Eileen G. Jones Honors College

Enter smart. Leave brilliant.

Imagine a college experience that begins by applauding you for your high achievement and immense potential and also...

• Welcomes you into a diverse and close-knit community of students and faculty who know that smart is just the beginning of who you are.
• Engages you with daily opportunities for truly deep and experiential learning in the fields that interest you most.
• Provides you with the one-on-one support and small classes you’d expect at a small, private college while providing all the benefits, activities, and affordability of a regional public university.
• Helps you optimize your four years at Commonwealth U to cultivate the skills, tools, and confidence necessary to achieve your goals after graduation.
• Warmly welcomes students of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic classes, genders, sexual identities, abilities, and religions.

Stephen J. Jones, a 1983 graduate of Bloomsburg University, and his wife, Melanie Sanchez-Jones, have gifted more than $7 million to the Honors College. In recognition of their incredible philanthropy, the CU Honors College was named the Eileen G. Jones Honors College, a tribute to Jones' mother.

The Jones Honors College is available to CU students at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Clearfield campuses. 

The Honors Experience

It’s designed for academically gifted students like you who want the very best experience that an undergraduate education can offer: an innovative and inspiring interdisciplinary curriculum, a cohort of creative and passionate peers, and the professional guidance and support to explore, create, learn, and succeed brilliantly.

The Jones Honors College combines the affordability, resources, academics, and campus life of a comprehensive state university with the seminar-style classes, personal attention, close interaction with faculty, and supportive community you would expect at a prestigious liberal arts college. From your very first day on campus — when current Honors students and staff welcome you to the Honors Learning Community — to when you graduate with Honors with a world-class resumé, you will be immersed in an undergraduate experience that is every bit as supportive, enriching, and personalized as any university in the country.

Honors Housing and the First Year Experience

As a first-year Honors student, you’ll automatically be part of the Honors Learning Community (LC). The Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses have dedicated Honors housing with common spaces allowing Honors students 24/7 access to social/study spaces. In no time at all, you’ll get to know other Honors students and become acclimated to your campus and the surrounding area. If you are a residential student, living with a cohort of other first-year Honors students can help you find friends quickly, get inside answers to all your questions, and make connections that will last long after college life is over. If you are a commuter, you still have 24/7 access to the full suite of Honors facilities, events, and support staff. 

Your first year in Honors is much more than just where you live and who you meet. All first year Honors students are matched with an upper-level Honors peer mentor to help you navigate the transition to college life and learning. Each campus has Honors faculty directors to assist you with academic advising. Event opportunities abound for first year Honors students. Whether it’s paddling a kayak at Crystal Lake during our first year retreat in September, hiking at a local state park, joining a team for trivia night, making art with friends, or just roasting s’mores over a campfire on campus, we have events for all tastes, talents, and abilities. And, of course, no Honors program would be worthy of the name without an engaging, immersive Honors curriculum. 

The Honors Curriculum

At the heart of the Jones Honors College is an interdisciplinary, experiential academic curriculum that offers you:

• Small, discussion-based Honors classes, many of which include field trips
• Independent, student-driven, capstone project with dedicated faculty mentors
• Intensive, one-on-one engagement with faculty and peers
• Ongoing, individualized attention
• Skills-based, leadership training through social, civic, academic, and professional  events
• Personalized guidance on study-abroad and service opportunities
• Freedom to explore ideas and opportunities across disciplines and around the globe

Honors Program Requirements

To graduate from the Jones Honors College, a student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and complete the following requirements:

• 10 credits of Honors College courses (three Honors general education seminars plus an independent study corresponding with your capstone project).
• 16 hours of volunteer service work each academic year.
• 2 high impact, immersive experiences, such as study abroad, research with a faculty member, a professional internship, an original creative work, or a substantial campus leadership experience.
• Attendance at 2 University and/or Honors sponsored events per semester.
• Senior Capstone Project informed by one of your high impact experiences.

Honors Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to the Jones Honors College, you'll need to submit your Commonwealth U Application (through the Office of Admissions) and be admitted to the University. Upon receiving your application, Admissions will determine your eligibility to join the Honors College.

First-Year Honors Students

• GPA of 95 or above (no essay required). Congratulations! On the basis of your outstanding academic record in high school, you will receive an invitation in your Admissions Portal to join the Honors College. Simply accept this invitation. However, please keep in mind that space in the Honors College is limited. Accept the invitation and guarantee your spot now, while space is still available. Once the Honors College is full, we will move to a wait list for qualified applicants.
• GPA of 90 to 94.9 (essay required and optional supplementary materials). Congratulations! You have been invited to apply for admission to the Honors College. To complete this application, submit an essay using one of the two prompts in the Admissions Portal and submit any supplementary materials that showcase your suitability for Honors such as a creative project or a description of outstanding leadership.

Transfer and Current Honors Students

We encourage transfer and current CU students to apply for admission to the Honors College. Admission is based on the following criteria:

• Minimum 3.5 cumulative university GPA.
• Minimum 15 earned university credits.
• No more than 60 earned university credits at the time of application (some exceptions may apply).
• A short interview with an Honors College Director or Dean. Contact us to set up an appointment.
• A single-spaced, one-page essay outlining your reasons for joining the Honors College. To help you structure the essay, we encourage you to review the Honors College’s Mission Statement.

Honors College Mission Statement: The Commonwealth University Honors College seeks to cultivate a diverse, dynamic community of high-achieving scholars and ethical leaders who understand their roles as global citizens. Through interdisciplinary, creative, and challenging coursework, co-curricular experiences, and a capstone experience, the program provides opportunities for students to expand their cultural and personal boundaries while reaching their intellectual and career goals.