Out with the Old, In with SVC Honors

SVC Rolls Out New Honors Program for Fall 2026

By Mariano Jimenez, Staff Writer

*Originally published on September 22^nd, 2025

For the past several years, the Saint Vincent College (SVC) Honors Community has been comprised of the Aurelius Scholars, Benedictine Leadership Studies, Fred Rogers Scholars, Honors Scholars, and STEP Scholars programs. Even though the six programs were different in terms of scope and focus, they all functioned as a community. However, the similar names between the Honors Community and the Honors Scholars program created confusion amongst the student body. Members of the Honors Community were unsure if they were also members of the Honors Scholars program, or just the Honors Community. To combat this, the Honors Community’s new director, Dr. Jerome Foss, a professor of Politics and Endowed Professor of Catholic Thought and Culture, decided to implement changes to the way the Honors Community will function for the class of 2030.

The most notable changes, reflected in the SVC website, is that the old Honors Community and Honors Scholars program are being retired in favor of a new one. Renamed as SVC Honors, the program will operate on a pathway system and introduces two new programs into the mix:

“They are Faith, Science and Technology, and SEEK,” Foss said. “Fred Rogers and STEP Scholars will be invited to participate in SVC Honors courses and events, but from here on out, SVC Honors will have four pathways—Aurelius Scholars of the Great Books led by Dr. Jacob Boros, Benedictine Leadership Studies led by Dr. Michael Krom, Faith, Science, and Technology led by Dr. Jason Vohs, and SEEK (Service, Exploration, Experience, and Knowledge) and will be led by Dr. Christopher McMahon.”

The new SVC Honors program will be implemented in Fall 2026. (SOURCE: stvincent.edu)

Regardless of the pathway chosen, all SVC Honors students will take Tier I Core classes together while participating in academic, social, and service opportunities with the students taking action as a community. As students advance in their studies, they will progressively enroll in more classes and work related to their chosen pathway, especially during Core Tier II, which will culminate in a pathway-specific Capstone Seminar. This new program will begin in the fall semester of 2026, and there will be a significant increase in the number of Tier I Core courses offered.

Other specific opportunities that will be kept or added will include Aurelius Scholars reading groups. Boros is currently working on a seminar that will provide a deep analysis of specific texts. Benedictine Leadership Studies, however, will still remain the same with the Rome Capstone Seminar. Vohs has in line several events and trips for Faith, Science, and Technology students that will allow them to think about how their faith affects the way they see, practice, and approach science. McMahon is planning to build on existing seminars and courses while adding new service and learning opportunities for students.

  When asked how he sees this program in ten years, Dr. Foss answered, “Ten years from now, I hope we will be recognized for having one of the top Honors Programs in the nation and that other liberal arts schools will be seeking our advice.”