Honors Opportunity Awards
Criteria
To apply for an Honors Opportunity Award (HOA), students must have a minimum 3.25 GPA and be a member of the University Honors Program with undergraduate status while participating in the opportunity. Eligible activities must be completed prior to a student's graduation for an HOA to be applied.
Qualifying opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Study abroad programs (with priority given to KU study abroad experiences, to experiences provided through institutional partnerships, and to students traveling abroad for the first time)
- Service work
- Internships, shadowing experiences, and practicums (unpaid or with significant financial costs)
- Conferences outside of Kansas (with priority given to students presenting)
- Off- and on-campus research (KU’s Center for Undergraduate Research also provides on-campus research funding opportunities)
HOA funding is to help make possible student participation in experiences. Generally speaking, funding cannot be used to cover the purchase of items such as lab equipment, infrastructure needs, or other materials. HOAs cannot cover the cost of tuition or course/certification fees.
Post-graduate expenses
However, KU Honors does have a fund to help students with LSAT preparation costs and test registration. Those students should apply for this support through the HOA process. Students who need support for other post-graduate exams and applications should watch the Honors Weekly email for announcement of awards provided by Honors Community Advocates.
Application process
To apply, sign in to the University of Kansas Awards & Scholarship Hub using your KU Online ID and password, then select "Apply" beside the “Honors Opportunity Awards” option. (You may see an active HOA application from a previous submission period in the sidebar of this page; to ensure you are submitting the current period's application, navigate to "Other Recommended Opportunities" and select "Honors Opportunity Awards.")
Priority consideration is given to first-time recipients and those with financial need. You may apply only once per award period and opportunity.
A strong HOA application will articulate the following:
- Alignment between the experience a student will pursue and their academic goals. How will this experience help you to grow?
- The value of the experience as it contributes to an Enhanced Learning Experience (ELE) requirement.
- Demonstrated involvement in the University Honors Program. What experiences have been meaningful to you?
- Identification of a faculty advisor or mentor for research-related activities.
Applications are also evaluated based on the strength of the student’s academic record and progression toward meeting the requirements to graduate with university honors, as demonstrated in their Degree Progress Report.
Fund-specific requirements
HOAs are a collection of donor-established funds, each with different requirements that shape how it can be allocated. Some have flexibility, while others are quite specific. Our ability to provide an award, as well as the amount of the award, may depend on factors stipulated by a given fund, including a student’s major, hometown, and the type of experience they are pursuing.
| Period | Application Opens | Application Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Period I | August 15 | Sept. 15 |
| Period II | Oct. 1 | Nov. 1 |
| Period III | Dec. 1 | Feb. 1 |
| Period IV | March 1 | April 1 |
Award disbursement
Awards are usually distributed within one month of the award decision. Travel-related awards disburse close to the program’s start date, and are dependent on the program’s approval by KU’s International Travel Advisory Committee. Successful applicants will be required to submit additional tax-related paperwork, including a W-9, prior to receiving the funding. Special tax rules, which vary by country, may apply to international students.
Domestic students who wish to receive funds via direct deposit must complete and return a direct deposit form to KU Endowment. International students wishing to receive funds via direct deposit must complete and return the Authorization for Electronic Deposit form, along with a voided blank check or a statement from their bank listing the routing and accounting number.
Note: Awards may be considered taxable income to parents or to students who have “independent” financial aid status.
Cancellations
Honors Opportunity Awards are provided from a variety of sources, some of which are designated for particular types of opportunities. For this reason, if a student’s plans change, we will cancel the existing award but prioritize that student for future consideration. If you have already received your award check, please contact honors@ku.edu to coordinate its return. For any non-refundable expenditures from canceled opportunities, please provide documentation, and we will determine if your award can cover these costs.