Frequently Asked Questions

 

Frequently asked questions from parents, school counselors, and students.

 

GENERAL

The CHA is a three-week academic program held every June. Murray State University's main campus in Murray, KY. Students live and learn together with teachers from the area as they take college-level honors courses. Field trips, guest speakers , and professional artists performing are a few of the experiences students will take part in. Students will also take part in social and personal growth seminars.

  • Three weeks of academic and enrichment experience at Murray State
  • Six hours of tuition-free, transferable university credit
  • Receive an in-state full-tuition scholarship with a 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and a minimum 25 ACT Composite score. Students who do not meet this criteria will have the opportunity to receive the Academic Achievement scholarship for First-time Freshmen students.Learn more about scholarships →
  • Work with other honor students and university faculty in a campus environment

Absolutely! Those of you who attend CHA are under no obligation to attend Murray State University. You will still get to participate in every aspect of the Academy, and you can transfer the received college-level credit to the school of your choice.

For the Commonwealth Honors Academy you should have a 3.5 GPA (on a 4 point scale) and a 25 Composite ACT score (or the equivalent PSAT, SAT, or another standardized test score). High school juniors throughout Kentucky as well as the Murray State out-of-state service region* are invited to apply.

* The Out-of-State Service Region includes the following state's counties:
Tennessee: Henry, Montgomery, Obion, Stewart, and Weakley Counties
Illinois: Massac County
Indiana: Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties

The Murray State Scholarship Office uses an SAT score of 1200 as an equivalency to an ACT score of 25.

The deadline for applications is March 1 of each year. Please note this is a postmark deadline. If March 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be the following Monday.

Please fill out the electronic student application found on theCHA homepage. Questions may be directed tomsu.cha@murraystate.eduor by calling the Honors Office at270.809.3166

The two programs share many characteristics; indeed, CHA was founded by former GSP administrators and faculty.
  • Both programs are for outstanding high school juniors.
  • Both programs seek to develop a living-learning community.
However, there are several distinct differences:
Commonwealth Honors Academy Governor’s Scholars Program
Three-week program on the Murray State campus Five-week program on several campuses in Kentucky
Available to students from Kentucky and out of state Only open to Kentucky residents
No more than 120 students 300-350 students per campus
Graduates receive an in-state full-tuition scholarship with a 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and a minimum 25 ACT Composite score. Students who do not meet this criteria will have the opportunity to receive the Academic Achievement scholarship for First-time Freshmen students.Learn more about scholarships → Graduates offered scholarships of varying amounts at many major universities in Kentucky
$250 tuition processing fee* No cost except for personal expenses

*Tuition processing fee waived if student receives free or reduced student lunch, or receives an ACT fee waiver.

The Academy lasts for three weeks including weekends. Evening and weekend activities include extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

You will be assigned to an Interdisciplinary Humanities and Fine Arts (IDHFA) course and to one elective in Business, Science, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, Social Science, Communications, or Engineering.

Yes. This is necessary to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requirements, so that you may be awarded college-level credit for their courses. It is also essential in building the community that is so integral a part of the Commonwealth Honors Academy.

You will be notified by letter regarding their acceptance by mid April. Any applicant who has not received notification by that date should contact the Honors Office at270.809.3166.

While there is no charge for your meals and lodging, you will often want to order take-out later in the evenings (pizza and Chinese are popular choices). You may wish to bring some spending money for personal expenses. It is up to the parents and students to determine a reasonable amount of money to bring with them. ATM machines are available in the University student center.

All students, faculty and staff are housed in one residential college for the entire three weeks. CHA has exclusive use of the building. While the faculty are not required to live in the residential college, most of them do reside on a floor separate from you. Male and female students live on separate floors, and visitation is not permitted. The first floor lobby (and second floor lobby when available) is reserved for coed interactions.

During classes, seminars, and other events, attendance is taken and any missing student found. You will be well informed of the expectations about attendance and what to do in an emergency . You will also know what to do if you are sick and cannot attend an event, program, or class. At the start of the Academy, you will walk the perimeter of the campus and will know exactly where you are able to go and not go. Within the residential colleges, a trained resident counselor lives on each wing and watches 14-20 students. You will also have a curfew each day when you must be in the building and on your respective floors. NOTE: Detailed information about safety and security is on the Safety and Security Information Form. All accepted students and their parents will receive this in the initial mailing.

