University of Kansas, established in 1955. The program offers a portfolio of interconnected components: first-year seminars (HNRS 190/195) taught by faculty fellows from across campus, honors courses designated by departments or created through contracts, Enhanced Learning Experiences (ELEs) in eight categories including research and study abroad, the signature Common Cause interdisciplinary symposium aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, Honors Opportunity Awards for funding student activities, the University Scholars scholarship program for sophomores, and the Honors Faculty Fellows program recruiting faculty to teach and mentor. Students must complete a first-year seminar, earn 18 honors credits across 6+ courses, fulfill four ELEs, and maintain a 3.25 cumulative KU GPA to graduate with university honors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• University Scholars Program: A program that recognizes and encourages sophomores who demonstrate intellectual achievement and curiosity, providing scholarship support, faculty mentors, and an interdisciplinary seminar experience.
• Global Scholars
• Common Cause

Products and services

• Honors First-Year Seminars (HNRS 190 / HNRS 195) One-credit introductory seminars that serve as the gateway to the honors intellectual community for admitted honors students. HNRS 190 is for students entering honors directly from high school; HNRS 195 is for transfer students and those admitted after their first semester. Each section is taught by faculty experts and includes an honors faculty mentor component. Audience: KU undergraduates admitted to the University Honors Program.
• Honors Courses Credit-bearing honors courses designated by academic departments or created through honors contracts with instructor approval. Students must earn at least 18 credit hours across at least six honors courses toward graduation honors. Acceptable courses include department-designated honors, honors contracts, graduate courses at the 700 level or higher, and up to two semesters of less commonly taught languages. Audience: KU undergraduate honors students.
• Enhanced Learning Experiences (ELEs) Co-curricular and curricular experiences that let students apply classroom learning to real-world situations. Eight categories are available — undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, additional majors, service learning, creative activities, leadership, and professional development — and four are required for graduation with honors. Audience: KU undergraduate honors students.
• Common Cause An interdisciplinary symposium that each year focuses on a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Students, faculty, and staff collaborate to develop sessions, take action on the year's topic, and engage in community service related to the theme. In one cohort, 97% of participants agreed the experience cultivated understanding of social justice and racial equity, and 100% indicated they would attend another Common Cause event. Audience: KU honors students and broader KU community.
• Honors Opportunity Awards Financial awards that support honors students in paying for activities such as research, study abroad, internships, and service work. Backed by named endowments managed through KU Endowment, including Mary Klayder Study Abroad Opportunity Award, J. Michael Young Opportunity Award, and McClelland Honors Research Endowment. Audience: KU undergraduate honors students pursuing ELEs or honors enrichment.
• University Scholars Program A program that recognizes and encourages KU sophomores who demonstrate intellectual achievement and curiosity. Selected students receive a scholarship, faculty mentor, and participate in an interdisciplinary seminar on contemporary topics. The program has graduated 44 cohorts since its founding in 1982 under the leadership of retired U.S. 10th Circuit Chief Judge Deanell Tacha and longtime program director Francis Heller. Audience: KU undergraduate sophomores.
• Honors Faculty Fellows Program A three-year faculty fellowship where KU faculty from any department commit to teaching HNRS seminars, mentoring students, serving as committee members and departmental liaisons, and contributing to honors community activities. Fellows receive a $7,500 annual stipend. Audience: KU faculty from all departments and full-time lecturers.
• Honors Advising Academic advising and student-support services for honors students, including semester check-ins with honors advisors, Enhanced Learning Experience facilitation, and connections to scholarship and fellowship opportunities. The student experience team holds weekly office hours. Audience: KU undergraduate honors students.
• Graduate Recognition Ceremony Annual May ceremony held at the Lied Center celebrating graduating honors students. Students receive medallions and are recognized for completing university honors requirements, with remarks from program leadership and distinguished guests. Audience: graduating honors students, families, and faculty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% agreed Common Cause helped cultivate understanding of social justice and racial equity; 100% indicated they would attend another Common Cause event
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Phi Beta KappacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince January 2022, KU's chapter of this prestigious liberal arts and sciences honorary society transitioned management to the University Honors Program.
• College of Liberal Arts & SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome college for the honors program; provides academic infrastructure and faculty from multiple departments.
• Spencer Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty-museum collaborations to deepen student learning; used for museum-based study abroad programs in Europe.
• Natural History Museum and Biodiversity InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for interdisciplinary learning activities and research opportunities.
• Dole Institute of PoliticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with honors program for co-curricular programming.
• KU LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for learning activities and research support.
• KU Alumni AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides KU Mentoring+ platform - LinkedIn-style networking platform for alumni to connect and mentor current students.
• Lied Center for Performing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for honors seminar 'Creating Connections' using performance arts to study identity and community inclusion.
• Engineers Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization supported by honors program; alumni led teams in Bolivia and Uganda expanding water access.
• Millennium Campus Network / United Nations Academic ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development Partner26 KU students selected for 2025 Millennium Fellowship; KU became member of UNAI in July 2022.
• KU Student HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Honors Living Learning Community in Templin Hall, across from Nunemaker Center.
• National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member organization (1966) that establishes shared principles and practices for honors education.
• Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNajarian Peters, Honors Faculty Fellow, has been faculty associate since 2018.
• Friends of the KawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommon Cause partnership leading to internships for honors students in river cleanup efforts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Echols Scholars Program (University of Virginia): Premier selective scholars program at a top public university; comparable in academic selectivity and interdisciplinary advising model.
• Honors College (University of South Carolina): Capstone honors college at a major public research university; directly comparable in scale, faculty engagement, and scholarship structures.
• Plan II Honors Program (University of Texas at Austin): Selective interdisciplinary honors program at a flagship public university; comparable in academic rigor, advising intensity, and prestige within the public-university honors ecosystem.
• Commonwealth Honors College (UMass Amherst): Living-learning honors college at a public flagship university; closely comparable structure with residential and co-curricular components.
• Schreyer Honors College (Penn State): Penn State's honors college and one of KU's named peers in INSIDE HONORS; comparable scale, faculty fellow model, and scholarship offerings.
• Macaulay Honors College (CUNY): Urban public-university honors college co-listed with KU in INSIDE HONORS top ratings; comparable in offering interdisciplinary seminars, advising, and a living-learning model.
• Honors College (University of Maryland): Living-learning honors college at a large public research university with comparable scale and ELE-style co-curricular requirements.
• Calhoun Honors College (Clemson University): Honors college at a large public research university with comparable size, faculty engagement, and signature programming approach.
• Barrett Honors College (Arizona State University): The largest honors college in the U.S., located at ASU. Listed alongside KU's program in INSIDE HONORS top ratings and serves as a primary peer for public-university honors programs.

Others

• National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC): Industry/trade body for university honors programs; KU is a 1966 founding member. NCHC sets shared standards and is the ecosystem coordinator rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kuhonors
• Instagraminstagram.com/kuhonors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-kansas-honors-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University Honors Program