Since 1927 Bates has offered an Honors Program to promote, develop, and recognize work of higher quality than ordinarily required for the baccalaureate degree. The program encourages students to achieve mastery of a specific topic within the context of a major by giving qualified candidates an opportunity to conduct extensive independent study and research in their majors.

Honors study proceeds throughout fall and winter semesters of the senior year under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Nomination of students for Honors is determined by the academic departments and programs. Departments and programs are encouraged to establish standards and procedures for their honors programs and to make these available on their websites. Students interested in pursuing Honors should consult in their junior year with the chair of their major department or program regarding the standards and procedures for the nomination process.

The award of Honors is given to those candidates who distinguish themselves in their major and who successfully complete the two-semester writing, performance, or creative project. The expectation is that to receive Honors, the submitted written portion and examined thesis should be the equivalent of an “A” thesis. While the faculty and the Committee recognize the importance of the growth that occurs during the process of researching and writing the thesis, to receive Honors, the candidate’s submitted product should be an exceptional one that meets the department or program’s standards for the award of honors.

The Honors Program consists of writing a substantial thesis and an oral examination on the thesis. In an alternative offered by some departments, eligible students elect a program consisting of a performance or a project in the creative arts, a written component based on the project, and an oral examination on the project. Oral-examination committees include the Thesis Advisor, a member of the major department or program, at least one faculty member from a different department or program, and an examiner who specializes in the field of study and is from another institution.

The Honors procedures are built around absolute deadlines so that each step can proceed unencumbered. Adherence to the schedule is a part of the qualification to the program. See Honors Timeline Checklist on the following page for details.

Honors theses become part of the holdings of the archives of the college. Electronic copies are stored and made available through our institutional repository, SCARAB: Digital Commons@Bates (http://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses).

Please familiarize yourself with the Honors Program Website (http://www.bates.edu/honors) as it contains the information in this guide, as well as walk-throughs of the submission process, printable schedules, and contacts. Questions regarding the program should be directed to anyone on the committee.

Helen Boucher (Chair): hboucher@bates.edu
Jason Castro: jcastro@bates.edu
Ian Khara Ellasante: iellasan@bates.edu
Yun Garrison: ygarriso@bates.edu
Krista Aronson (ex officio); karonson@bates.edu
________

Mary Meserve (Staff Coordinator); mmeserve@bates.edu

All deadlines are absolutes. Candidates with late submissions will be disqualified from the program. Theses should be finished several days or even a week early to be assured of meeting the deadline.

For Advisors and Candidates (2025 May Graduates)

Individual departments and programs select Honors candidates and send their names to the Honors Committee. Each department or program establishes its own standards and procedures for admission to the Honors Program that should be articulated in writing and available on their websites. Students who wish to be nominated to the Honors Program should consult with their major department(s) or program(s).

The Honors Committee encourages early identification of candidates. No nominations will be accepted after the deadline listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist. When possible, preparation should begin during the junior year or the Short Term preceding the senior year. Candidates should discuss the feasibility of their research early with their advisors and Ladd Research Librarians.

Bates does not wish to see any disadvantage or interference in a student’s education because of a disability. The committee and college provide reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Please talk with your Thesis Advisor and chair of the Honors Committee to request an accommodation.

A student double majoring may present a single thesis for fulfillment of Honors in both of their major disciplines, if both departments and/or programs agree. To present a single thesis for two majors, the candidate must be separately nominated by both departments and/or programs. Such a candidate must have two advisors, one from each department or program. The student registers for the thesis in one department or program in the fall semester and the other in winter semester.

The Honors thesis is a yearlong project. The candidates nominated in January should have already accomplished substantial work by the end of the first semester. The Honors Committee reserves the right to question the qualifications of candidates whose overall record appears weak.

 December graduates should consult with their advisor to work out logistics.

Even after candidates are nominated to the Honors Program in January, they may withdraw at any time. Faculty may also withdraw students from the Honors Program if their work or progress is not satisfactory. Forms for nomination of both regular and December graduates, and honors withdrawal forms are at http://www.bates.edu/honors/honors-forms/.

The examination panel is composed of an outside examiner, the Thesis Advisor, a departmental or program faculty member, and a non-departmental or program faculty member. Departments and programs should articulate in writing the standards for the Honors designation to outside examiners and to faculty members who sit on panels.

