Pre-Approved Experiences

Each of the 50+ pre-approved experiences is a unique opportunity with experiential components and built-in reflection. They cover a variety of topics and types of involvement from campus, to the local Cincinnati community, and even destinations domestic and abroad.

The pre-approved experiences will count as honors experiences if completed as directed (by the contact listed) and showcased in your learning portfolio within one month of completing the experience. Application deadlines can be months earlier than the beginning of the experience, so plan accordingly.

Important considerations

Please note that some of the programs listed on these pages have competitive application processes and/or specific deadlines. For more information about a particular program/project, please visit the website or contact the individual listed below.
Most pre-approved experiences can only be counted one time as an honors experience; if you are completing a pre-approved honors experience for a second time, please contact your honors advisor to see if it can count as an additional experience.

Pre-Approved Experiences List
Program	Contact	Exp #	Description
AACRC Transitions	Mercedes Johnson	1	First-year experience for students of color
Accelerating Racial Justice	TBD	1
AFFIRM	TBD	1
Bearcat Buddies Lead Tutor	Fran Larkin	1
Belong Coordinator for University Honors Program	Bria Howard	1	The Belong Coordinators experience focuses on fostering awareness and inclusivity among UHP students, staff, and faculty through interactive educational programming. This experience is a one academic year commitment (October-April).
Breakthrough Cincinnati	Tiffany Dolder-Holland	2	Apply early spring semester; experience happens over the summer
BRIMS: Biomedical Research Internship for Minority Students	R. Matthew Schauseil	1
Character-Based Leadership (Lindner Honors-PLUS only)	Raqule Crawley	1	Register for fall semester course
Credit-bearing Study Abroad	UC International	1	Includes any program for which student will receive UC credit (UC semester exchanges, UC-led faculty study tours, UC-led summer programs, third-party programs)
Crossroad Health Center Volunteer Internship Program (VIP)	Crossroad Health Center	1	Applications generally due 2 months before start date
Emerging Ethnic Leaders Peer Leader	TBD	1
Engineering Diplomats Leadership Team	Oxana Prokhorova	1-2	Experience range based on domestic/international involvement
Engineers Without Borders International Travel	Jim Tappel	1
Experience-Based Learning & Career Education - International Experience Programs	Erin Bove	2
Foundations of Engineering Design Thinking - Honors Research Experience	Nora Honken	1	CEAS students only
Gen-1 Alpha Ambassador	Amber Conley	1	Apply in spring semester
Gen-1 Program First Year Experience	Amber Conley	1	Apply as part of UC admissions process
GlobeMed GROW Internship	Robin Selzer	1
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)	Shawn Adkins	1
iLead Manager in College of Nursing	Deborah Gray	1	Apply in spring semester
iLead Mentor in College of Nursing	Deborah Gray	1	Apply in spring semester
iLead transition/transfer participant in College of Nursing	Deborah Gray	1	Confirm participation in summer
International Co-op Program	Christopher Cooper	2	Apply through Professional Assessment + Learning (PAL)
International Virtual Collaboration Experience	Cedrick Kwuimy	1	CEAS students only Experience takes place during spring semester Contact Cedrick Kwuimy during fall semester to express interest Collaborate virtually with students at a university abroad that partners with UC to solve a global problem Develop problem solving, project management, design process and programming skills
Kuamka Participants	Mercedes Jones	1	Apply in October
LCB PACE Leader	Sarah Jernigan	1	Lindner College of Business students only; capped at 2 experiences
Lindner Honors-PLUS Business Ethics	Raqule Crawley	1	Register for summer semester
McNair Prep	Stephanie Davis	1	Apply in Mid-February of first year
McNair Scholars	Stephanie Davis	2	Apply in Mid-February of second year
NEXT Innovation Scholars Innovation Advancement Project	Aaron Bradley	1	Open to students in the NEXT Innovation Scholars program only Students work on a team-based, 2-semester (Fall/Spring) design thinking and innovation project in collaboration with a cohort and industry partners from the Cincinnati Innovation District
