Though the Honors Program office is just a small section on the corner of the Campus Life Building, the program is getting bigger.

“We are expanding as we speak,” said John Wagle, director of the University Honors Program.

The membership is up 28 percent from last year. One-hundred and fifty-eight new freshmen and 113 transfer students joined, a 21 percent and 38 percent increase, respectively, from the previous year.

“I hope that says it has a value to freshmen and transfer students,” Wagle said. “They see the advantages of the program and understand how valuable it is to them.”

The minority enrollment also has increased in the honors program by 22 percent.

“That’s a very pleasing result,” said Robert Wheeler, intern associate provost.

To apply as a freshman to the honors program, the students need at least an ACT score of 27 and must be in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. They will also need to provide an essay and three recommendations. Two people will have to fill out a standard recommendation form and one person will have to submit a letter.

If a transfer or a native NIU freshman or sophomore student wants to join the program, they need at least a 3.0 GPA. If they are a junior or senior transfer or native student, that person will need a 3.2 GPA. Students in the program need a 3.2 GPA in all of their honors classes.

“If they don’t meet the requirements, they should at least apply,” Wagle said. “Students need to meet at least one requirement.”

There are 167 honors classes in the fall semester. Students also have the option of selecting in-course classes and making them honors. So it is possible to have 300 and 400 level classes as honors.

A new addition to the honors program is the Honors House, which is located in the C wing of Douglas Hall. Previously, it was only one floor, but it grew to house 250 honors students.

“It’s a mixture of honors and teaching students,” Wheeler said. “It will provide more focused attention on honors students.”

Douglas’ D wing is currently remodeling to contain more office space for honors students.

Students in the honors program, like Megan Kerr, a senior political science major, find it beneficial.

“We have access to good professors,” Kerr said. “We also have activities, like trips to Chicago.”

Wagle hopes to harness the enrollment system.

“We are going to have a more careful recruiting program,” Wagle said. “We have an alumni survey, a current student survey and a system in which we benchmark against other honors programs.”

Honors credential is a good credential and could be helpful in getting recruited for jobs, Wagle said.

“Finding jobs depends on the philosophy of companies,” Wagle said. “It helps put you in a job that you can be more successful and happy with.”

If students want to join the honors program, it’s up to them how involved they want to be.

“Students have input on the degree of commitment,” Wagle said.

The program will continue to expand, Wagle added.

“We expect the the number to increase significantly more,” Wagle said. “We hope for a an equal increase for freshmen and transfer students. Natives are also welcomed to join.”