Honors Contracts

Many students in the Honors Program choose to do an Honors contract, an agreement to carry out an independent study project designed in consultation with the instructor, in any course they choose. Students enjoy this option because it allows them to individualize virtually any course and become better acquainted with UMKC faculty members. If you complete an Honors contract in a particular class, you cannot obtain more Honors credit for the class through an Honors Discussion Group.

Honors contract ideas

Honors Contract - KUALI FORMS

Honors Contract Completion Form - KUALI FORMS

In order to be accepted, contracts and completion forms must be completed by the student AND signed by the instructor by the due date. You will receive an email notification from UMKC Workflow Notifications when the instructor has signed the form. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with their instructor(s) about timely completion of these forms prior to the due date. 

How to contract for Honors credit

  • Think of a project you want to do for a course you are enrolled in.
    • This project should extend and supplement the learning goals of the course. For example, you may wish to write a paper, carry out research, conduct an experiment, make an oral presentation, engage in a community service project or organize a tutorial group.
    • Any undergraduate course at UMKC in which you are currently enrolled for a letter grade may serve as the basis of an Honors Contract, subject to the approval of the instructor teaching the course. Physical Education courses are ineligible for honors contracts.
  • Approach the professor with your idea and discuss the added work to be completed under the Honors Contract.
  • Fill out the Honors Contract form via Kuali Forms. After completing your portion, the digital form will get routed to your instructor for their digital signature. Once both the student and instructor sections are completed, the digital form is routed to the Honors Office Team for processing!
    • It is your responsibility to communicate with your professor about the timely completion of the form before the due date. You are encouraged to follow up with your instructor as needed via email or during their scheduled student hours to ensure the form is submitted before the deadline. We recommend submitting your contracts and completion forms at least a week before the due date to allow plenty of time for instructor review. 

Honors Contract Completion Forms

  • When you have completed the work needed to fulfill the Honors Contract, fill out the digital completion form, via Kuali Forms . Once completed, the form will route to your instructor for their signature, and then is routed to the Honors office team for processing! 
  • A course grade of B or higher is needed for Honors credit to be awarded.
    • It is your responsibility to communicate with your professor about the timely completion of the form before the due date. You are encouraged to follow up with your instructor as needed via email or during their scheduled student hours to ensure the form is submitted before the deadline. We recommend submitting your contracts and completion forms at least a week before the due date to allow plenty of time for instructor review. 

Due Dates

Honors Contracts

  • Honors must received your signed contract before the due date. Contracts submitted on time but not signed by the instructor will not be approved unless an extension is requested in advance. 
  • Signed Honors Contracts are due within the first four weeks of the semester. The Fall 2026 deadline for contract submissions are as follows:
    • All full-semester courses and first 8-week session courses - Contracts due Friday September 18, 2026 at 11:59PM
    • 2nd 8-week session - Contracts due Friday November 13, 2026 at 11:59PM
  • Summer Honors Contracts are due July 1st.
    • The Summer 2026 deadline for Summer Honors Contracts is Wednesday July 1st, 2026 at 11:59PM

Honors Completion Forms

  • ALL signed completion forms, regardless of if the course was full-semester or an 8-week session, are due no later than the Tuesday following final exam week.
    • The Fall 2026 deadline for completion form submissions is Tuesday December 22, 2026 at 11:59PM
  • Signed summer completion forms are due the first Tuesday in August. 
    • The Summer 2026 deadline for contract submissions is August 4th, 2026 at 11:59PM

Extension Requests

  • You will receive an email notification when your professor has signed the form. If it's almost the deadline and you are still waiting on the signature, request an extension by email honors@umkc.edu  prior to the due date.
    • Requests submitted in advance will be granted an immediate 72-hour extension without question, for any reason. If you need additional time, let us know. 
    • All extension requests must be received before the due date to be considered. Requests submitted after the due date will be denied.