What is Honors Leadership?
Honors Leadership is one of the three milestones that students must meet to earn Honors Distinction. The Leadership milestone represents a student’s contributions to the Honors community as a mentor to other students or event organizer. Students earn can earn Leadership in a variety of ways, but many opportunities require some sort of interview process or extended commitment and dedication to a project.
Common Questions
Do I need to achieve Partnership before Leadership?
Nope! You can achieve the milestones in any order.
Do I need a certain number of Honors Points to apply to Leadership roles?
Students can apply for or attempt any Leadership opportunity regardless of how many Honors Points they have earned. That being said, the number of Honors Points a student has may be taken into consideration when fulfilling some leadership roles as part of a holistic recruitment or interview process.
What time of year can I attempt to obtain the Leadership milestone?
Certain Leadership opportunities are only available during certain times of years. For example, the Honors Program hires Chicago Quarter Honors Practicum mentors, Summer Ambassadors, and Honors Advocates in the Spring quarter. Other opportunities, like working to submit 10 total pieces to Honors publications or designing your own event to earn Leadership, can be done at your own pace anytime throughout the year.
Are Honors Leadership Positions paid?
Sometimes, yes! Many Honors Leadership opportunities not only earn you the Leadership milestone, but are also paid employment opportunities. While not every position is paid, you can explore paid opportunities below.
How can I learn when Leadership opportunities are available?
The best way to stay aware of upcoming Leadership opportunities is to consistently check your emails and follow Honors on Instagram @dpu_honors.com.
Leadership Opportunities
Below is a comprehensive list of all the Honors Leadership opportunities available to students. Read each one to learn details about the position. These opportunities arise throughout the year. The best way to stay aware of opportunities is to consistently check your emails and follow Honors on Instagram @dpu_honors.com.
Honors Advocate Leaders
Honors Advocates serve as mentors to welcome and guide each year’s incoming class of Honors freshmen. Honors Advocates will welcome incoming students to campus by organizing virtual events over the summer and in-person events in Fall. Advocate leaders are generally hired in Spring. Read on to learn more about the different types of Honors Advocates.
Honors Affinity Advocate
In addition to being assigned an Honors Advocate group, incoming Honors freshmen can also opt-in to our Honors Affinity Program. The Honors Affinity program connects incoming students who identify with or allies to a specific cultural identity. Current Honors Affinity groups include: APIDA, Black, First-Generation College Students, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, and SWANA. Each Affinity group needs an Advocate to lead the group that also identifies or allies with the cultural identity of the group. Similar to an Honors Advocate, an Honors Affinity Advocate will organize social events to connect the students and partner with other campus offices who provide services that cater to the needs and experiences of the group’s affinity.
This is a paid position.
The application to be an Honors Affinity Advocate generally opens in Spring.
Honors Transfer Advocate
An Honors Transfer Advocate is very similar to an Honors Advocate; the main difference is that instead of working with incoming freshmen students, Transfer Advocates work with incoming Transfer students. The same general duties still apply, and include creating social opportunities for new Transfer students and helping them transition to DePaul, Chicago, and Honors. Transfer Honors students are given priority consideration for Transfer Advocate roles.
This is a paid position.
The application to be an Honors Transfer Advocate generally opens in Spring.
Honors Living Learning Community Leaders
The Honors Program is proud to boast the largest Living Learning Community (LLC) on campus, with over 100 freshmen choosing to live each year on the Honors floor in Ozanam Hall. Many students also choose to continue to remain on living on campus and move to the Continuing Honors LLC in later years, where they can live in apartment-style suites in McCabe Hall. If you are a student who lives on campus in the LLC, you have the chance to hold the following Leadership roles.
First-Year Honors LLC Floor Representative
Each year, students on the First Year Honors LLC floor vote for Floor Representatives. Floor Reps live in the Honors LLC and serve as social coordinators for the entire LLC. Floor reps will work with their Honors LLC Resident Advisors and the Honors staff to plan social and study events.
Honors LLC Resident Advisors
Like any dorm floor at DePaul, the Honors LLC floor needs Resident Advisors (RAs), who are older students who live on the floor and serve as leaders, mentors, and facilitators to their residents. Students who serve as the RA on any Honors LLC floor achieve Honors Leadership.
This is considered an on-campus job and hiring is done through the Office of Housing & Residential Life. Direct questions about the hiring process to that department.
Honors Office Student Worker
The Honors Office in Arts & Letters Hall employs several part-time student workers to work the front office. Responsibilities include answering phones, welcoming visitors, and helping with general administrative and office tasks.
This is a paid position.