It is the responsibility of the Thesis Advisor to invite colleagues and, in consultation with the chair of the department or program, an outside examiner to sit on the examining panel. The Thesis Advisor submits the names to the Honors Committee on the Examination Panel Registration Form by the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist. In consideration of workload issues, it is the expectation of the Honors Committee that a faculty member serves on no more than three honors panels in addition to those the faculty member directs.

The Thesis Advisor sets the date, time and place of the examination in consultation with the outside examiner, and the examination panel that he or she recommends.

The Honors Committee approves the examination panel, based on thesis topic and availability of faculty. Because the Honors Committee attempts to balance panels to avoid unnecessary burdens on individual faculty members, the Committee may solicit faculty whose names are not on the form. Although panel members are generally chosen on the basis of familiarity with the candidate’s topic, the degree of professional knowledge will vary.

The Honors Committee designates the chair of the panel. In naming the panel chair, the Committee looks for the ability to judge the candidate’s performance and to conduct an effective examination, but it is usually the non-departmental or program member.

Panels for Double Majors

Students nominated for Honors by two departments or programs and who are submitting one thesis for both shall have only one oral examination. The guidelines above apply, excepting the first paragraph, which should read: The examination panel will consist of six members: one outside examiner to be agreed upon by both advisors; the two non-voting Thesis Advisors (one from each participating department or program); two departmental or program faculty members, one from each department or program; one non-departmental or program faculty member to be agreed upon by both advisors.

Panels for Interdisciplinary Majors

For students nominated for Honors who are pursuing a self-designed major in Interdisciplinary Studies, the guidelines above apply, excepting the first paragraph, which should read: The examination panel will consist of one outside examiner, the Thesis Advisor (as non-voting member), one faculty member from the student’s Interdisciplinary Advisory Board, who will act as the departmental faculty member, and one faculty member who is not on the student’s advisory panel, who will act as the non-departmental member.

By the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist, each Thesis Advisor, in discussion with the chair of the department or program, selects the outside examiner, keeping the following criteria in mind.

Outside examiners are chosen for their competence in evaluating the work of Honors candidates. The vitality of the Honors Program is best ensured over the years by providing a variety of examiners representing a wide range of colleges and universities. If appropriate to the field (e.g., performing arts), the Thesis Advisor may invite non-academic experts to serve as outside examiners. Outside examiners will receive a $250 honorarium after the Honors exam has taken place.

The committee recommends the use of Zoom to facilitate outside examiners, whenever appropriate. Oral exams conducted by Zoom make available scholars who would not otherwise be able to travel to Bates, reduce our carbon footprint, and provide budgetary savings. These examinations are held in various locations on campus. The appropriate Academic Administrative Assistant can make the room reservation for you. In the case that a foreign national would be serving as the outside examiner, contact Jason Scheideman (jscheide@bates.edu or 207-753-6982) for information and assistance with any visa processing.

Each outside examiner receives instructions about how to access the online thesis, a copy of the Honors Program Guidelines, links to the Individual Evaluation Form, IRS W-9 Form, and relevant travel reimbursement forms. To qualify for reimbursement of any travel expenses, the outside examiner must submit all applicable receipts to the Academic Administrative Assistant for the appropriate department or program, as well as submit the IRS W-9 Form electronically by the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist.

Outside examiners for performance-based honors theses evaluate both the performance and the written thesis. When there is a significant gap in time between the performance and the examination on the written component, the single honorarium will be evenly split with one half remitted after the evaluation of the performance and the other half remitted after the oral examination of the written thesis. Travel expenses will be reimbursed at the time they are incurred.

Meal and entertainment expenses incurred by Bates faculty on behalf of each Honors candidate are reimbursable to $200 as indicated on Faculty Expense Guidelines.  Any additional amount must either be paid by the department or program, with prior permission of the appropriate Chair, or the advisor.  Entertainment funds are for various social occasions, but usually for a dinner with the Honors Candidate, which may include the outside examiner. To qualify for reimbursement, the Thesis Advisor must submit a completed Payment Request Form and applicable receipts by the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist to the Academic Administrative Assistant for the appropriate department or program.

