Honors at RCTC offers challenge, recognition, and a myriad of other opportunities through several avenues.

1^st, the Honors curriculum offers special honors courses to provide students with a strong grounding in primary texts and critical thinking.  To earn an Honors Diploma, students must apply to the program, just have been accepted, must maintain a grade point average of 3.3 or above, and must take a specified number of honors credits.  Students will receive a certificate and an Honors Program medallion at graduation.

2^nd, Honors offers mentoring and help in transferring.  Students will work closely with the RCTC Honors Advisor/Transfer Coordinator, sometimes with the help of a faculty member in the major field.  In addition, to help take the mystique out of the transfer process, Honors students will be able to participate in “Bridging the Transfer Gap,” a workshop designed specifically to address the transfer needs of highly motivated Honors students, including scholarship searches.

3^rd, RCTC Honors offers camaraderie and activities meant to stimulate the intellect.  Students will have the opportunity to attend state, regional, or national Honors conferences; to coordinate and/or attend special UCR activities such as the “Philosophy & Film” series, or the recent “Poverty in America” panel discussions; to have a “big brother” or “big sister” to help them with various aspects of college life, and to be a member of the Honors listserv from the college.  Especially active Honors members may be nominated as the “Honors member of the semester.”

4^th, students who qualify can also apply for membership in Phi Theta Kappa, an international two-year college academic honors society which provides educational and cultural programs and scholarships.

5^th, any incoming students who are in the upper five percent of their high school graduating class can apply for a Presidential Scholarship.

How to Qualify for the Honors Edge

To receive the full benefits of the honors “edge” students must fill out an application form and be accepted into the program.  Grade point average, school and community activities, and other individual experiences will be among the criteria for selection.  Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Students are welcome, and you need not intend to graduate from RCTC to participate.  RCTC students can take the honors courses without being a member of RCTC Honors, but they cannot participate in other Honors activities.

Special Qualifiers

For the English Honors Sequence, students must achieve a score of 90 percent or above on the college placement test.

For PTK membership, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA after 16 credit hours or a 3.4 GPA after 29 credit hours.  There is a one-time $50 fee for PTK membership.

For a Presidential Scholarship, students must apply before the deadline and be chosen by the RCTC Scholarship Committee.

For more information on RCTC Honors or for an application form, contact

For more information on PTK, contact Barb Mollberg at 507-285-7111.

For more information on Presidential Scholarships, contact RCTC Enrollment Services at 507-285-7219.