Hiring for Office Student Workers happens periodically throughout the year. Follow us on Instagram @dpu_honors or regularly check your emails to know when opportunities arise.
Honors Publication Leaders
The Honors Program is host to three different publications: Honorable Mentions, Inside Honors, and the Honors Blog. There are several ways to earn leadership by participating in the creation of these publications
Honorable Mentions Editor
Honorable Mentions Editors are the student leaders of Honorable Mentions, a quarterly magazine produced by Honors students, for Honors students. Honorable Mentions Editors are tasked with leading creation of the magazine each quarter from start to finish. This includes organizing and running meetings, soliciting contributions, working with contributors to craft pieces, editing submissions, and designing the layout of the final issue.
This is a paid position.
Hiring for Honorable Mentions Editors happens occasionally throughout the year. Follow us on Instagram @dpu_honors or regularly check your emails to know when opportunities arise.
Honors Blog Editor
Honors Blog Editors are the student leaders of the Honors Blog, housed here on dpuhonors.com. The Honors Blog is place where Honors students can create their own blog series about a topic of their choosing. The job of the Blog Editor is to manage, publish, and run each series. Blog Editors will organize student series, communicate with student contributors, edit contributions, and regularly publish pieces to the Blog. Honors Blog Editors also serve as Honors Office Workers.
This is a paid position.
Hiring for Office Student Workers happens occasionally throughout the year. Follow us on Instagram @dpu_honors or regularly check your emails to know when opportunities arise.
Honors Publications Dedicated Contributor
The Honors Publications don’t just need editors… they also need contributors! If you already explore the Honors Partnership page, then you probably already know that students earn 1 Honors Point for every original submission of theirs that is published in an Honors Publication. However, consistent contributions to our Honors Publications can also lead to leadership! Once a student publishes 10 total pieces to any combination of our publications, then they earn Honors Leadership. Starting your own blog series or submitting a piece each quarter to Honorable Mentions is a great way to earn Honors Points AND Honors Leadership!
Honors Practicum Mentor
Every new freshman to DePaul University takes a Chicago Quarter Discover or Explore class during Fall quarter. Honors freshmen take special Honors sections. Each Honors Chicago Quarter is taught by a teaching team that includes at least one older Honors student, known as an Honors Practicum Mentor. The Honors Practicum Mentor’s job is to assist freshmen with their transition to the Honors Program, specifically by leading and facilitating the part of the class known as Honors Practicum. Honors Practicum mentors will build relationships with students, hold one-on-one meetings with students, create lesson plans, and lead and teach Honors Practicum to help new students adjust to DePaul, Chicago, and Honors.
This is a paid position.
The application to be an Honors Advocate generally opens in Winter.
Honors Summer Ambassador
Each summer, DePaul welcomes the incoming freshmen to campus for a summer orientation known as Premiere DePaul. The Honors Program hosts a special meeting during Premiere DePaul just for Honors students to help prepare them for beginning in the Honors Program. Summer Ambassadors are older Honors students who join the Honors staff at these summer orientations and help facilitate the session. They will introduce themselves to new students and sit with them to answer questions about life as an DePaul Honors students. Honors Summer Ambassadors must be available on campus over summer quarter.
This is a paid position.
The application to be an Honors Advocate generally opens in Spring.
Honors Welcome Leader
Before the first day of class, the Honors Program officially welcomes incoming Honors freshmen to campus for a special “Honors Welcome.” Honors freshmen will arrive to campus one day early and presentations and meetings to learn more about the Honors Program. Honors Welcome Leaders facilitate conversations with freshmen to teach them about Honors and guide them through the day.
The application to be an Honors Advocate generally opens in Spring.
Honors Ball Planning Committee
Apply to join the committee to plan the Honors Ball. Not only is event planning a valuable resume-building experience, but it’s tons of fun! Pick a theme, organize decorations, coordinate catering and vendors, and help Honors plan an amazing dance in Spring quarter.
The application to be join the Honors Ball Planning Committee generally opens in Winter.
DIY Your Own Leadership Opportunity!
In addition to fulfilling any of the above roles, Honors students can also create their own Leadership opportunities! To “DIY” your own Leadership opportunity, you must design, plan, coordinate, and facilitate some sort of event for Honors students or the community at large. Brainstorm your own event idea to get started! In the past, students have hosted career-oriented events like pre-medical info sessions and creative events like student-made film festivals. Other ideas include organizing a community service event or drive. Get creative! Want to learn more about creating your own leadership opportunity? Email Priscilla Bautista at pbautist@depaul.edu.
Consider Checking Out…
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
For questions about Honors Distinction, email honorsprogram@depaul.edu.