Each application is assigned a file. The application is first screened by the Murray State Honors Program staff to determine if the application is complete and minimum criteria are met. A few days after the application deadline, applications are read and scored by screening committees to determine the rank of applicants. By mid April, rankings will be established and applicants notified of their status. All applicants will then be notified by letter that they are either: accepted, rejected, or placed on an "alternate" list. Accepted students are asked to reply within two weeks to determine if they are going to attend CHA. Alternate students may be notified any time up to and including the first day of the Academy if space becomes available.

PARENTS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS

The CHA is a three-week academic program held every June. Murray State University's main campus in Murray, KY is where the program is held. Students live and learn together with teachers from the area as they take college-level honors courses. Field trips, guest speakers, and professional artists performing are a few of the experiences students will take part in. Students will also take part in social and personal growth seminars.

Students must
  • be high school juniors who are at least 16 by the beginning of the academy,
  • maintain a 3.5 GPA on a 4 point scale, and
  • Have received a 25 composite on their ACT (or corresponding scores on the ACT Aspire, PSAT, or SAT).

The application deadline is March 15.

Yes. Each student takes two college honors courses during the academy, for which they receive a total of 6 credit hours.

Yes. Each course during the academy and any courses taken during their senior year will transfer to any accredited college or university. That institution will determine what type of course it replaces at their institution.

Students will live in a college residential hall with a roommate. They will also use dining services, and learn how to navigate a campus. Students will be introduced to college-level material and honors courses. The expectation is that they complete their homework, and learn time management skills.

Faculty members are experienced high school and college teachers who come from local high schools and universities. All of the faculty have at least a master’s degree in the area in which they teach and many have doctoral degrees.

Yes, if the difference is negligible. Students who fully meet all the criteria will be given preference in the selection procedure, but students who have a slightly lower GPA or ACT score may still be considered.

The CHA Administrative Team creates a community where students from different schools, states, and interests interact with each other. To achieve that healthy mix students are first assigned to elective classes. The CHA Administrative Team tries to give the student their first or second choice. Maintaining geographic and gender balance is part of the final decision. Students are then assigned to their Interdisciplinary Humanities and Fine Arts Class (IDHFA), and Seminar. The residential hall room assignments make every attempt to achieve a geographic and academic balance. Students from the same high school are never assigned to the same room.

Each class and seminar ranges in size from 14 to 20 students.

During the week, students take two classes a day. They spend about 5-6 hours per day in the classroom or on short field excursions. One day per week (in each of the first two weeks) there is an all-day co-curricular activity. Possible activities include field trips for biological research, a trip to an opera, or art museum. On weekends and during the evenings, students attend concerts, lectures, and performances. They can engage in after-school games, service activities, and talent shows. If they choose to they may take part in personal development forums and seminars.

Students with a 3.5 cumulative high school GPA and a minimum 25 ACT Composite score will receive an in-state full-tuition scholarship. Out-of-state students will be responsible for the difference between in-state rates and the rate for their home state.View tuition rates
Students who do not meet this criteria will have the opportunity to receive the Academic Achievement scholarship for First-time Freshmen students.
Learn more about scholarships

If a student has scheduled to take the ACT during the Academy they should:
  • Notify the CHA office at270.809.3166
  • Request a change in site (to the Murray State campus) from ACT.
  • Do NOT schedule the written portion of the test.

 

STUDENTS

Accepted students will receive instructions to download the following documents from the CHA website:
  • Consent and Release Medical Form
  • Medical Release (The local hospital requires this form.)
  • Learning Contract
  • Publicity Information and Authorization of Use Form
  • Elective Class Choice Form
  • T-Shirt Size Request Form
  • Campus Safety and Security Information
  • What will I need?

If you are certain you do not want to participate, you are asked to sign and return the "Notice of Non-Attendance Form" received with your acceptance letter as quickly as possible so that alternates may be notified.

Those of you who accept the offer to attend will receive an email in the middle of May (sent to the email address included on the application). This will include your class assignments and a schedule for Opening/Move-in Day.

Casual clothes are usually sufficient for class activities. You will be expected to wear business casual clothing for speakers, concerts, and the final banquet. You also have the opportunity to attend church services during the three weeks of the Academy. You will not NEED money for meals or admissions. You may, however, wish to bring money for pizza or souvenirs. You are not to bring televisions, video games, and/or automobiles.

If you are scheduled to take the ACT during the Academy you should:
  • Notify the CHA office at270.809.3166
  • Request a change in site (to the Murray State campus) from ACT.
  • Do NOT schedule the written portion of the test.

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