Representing a cross-section of the DHC’s student body, the Council supports honors engagement and advises Dean Nichols with the students’ perspective on honors issues and activities.

Serve on the front lines of student recruitment and engagement efforts for the DHC. Ambassadors correspond with and host visiting students and their families and represent the DHC at a wide range of UM recruitment events. Ambassador applications open in the spring for service in the following year.

A club for all honors students with a strong focus on service and social activities. HSA’s big fall event is Trick or Treat so Missoula Eats, which is also integrated as a service project in our Introduction to Honors course. For more information, contact HSA President Sebastian Driver, sebastian.driver@umontana.edu.

Learning Assistants (LA’s) are integrated into many DHC courses, including Introduction to Honors and Ways of Knowing, where they work to engage students in active learning and community building strategies. LA’s enroll in a College of Education seminar, and may count the experience as fulfilling a DHC experiential learning requirements.

Current DHC students volunteer as mentors for new students who want an extra resource person and friend to help them with their transition to college life, professional networking, and more.

Learn more about the DHC Peer Mentorship Program

Located in the newly renovated Knowles Hall, the Honors LLC provides an opportunity to live in proximity to other honors students. Resident Advisors on honors floors are DHC students, and the LLC regularly participates in a wide range of honors-oriented activities.

DHC students are active in honors education at the regional and national levels. NCHC is held in the fall each year and WRHC in spring. WRHC publishes Scribendi a regional literary/creative scholarship magazine which accepts submissions each fall. The University of Montana hosted the regional honors conference March 30-April 1, 2023. 

The following Honor Societies for students of all majors are hosted and endorsed by the University of Montana. Those honors programs are:

• Alpha Lambda Delta
• Golden Key
• Mortar Board
• Phi Kappa Phi

In addition, there are many reputable Honor Societies at UM that are specific to a single academic discipline, such as Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Studies) and Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science). We would certainly encourage you to consider joining such an Honor Society if you are invited.

If you are invited to join an Honor Society that is not listed above, we advise you to consult the website of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). ACHS publishes a set of guidelines, "How to Judge the Credibility of an Honors Society." In general, you should only consider joining an Honor Society if you receive the invitation from a reputable source whose identity you can verify, such as a local UM chapter officer or advisor. 

A ‘coming together’ of the DHC community at the beginning of fall semester, convocation includes bingo, treats, time to connect with faculty, staff, students, and opportunities.

Join Dean Nichols and the DHC team for these monthly morning gatherings in the lounge. 

Dr. Hardy and Dean Nichols (aka Bruce and Tim) hike with students at 6:30 AM most Fridays during the semester. Watch the DHC’s Need to Know, and social media for the site and directions to the trail head. Hikes (which are sometimes more like strolls) are approximately 1.5 hours and everyone’s welcome.

A welcome event for the DHC family hosted by the DHC’s External Advisory Council.

Each year the DHC partners with the Montana Osher Lifelong Institute for an intergenerational book club focused on the Griz Read. This year’s text is Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass.

Share tea and conversation with Dean Nichols and the honors community at these informal monthly events. 

Trivia Nights, hosted by Student Success Coordinator Andy Josten, are both competitive and a lot of laughs.

Come share your talents with your honors friends – read a poem, sing a song, perform a skit, or just enjoy being part of the audience. These are always fun evenings, everyone’s welcome, and snacks are provided. 

Directed by Dr. Riley, this student group performs Americana music at DHC events throughout the semesters.

Our very own DHC ‘Friendsgiving’ held the Monday before Thanksgiving, it’s a time of gratitude and feasting for the honors community.

A February event highlighting exemplary work from students in previous semester’s Introduction to Honors course.

Held in March, the Evening of Excellence celebrates the individual and collective achievements of DHC students, faculty, and friends.

The DHC’s signature event for graduating seniors and their families is held on the eve of Commencement each semester. University Scholars are presented with DHC medallions signifying their successful completion of honors requirements. Faculty contributing to students’ success are also recognized.