Students accepted into DACC's Scholars Program are required to complete at least four independent study projects prior to graduation. Each project is undertaken as an additional workload for a course in which the Scholar is currently enrolled. To count towards fulfillment of Scholars Program requirements, the projects must be sponsored by the faculty member who is teaching the course. The following information should assist you in fulfilling your commitments to the Scholars Program.

Purpose of the Scholars Projects:
To allow exceptional students the opportunity to:

• explore areas of particular personal interest;
• conceptualize and orchestrate their own independent study;
• gain experience in independent thinking, planning, and learning; and
• further their intellectual growth through nontraditional endeavors.

• Scholars Projects can only be completed in degree-credit courses of at least three hours credit.
• The student can attempt no more than two Scholars Program Projects in any one semester.
• Students must seek your permission to complete a Scholars Project in your course.
• A Scholars student's grade in your course is independent of the Scholars Project. You are to issue a course grade to Scholars students using the same
• standards applied to all other students in that course. A Scholars Project is evaluated separately from the course (more on this later). It is not considered part of the course work and should not be used in issuing the course grade.
• Scholars Projects are evaluated by both you, as the faculty member sponsoring the project, and the Director of Scholars Programs.
• Scholars Projects will only be counted towards fulfillment of Scholars Program requirements if:
• the faculty member sponsoring the project and the Program Director agree that it was successfully completed, AND
• the student receives at least a "B" in the class, based on regular course work. (If the scholar receives a "C" or lower in the course, his or her project will NOT be counted towards fulfillment of Program requirements, regardless of the quality of the project.)

1.      You should decide in which class(es) you would like to attept a Scholars Project, then schedule a meeting with your instructor to seek his or her permission.  You may make this initial contact before or after you have a specific project idea.

2.      The decision of whether or not to sponsor your project is solely at your instructor's discretion.

3.      If the instructor agrees to sponsor your project, you will next develop a project proposal for the two of you to discuss. It is your responsible to fully develop the project idea. The faculty sponsor may offer general suggestions or any guidance needed to ensure that the project is appropriate and worthy of Scholars status.

4.     Upon acceptance of your proposal, you and the instructor next complete a Scholars Project Proposal Form. You should take this form to the instructor.  You can get a copy from the link below or from the Director of Scholars Programs. Please be sure your completed form provides sufficient detail. If the project is modified after you initially complete the form, you must complete and submit a new form with the appropriate signatures.

5.     Once the Project Proposal is completed, submit it to the Director of Scholars Programs for approval. You will receive an email or phone confirmation if the project is approved, or you may be contacted with a request for more information or modification.

6.     You must get sponsorship for your Scholars Projects within the first six weeks of class.

7.     You must arrange to meet with the Faculty Sponsor twice after the proposal is initially approved and before completion, for progress reports. A brief Project Update Form (available from the link below or from the Director of Scholars Programs) must be completed at each meeting and submitted to the Director of Scholars Programs. The main reasons behind this are:

• To ensure that progress is being made throughout the semester instead of the entire project being completed at the end of the semester,
• To be sure the project is working as anticipated and has not been changed (if so, please complete and submit a modified Project Proposal Form),
• To receive any guidance and direction you might need, and
• To encourage communication about your efforts and discoveries.

9.    Scholars Projects should not merely be extra course work. For example, if a course requires five book reports, merely submitting an additional book report would not be an acceptable Scholars Project. These projects should present unique learning possibilities beyond that offered through regular course work.  Extra credit work allowed for anyone in the class does not constitute Scholars work.

10.   When the project is completed, you must notify your instructor and arrange to present the project. This presentation must be done no later than one week prior to the final exam in your class.  Please also inform the Director of Scholars Programs about when, where, and how the presentation will occur.  Depending on the project, the presentation may be made to a class, to you, or to some other group.  You and the instructor should have already determined the format for the presentation with the initial Project Proposal Form.

11.    During or following the Project Presentation, the instructor will complete a Project Review Form. This form is then to be discussed with you and you must sign it. If the project does not meet the instructor's expectations, he or she should explain why and provide an opportunity for you to rectify the problem.

12.    Once the Project Review Form is completed and signed, the instructor will submit it directly to the Director of Scholars Programs. The form acts as verification of project completion and will be placed in your Scholars Program file.

13.    You must submit something from your project to the Director of Scholars Programs as a permanent record of your effort (for example, a copy of a written project, videotape, audiotape, etc.). Details of what will be submitted should be worked out between the you and the Program Director.

14.    It is your responsibility to follow up with both the instructor and the Director of Scholars Programs to be sure all details have been completed for each of your Scholars Projects.

Project Proposal Form
Project Update Form
Project Review Form

Contact the Director of Scholars Programs
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