Honors Experiential Learning Opportunities (HELO) are pre-approved, non-credit engagements guided by either a faculty mentor, a director, or a coordinator. The engagement must come from one of the HELO categories approved by the Honors College. Each HELO must be bracketed by a HELO application, presentation, and a final reflection paper.
A fully-completed HELO may satisfy either the H4, the H5, or the H6 honors requirement. *Note if you waived H1 and H2, you CAN NOT use a HELO to cover an H. You must have 18 credits of honors coursework to graduate with Commonwealth Honors.
All Honors College Experiential Learning Opportunities must address one or more of the six Honors College Student Learning Outcomes. The outcomes are:
Julian Zabalbeascoa is the honors point person for all HELO opportunities. Students interested in HELOs should contact Julian.
Email: julian_zabalbeascoa@uml.edu
Office: Allen House
To complete an Honors Experiential Learning Opportunity (HELO), a student must:
***Note if you waived H1 and H2, you CAN NOT use a HELO to cover an H. You must have 18 credits of honors coursework to graduate with Commonwealth Honors.
Step 1: Meet with Julian Zabalbeascoa before completing the HELO application.
Step 2: Fill out and submit the associated Honors Experiential Learning application. Depending on the experience, a student must find a mentor or contact a HELO liaison connected to that experience and obtain their signature. Email a copy of the application to julian_zabalbeascoa@uml.edu. You will receive a confirmation email once the HELO has been approved.
Step 3: Complete 100 hours of the Honors Experiential Learning experience. This can be done in a semester or spread out over a year.
Step 4: Once hours have been completed, student will set up a presentation time with julian_zabalbeascoa@uml.edu (more information below).
Step 5: Once a HELO has been approved, the student's transcript will be annotated with a zero-credit Honors Experiential Learning course in the semester the experience was completed. The zero-credit HELO will cover either H4, H5, or H6.
*Note: If you waived H1 and H2, you CAN NOT use a HELO to cover an honors requirement. If you waived H1, you are eligible to complete one HELO. The reason for this is because students must have 18 credits of honors work. UMass Lowell Honors College is made up of 24 credits. This allows room to complete up to two HELOs. However, if H1 and H2 are waived, then the remaining honors requirements must be credit bearing.
Components of the Honors Experiential Learning Opportunities:
Speaking: All students must give a final presentation on their HELO. Presentations should only run 15 minutes in length. Students will speak about and reflect on their experience and/or research and how they connected with the Honors College Learning Outcomes. What did you learn? What did you do? How has this experience impacted you both personally and professionally?