Honors College

Below is a timeline of significant events in the Honors College:

1989

The Honors Program began in 1989 with 19 students under the direction of Dr. Larry Long. He believed Harding University's most scholarly students would benefit from a unique program that allowed them to approach their studies in creative ways that were measurably broader, deeper or more complex than comparable learning experiences typically found at institutions of higher education.

1998

The program expanded from 19 students to around 500 and became a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). It also received college status at the university. Dr. Larry Long was named dean.

1993

The first Honors Symposium program began in 1993. It included one session with 20 students under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Hopper.

2001

Dr. Jeffrey Hopper was appointed dean of the Honors College in 2001.

Mrs. Debbie Baird joined as the college's administrator the same year and served in that role for 22 years.

2004

The Honors Program resided in the L.C. Sears house on campus from 1989-2004. Dr. Sears was the university's first academic dean.

In 2004, the Honors College moved to its current location, a large house near the center of campus.

2011

Dr. J. Warren Casey was appointed dean. 

2015

Dr. Mike James was appointed dean. 

2020

Dr. Kevin Kehl was appointed dean. He hired two faculty fellows, Dr. Jim Miller and Dr. James Huff, to assist with leadership and administration.

2023

Dr. Dana Steil was appointed dean. Dr. Jim Miller was named assistant dean, and Dr. James Huff served as senior faculty fellow.

The college hired four faculty fellows — Dr. Russell Keck, Dr. Jaime Murphy, Dr. Anessa Westbrook, and Dr. Nate Wiewora — to teach honors courses and assist with leadership and administration.

2024

Dr. Jim Miller was appointed dean and Dr. Jaime Murphy was named senior faculty fellow. 

The college hired three faculty fellows — Prof. Tessa Davidson, Prof. April Fatula, and Dr. Mac Sandlin — to teach honors courses and assist with leadership and administration.

Current honors students come from nearly every state and a dozen countries. They move on to successful careers and often place at the world's most prestigious graduate schools, including Ivy League and other first-tier programs. Like the first honors class, they benefit from a quality program that focuses on communication, critical thinking and contribution to the academic community.

The honors student body has established a tradition of service that greatly contributes to the college. Honors students have worked with the Sparrow's Promise children's home, Healing Hands International, White County Literacy Council, Habitat for Humanity, and the Searcy Sunshine School, just to name a few.

The history of the Harding University Honors College is the story of people making the most from their undergraduate experience, working to become the best versions of themselves in the image of God. It is the story of talent, dedication, excitement, discipline and growth. It is the story of Christian education at its best.

• 2026-2027 Arkansas Department of Higher Education Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship Recipients: Murphy Hernandez, Caden Haustein, and Lillian Reynolds
• 2026 Harvard Law Acceptance: Clara Kernodle
• 2026 Trey Carlock Rising Scholar Award: Caleb Herrington and Elyse Rogers
• 2026 Larry R. Long Commendation: Olivia Bell and Max DeLoach 
• 2026 Patrick H. Garner Award for Teaching and Service: Dr. Julie Harris
• 2026 Debbie Baird Staff Award: Dr. John Mark Warnick

Harding's Honors College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. NCHC includes educational institutions, professionals and students who promote honors education. Honors students and faculty participate in NCHC's annual conference. 

The Honors College is also a member of Honors Arkansas, an alliance of honors educators across Arkansas collectively working to enhance the scholarly, professional, and social experiences of high-achieving students.

All honors students are members of the Honors Student Government Association (SGA). Honors SGA officers are elected each year to lead the honors student body. This group plans activities and service events, and represents honors students to the administration. The Honors Student Government Association meets regularly each semester.

2025-2026 Honors College Annual Report pdf

2024-2025 Honors College Annual Report pdf

2023-2024 Honors College Annual Report pdf

• How do I join the Honors College as an incoming freshman? Recipients of the Trustee or Heritage scholarships, National Merit Scholars, and students with perfect ACT or SAT scores are accepted into the Honors College for their first fall semester.

• Can I apply after my first semester starts? Yes. Any student may apply to enroll at midterm of their first fall semester or during any subsequent semester, provided they have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.

• What is the ideal size of the Honors College? We aim to admit approximately 100 new students annually. This represents roughly 10% of Harding’s undergraduate population, a cohort size that aligns with the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) best practices for elite honors education.

• What are the requirements to remain in the Honors College? Honors students must maintain a 3.25 GPA to remain in the Honors College. Students must also complete the required curriculum before they graduate.

• What are the requirements to graduate from the Honors College? The Honors College offers two graduation tracks. Read the requirements here.

• What are Honors Contracts? Honors contracts allow you to earn honors credit in upper-level non-honors courses by working with a professor to add a layer of depth or complexity to the existing curriculum.

• Is there a cost to be in the Honors College? A $75 Honors Program Fee will be charged to all enrolled honors students each semester to support advanced programming and research opportunities.

• Are there grants available for undergraduate student research? Yes. Honors students frequently secure state and national grants that fund stipends, research costs, and travel expenses to present at professional conferences Additionally, the Honors College presents the Trey Carlock Rising Scholar Award—valued at over $1,000—to students each year to support their research and scholarship initiatives.

• Which graduate schools have recently accepted Harding Honors students? Our graduates are consistently accepted into world-class institutions, including Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, Georgia Tech, Purdue, Baylor, and Rice.

• Does the Honors College offer study abroad opportunities? Yes. We offer a two-week honors course in either Greece or Italy every other Christmas break.

• Is there support for prestigious fellowships like the Rhodes or Fulbright? The Honors College supports the Office of Fellowship Advising, which provides coaching and application support for students pursuing competitive, internationally recognized awards.

• Is the Honors College just about academics? Not at all. The Honors Student Government Association (HSGA) is very active, planning community events like semi-formals, pickleball tournaments, weekly chapel services, and holiday parties. They also lead service projects supporting local foster families and literacy councils.

• What service opportunities are available in the Honors College? The Honors Student Government Association (HSGA) organizes multiple service projects every semester, such as supporting local children’s home, food banks, homeless shelters, and literacy councils. Honors students also tutor local junior high and high school students who want help with their schoolwork twice a week.

• Do Honors students receive priority registration? Yes. Honors students receive priority registration, allowing them to register for classes ahead of other students in their classification each semester. To maintain this privilege, students must complete their teacher evaluations each semester.

• Is there a dedicated Honors dorm or housing complex? Harding does not have specific Honors housing because we value having our students integrated across the entire campus community.

• What is the Sears Honors Center? The Sears Honors Center serves as our “Honors House,” providing a central hub for our students. It features a game room, a seminar classroom, and a fully stocked kitchen for student use.

• What equipment and resources are available at the Honors House? Students have access to a wide variety of check-out resources, including laptops, camping equipment, kayaks, and bicycles.

• When can students use the Sears Honors Center? The house is open to students throughout the day for study and socializing. Additionally, students or honors groups may reserve the space on nights and weekends for various group activities.