Requirements, policies and procedures

Program requirements

The Jack Dicus Business Honors Program requires its members to meet academic and experiential learning requirements in order to graduate with Business Honors designation.

Academic requirement

Business Honors students must complete at least 12 hours of Business Honors classes and maintain no less than a 3.50 overall GPA.

Policy and procedures for students whose KU overall GPA falls below 3.5

If the KU overall GPA of a member of the Jack Dicus Business Honors Program falls below 3.5 but is between 3.40 and 3.49, the student will be required to meet with the director of the honors program and will be placed on “probation” for the semester immediately following the semester when the GPA fell below 3.5. If the student is unable to bring the KU overall GPA back to 3.5 during the “probation” semester, the student will be dropped from the honors program.

If the KU overall GPA of a member of the honors program falls below 3.4, the student will be dropped immediately from the program.

Once a student has been dropped from the honors program, the student is not eligible to take honors courses in the KU School of Business. Students dropped from the business school honors program but who are in the University Honors Program continue to be eligible to take KU School of Business honors courses. However, students dropped from the program have the option to petition for re-entry once they raise their KU overall GPA back to 3.5 and above. The petition should be addressed to the director of the Jack Dicus Business Honors Program.

If a student’s KU overall GPA falls below 3.5 in the semester of graduation from the School of Business, the student will be able to participate in graduation activities because grades are not posted until after the graduation ceremony. However, the student will not have graduated with the “Business Honors” designation.

Experiential learning requirement

The Business Honors Program believes that participation in activities outside of the classroom enhances and enriches the undergraduate experience, helping students connect their education to the larger world. Therefore, Business Honors Program students must demonstrate that they have participated in three experiential learning activities during their undergraduate education. These should be in the areas of

  • Leadership,
  • Global competence,
  • Service,
  • Research and leadership,
  • Academic service,
  • Entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship/consulting,
  • Research,
  • Civic engagement,
  • Business internships, or
  • Participation in the University of Kansas Honors Program.

Each semester, students in the Jack Dicus Business Honors Program will meet with one of the BHP directors to discuss their progress toward fulfilling this requirement and to think deliberately about the experiential learning opportunities and how those experiences tie into the student’s education and professional preparation. The University of Kansas offers a wide range of opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning on and off campus, and students may design their own projects and forge their own partnerships as a way to meet the BHP experiential learning expectations

    Experiential learning opportunities

    An activity in which students demonstrate vision and translate that vision into sustained action while collaborating with partners. BHP students must play a guiding role and demonstrate an engagement that clearly illustrates commitment and collaborative skills. Examples: participation in elected positions in student government; service as president of a student organization; service as captain of an athletic team; completion of leadership minor; and demonstration of leadership in a program of the student’s choosing as approved by the director of the Jack Dicus Business Honors Program.

    Service as peer mentor in BUS 110, BUS 120, or BUS 200; service as T.A. in any KU School of Business course.

    Participation in Kansas Impact Program (KIP), completion of the concentration in entrepreneurship, participation in Jayhawk Consulting; participation in Catalyst (business accelerator for students).

    A project or period of study that involves travel or extensive engagement outside the U.S. Examples: participation in the School of Business Global KEY Certificate program, the KU Global Awareness Program (GAP).

    A research job or project in any business or related field (i.e. economics, mathematics, computer science). This includes working with a faculty member or scholar on research or implementing a research project of the student's design.

    A project or period of engagement with a campus or community-based service organization or group. Sustained engagement with one project or organization is preferred. Examples: participation in the Center for Civic and Social Responsibility’s Certification in Service Learning; substantive contribution to the KU School of Business Ambassador Program; alternative breaks.

    Completion of a paid professional internship recognized by KU Business Career Services

    Completion of the course and enhanced educational experience requirements of the KU Honors Program