Learning by doing encourages growth
The Honors College's top priority is positioning our students to be successful. Students are encouraged to work in teams to address strategic challenges identified by local nonprofits, governments, corporations, and university partners. These experience prepares them to be tomorrow's leaders while making a difference today. As a result of this, 73% of Honors College students have internships before they graduate.
Honors College students serve nonprofit partners and learn to give back to the community in HNRS 261: Honors College Connects (HCC). HCC is an educational collaboration between George Mason University's Honors College and partners in the nonprofit and public sectors. Students in HCC develop their professional skills while making a real impact in the community beyond. Recent partners include INOVA, Keep Prince William Beautiful, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, Insight Memory Care Center, Bridges to Independence, Veterans Moving Forward, FCPS Get2Green, MVLE, Just Neighbors, Formed Families Forward, NOVA Mental Health Foundation, A Farm Less Ordinary, Latino Economic Development Center, CAPAC, The Grassroot Project, and more.
Students in the Honors College also learn how to address Industry Challenges and connect with business partners in HNRS 361: Honors College Consults. In this course, multidisciplinary student teams work to investigate and develop responses to challenges currently facing industry sponsors while developing professionally, learning human-centered design methods, practicing leadership skills, and getting experience managing major projects. Past industry partners include Northrop Grumman Corp, MITRE, Peraton, Transurban Group, and Virginia Small Business Development Centers.
Furthermore, Honors College students can help other students by becoming Peer Mentors and assisting HNRS 110 students or signing up as College Success Partnerships and help high school students find resources to help them with their college applications.