Nursing Co-Op	Deborah Schwytzer	1	Apply in January of third year
Nursing iLead Next Gen Peer Mentoring	Deborah Gray	1	Apply in spring semester
Nursing Undergraduate Research Scholars Program	Christina Meyer	1	Open to College of Nursing undergraduate students with strong interest in research 2-semester (Fall/Spring) commitment Students should apply by May 1 between first and second year Students may re-apply if not accepted
Office of Nationally Competitive Awards Fulbright Bootcamp	Jenny Hyest	1	Must be applying for a Fulbright award to participate Must complete the registration form Must participate in Fulbright Bootcamp, and complete and submit a Fulbright application, for this to count as a pre-approved experience
On-Campus Internship/Co-op (Co-op2.0)	Kelly Thompson	1	You must register for and complete either COOP1000 or MPRO 2025 for any of the on-campus internships listed on the On-Campus Internship link provided to count as an honors experience.
Protege Undergraduate Research	James Boerio	2	Email Dr. James Boerio in early November to express interest
RAPP: Racial Awareness Program	Center for Community Engagement	1
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)	R. Matthew Schauseil	2	Apply by February 1
Taft Undergraduate Research Award	Taft Research Center	2	Apply by early March
Teaching Assistant at Chongqing University	Sherry Liao	2	Apply through Professional Assessment + Learning (PAL)
Teaching Assistant for First-Year Engineering classes	Jeff Kastner	1	Students who plan to participate in this pre-approved experience need to contact Dr. Kastner by the second week of classes Students are required to complete a set of leadership modules throughout the semester in addition to the TA job responsibilities, in order to count this as a pre-approved experience
The Washington Center	Brodie Theis	2	Register for INT3030 Section 2; Applications reviewed on rolling basis; 1 exp. for seminar, 1 exp. for internship
THRIVE Mentor & Facilitator with LGBTQ Center	R. Chad Freeman	1	The THRIVE Mentorship program is designed to connect and pair LGBTQIA+ first year students with upper class mentors from across campus Students must serve as both mentors and facilitators for a weekly LGBTQ+ based discussion group in order to count this as a pre-approved Honors experience (a 1-year commitment) Applications open mid-May and deadline is typically mid-August Must apply and email R. Chad Freeman to express interest in being a facilitator as well as a mentor
UHP Ambassador Leadership Team	Jason Autry	1	12-month commitment Must be a UHP Ambassador. Apply by early summer. Must be in good standing with UHP Support UHP’s goals related to cultivate an inclusive and engaging community of students supporting the UHP vision Cultivate a supportive and engaging community of UHP Ambassadors Strengthen the UHP social community internally and externally to campus Assist with logistics related to and training of UHP Ambassadors Advise and develop new initiatives and processes to improve recruitment outcomes
UHP Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program (RaMP)	Kyle Key	1	Application opens late fall; research takes place in spring
UHP Discover	Marcell Crawford	2	Apply in early February
UHP Student Leader Roundtable	Ashley Webber	1	Apply in August for Fall 2021; Participants must be leaders in a student organization or within the community
UK Fulbright Summer Institutes	Jenny Hyest	1	Apply in February
University Innovation Fellows Program	Aaron Bradley	1	Only open to students in NEXT Innovation Scholars Program who are selected for the leadership circle each year
Upspring 360 Summer Camp for Children Experiencing Homelessness	Maurice Stewart	1	Apply in April
Village Life Outreach Co-op/Internship and special projects	Sue Casey-Leininger	1	To apply, please submit the following materials to Sue Casey-Leininger: A resume that has been updated within the last month Two references from relevant supervisors or outside evaluators A brief summary of approximately 500 words through which the applicant outlines relevant experience and motivations for Co-op
Welcome Experience Student Leader for UHP (mentor or coordinator)	Bria Howard	1	Apply in spring semester Experience takes place between February and October
Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL)	UC Women's Center	1/year	Apply in mid-February
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)	Heather Norton	2	Apply in March