The Honors Program provides qualified Bates students with an opportunity to pursue the independent research and study necessary to achieve mastery of a specific topic within the context of a major. The honors panel is a valuable element in this process for it allows the candidate to discuss and defend this work before recognized professionals in the field. The Honors Committee offers the following protocol to assist in the oral examination.

• Honors exams usually last 90 minutes.

• The panel chair may wish to begin the process by asking the candidate to give a brief outline of the work or opening statement or give the advisor the opportunity to ask an opening question. Before the oral exam, it is the advisor’s responsibility to discuss with the candidate the oral examination, possible questions, and the candidate’s possible introductory remarks.

• Questioning by the outside examiner typically follows the initial question or opening remarks, followed by the non-departmental/program member and the departmental/program member.

• The advisor may participate to a reasonable extent.

• As the questioning draws to a close or time runs short, the chair invites last questions from the examiners.

• Once the questioning is ended, the candidate is usually invited to make a final statement. For example, the candidate may want to talk about the implications and significance of the findings or research, address the strengths and limitations of their project, or discuss the sort of the research or analysis that might form an appropriate next step. This is the candidate’s last opportunity to make an impression on the committee. The candidate should have the last word.

• The candidate leaves the room.

• The advisor may make a concluding remark or answer questions from the panel. The advisor leaves the room.

• The panel deliberates about both the written thesis and the candidate’s grasp of related issues in the oral component. This final deliberation is key to the award. Remembering that the written thesis is more heavily weighted than the oral component, the panel awards Honors or No Honors.

• If an award of Honors is made but the panel finds an unacceptable number of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, or typing, it may make the award conditional upon corrections. No substantial changes may be made in content or text of the thesis.

• The chair of the Honors Panel marks the Panel Evaluation Form and the examiners sign it.

• The chair asks the candidate and advisor to rejoin the group.

• The chair announces the award of Honors or No Honors. The panel may choose to discuss the award with the candidate.

• The chair announces whether or not the mechanics of the thesis are approved. (See below.)

• The chair thanks the examiners for their time and the advisor and candidate for their work on the thesis.

• The chair submits the Panel Evaluation Form via Adobe Sign immediately after the exam.
  
• An informal discussion of the thesis project may continue over a meal.

Thesis Advisor

• Submit a completed Honors Nomination Form for each student. These must be signed by the appropriate department or program chair(s).
• Advise thesis preparation.
• Advise students on fair use and copyright. See http://www.bates.edu/ils/policies/access- use/copyright-for-scarab/ for guidelines.
• Submit a completed Honors Withdrawal Form for any student who leaves the program.
• Invite one departmental and one non-departmental faculty member to serve on the examining panel. At least three weeks prior to the thesis due and complete the Examination Panel Registration Form.
• Select and invite outside examiner. Submit pertinent contact information to the appropriate Academic Administrative Assistant on outside examiner Travel/Accommodation Form and Examination Panel Registration Form at least three weeks prior to the thesis due date.
• Arrange with the appropriate Academic Administrative Assistant travel and accommodation for the outside examiner, at least three weeks prior to the oral examination.
• Schedule oral examination: reserve the room, set a time convenient for the student and examining panel and notify all involved of time and place. The AAA may assist with scheduling.
• Submit the Examination Panel Registration Form (indicating who the panel members will be and the date/time/place of the oral exam) by the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist.
• Prepare student for the oral examination.
• Discuss and decide on the level of access and embargo of the thesis and submit the Thesis Access and Embargo Form. Once the advisor and student sign the form, the advisor must submit it electronically no later than 4:00pm on the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist.
• If the examining panel does not approve the mechanics of the thesis, verify thesis corrections and submit the Thesis Correction Form no later than 4:00pm on the date listed on the Honors Timeline Checklist.
• Grades for Honors theses should be submitted at the end of winter semester during the regular grading period.

Examination Panel Chair

• Submit the Individual Evaluation Form for the thesis; confirm with each voting member of the examining panel that they have submitted their Individual Evaluation Form prior to the oral examination.
• Conduct the oral examination. See Protocol at http://www.bates.edu/honors/protocol-for-the-honors- exam/.
• Submit the Panel Evaluation Form via Adobe Sign.

Examination Panel Members and Outside Examiner

• Read thesis available on SCARAB.
• Submit the Individual Evaluation Form with an evaluation of the thesis and a proposed Honors/Non Honors award.
• Participate in the oral examination.