Who Are Honors College Alumni FAQs
"Who is an Alumnus of the Honors College?"[Thousands] of you now receive our semi-annual newsletter, AHA! Some have queried, "Why me? [...] How do you get to be an Honors College Alumnus? Is it a permanent mark on the soul or does it come out with bleach?"
Some confusion is understandable, for hundreds of you passed through the Honors Program before the establishment of the South Carolina Honors College in 1978. Others may have been in the College but did not complete the requirements for graduation with "Honors from the South Carolina Honors College." Some may have actually transferred out of the College to another institution.
Well, the simple answer to the query is that we include everyone who was in good standing when they left the Program or College, regardless of whether they completed the requirements for the honors certificate or graduate "with Honors." Some of our best students have not been able to complete the last jot and tittle of our rather strenuous requirements, and we would not want to exclude them from the honors family [... ]
However, we know how irritating it is to receive unwanted mail; if you want us to remove your name from [the mailing list] please email ...alumni@schc.sc.edu indicating your wish.
Oftentimes we are asked questions about membership in the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA). Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions...
Q: "Who is counted as a SCHC Alum?"
A: Any student who was a member of the Honors College or its predecessor, the Honors Program, is an alum and thus a member of AHA.
Q: “I didn’t graduate with honors/complete my senior thesis. Can I still be considered an Honors Alum?”
A: Graduation “With Honors from the Honors College” has no bearing on whether someone is an alumnus of the Honors College. All participants in the College or Program are considered alumni, whether or not they graduated with honors or earned the honors certificate.
Q: “Are there any dues for membership in the Association of Honors Alumni (AHA)?
A: Everyone is automatically a member, and there are no dues.
Q: “I transferred out of the Honors College. Can I still be a member in AHA?”
A: Students who participated in the Honors College at some point but did not graduate from USC may also be members of AHA if they choose, as long as they left SCHC in good standing.
Q: "Who is counted as a University of South Carolina Alum?"