Benefits of the Patrick Leahy Honors College Experience

Have you ever imagined developing your own research project—and having it funded? Do you want to prepare yourself for the intense scholarly inquiry you'll encounter in graduate school or a challenging career?

Patrick Leahy Honors College students are required to pursue advanced research in the form of the thesis, but are encouraged to explore the many forms a thesis can take, as well as the many other research opportunities available across campus. Through the Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR), housed in the Patrick Leahy Honors College, students learn about the research process from start to finish. How do you write a research proposal? What factors go into deciding whom you will work with? How do you interpret your results and present them to experts in the field?

Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR)

Involvement in the Patrick Leahy Honors College doesn't stop when classes end for the day. The college's on-campus housing allows students to extend their classroom discussions and research -- not to mention, fun and socializing -- into the evening.

PLHC students in their first two years are required to live together in University Heights, which is located near the Living and Learning Center and the athletic facilities.

PLHC Housing Information

As part of the Patrick Leahy Honors College's commitment to fostering an enriching intellectual climate, the Common Hour associated with the first-year course HCOL 1000, allows anyone in the campus community to hear talks by some of the most accomplished people on campus. Former UVM President Daniel Fogel, for instance, has spoken to the students about affirmative action, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf about the role of narrative in court cases, and visiting scholar Gov. Madeleine Kunin about women in politics.

In addition, each year the college brings visiting scholars to campus for public lectures. These have included ethicist Peter Singer, philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, Pulitzer Prize Winning author Edward P. Jones, V. Gene Robinson, the former Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, environmentalist Bill McKibben, author Michael Pollan, and the celebrated writer and cartoonist Alison Bechdel.

Join with a committed group of student leaders to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion the Patrick Leahy Honors College. 

The Student Equity Action Committee (SEAC) strives to build and maintain an equitable PLHC community of globally responsible and multiculturally competent individuals. We embrace the knowledge, skills, and voices of those with diverse experiences and foster an atmosphere of inclusion and excellence in alignment with university-wide efforts.

SEAC meets regularly and works closely with the college’s staff-led Committee on Equity and Inclusion to build an increasingly inclusive Patrick Leahy Honors College at UVM.

Student Equity Action Committee

Students in the Patrick Leahy Honors College receive graduate student status at all the university's libraries, allowing them to check out books for an entire semester, instead of the usual two weeks. This privilege comes in handy when working on ongoing research projects or senior theses.

Students also receive special training by library professors in using the libraries the main David W. Howe Memorial Library, Cook Chemistry/Physics Library, Dana Medical Library and the Library Annex and conducting research both on site in the libraries and via computer in cyberspace.

UVM Libraries

Patrick Leahy Honors College students have priority registration for the next semester's classes. This means that PLHC students have an opportunity to register before other students in their class, or, depending on their major, before the majority of students on campus.

Students who fulfill all the requirements of the Patrick Leahy Honors College, including successfully completing a senior thesis or project, earn the special distinction of graduating as a Patrick Leahy Honors College Scholar. This distinction is noted on student transcripts and the designation of Patrick Leahy Honors College Scholar is conferred at UVM's commencement ceremony.