What is Honors?

What is the difference between Honors Program, Honor Societies, Honors Lists, and Graduating with Honors?

Honors Program

The Lane Honors Program is an academic-based program. Honors classes add to your educational experience in breadth and depth. Honors students gain critical thinking and research skills that are beneficial in the workforce and in preparing for graduate school. For more information, see our classes and program requirements.

How are students referred to the program? Any student who meets the eligibility criteria may submit an application. Alternatively, students may receive an invitation or be recommended by faculty.

Honor Societies

Honor societies are completely separate from the Lane Honors Program. Honor societies recognize all students who have shown academic excellence. Membership is for life and can be transferred between chapters. Members have opportunities for leadership development and community service and access to members-only scholarships. Two honor societies, National Society of College Scholars and Phi Theta Kappa, have chapters at Lane. Students are invited to join based on their cumulative grade point average (GPA).

National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honor society for students in their first two years in college—freshman and sophomore years. The society focuses on scholarship, leadership, and service. Chapters exist on both two-year and four-year campuses Other Oregon chapters are located at Oregon State University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, and Willamette University.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society of the two-year college. The society focuses on leadership, service, scholarship, and fellowship. Members may take advantage of personal and professional development initiatives or participate on the chapter, region, or international level.

Honors Lists

Lane has two honors lists that appear on transcripts only, the President's List and the Vice President's List. These are automatically noted on your transcript if you meet the criteria. These notations are for your information only; there is no public list of members. For full information see Interpreting your LCC Transcript.

Graduation Regalia

Each program and society has different regalia that students can purchase for the commencement ceremony in June. Some regalia can be purchased in the Titan Store.

Graduating from the Honors Program

The Honors Program regalia include the Lane Honors Program medallion on a blue and gold ribbon and a blue and gold tassel. Our graduates walk as a group with the Lane Honors Program banner in commencement.

You must be an admitted honors student and have completed all program requirements. You must also maintain a 3.0 GPA in your honors courses and an overall 3.0 GPA.

Photo: Zach wearing Lane Honors Program tassel and medallion, Honors cords, Veteran's cords, and Lane stole

Graduating from an Honor Society

You must be a member in good standing of the honor society; that is, you have submitted your application, paid your fee, and have been accepted. Each honor society walks as a separate group in commencement.

Phi Theta Kappa graduates may wear blue and gold cords, a gold tassel, a gold stole, and/or a gold PTK key.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars graduates may wear red and gold cords and tassel, a gold stole, and/or medallion on a red and gold ribbon.

Graduating with Honors

If your overall or cumulative GPA at Lane is 3.75 or higher, you are eligible to purchase the gold honors cords to wear at commencement.

Photo: Honors Cords