Lindner Honors-PLUS Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS?

Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS is an undergraduate, business honors program in the College of Business at the University of Cincinnati leading to a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

The program brings together the resources of the College of Business, the University Honors Scholars Program, and Cincinnati's businesses to offer a demanding academic experience. The program's goal is to graduate successful business professionals with the potential to become future business leaders. A business honors curriculum is integrated with professional work experience, study abroad opportunities, and volunteerism training to accomplish this goal.

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Are scholarships available?

All students admitted to Lindner Honors-PLUS receive merit scholarships sufficient to cover all (in-state) academic and general fees. The 2004-2005 merit award will cover full in-state tuition and fees, renewable (by meeting program requirements and expectations) up to a maximum 12 quarters of academic study.

If the student is eligible for a Cincinnatus Scholarship, the total award for the Freshman Year will be the amount of full in-state tuition and fees plus the Cincinnatus award (minimum $2,000). For the sophomore year and beyond, Lindner Honors-PLUS will supplement the Cincinnatus award to cover full in-state tuition and fees.

While Lindner Honors-PLUS is not a traditional honors program, it has all the features of one. For example, students live together in an honors dorm and study in small sections, with their colleagues in Lindner Honors-PLUS and University Honors Scholars. This creates a community of scholars helping each other realize their maximum potential and develops friendships that will last a lifetime. In addition, Lindner Honors-PLUS has several features that set it apart from traditional honors programs.

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Who is eligible (what are the eligibility requirements)?

To be eligible a candidate must:

  • Apply using the Lindner Honors-PLUS Application Form and apply for admission using the University of Cincinnati Application for Undergraduate Admission. Completed forms should be received by January 15 of the applicant's senior year.
  • Be eligible to graduate from High School prior to enrollment in the Lindner Honors-PLUS Program.
  • Meet the requirements for admission to the University of Cincinnati as a freshman in the College of Business.

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What features set Lindner Honors-PLUS apart?

  1. Students are required to participate in an expanded co-operative education and work program (co-op) with over 50 companies in Cincinnati and elsewhere. Each student acquires about 2 years of professional work experience prior to graduation, earns income as a co-op employee, and enhances his or her earning potential at graduation. The first work period is during the summer after the freshman year. Students begin an alternate quarter co-op work/school rotation beginning at the end of the sophomore year. Many students work part-time with their employers during the academic terms. Professionals from the companies serve as mentors for the students.
  2. Lindner Honors-PLUS students are required to study abroad and experience first-hand the global nature of today's business world. The Lindner Honors-PLUS Study Abroad Program is a month-long program designed to provide its students with the opportunity to:
    • experience first-hand the global nature of today's business world
    • study with faculty native to the region being visited
    • visit with both US and foreign firms who are operating in the region being visited
    • discuss with US citizens working in the region their experiences while working abroad
    • experience the history and culture of the region being visited
    • become more comfortable with traveling and living abroad

    Lindner Honors-PLUS students are also encouraged to participate in other study abroad opportunities offered by the College of Business or the University of Cincinnati.

  3. Lindner Honors-PLUS is a business honors program that operates in collaboration with a university-wide honors program, University Honors Scholars (UHS). All Lindner Honors-PLUS students are automatically admitted to UHS. As a result students take 25-50% of their courses in honors sections with their colleagues in Lindner Honors-PLUS and/or UHS. Students become part of a community of scholars working together to encourage and facilitate each other.
  4. Lindner Honors-PLUS has partnered with the Leadership Cincinnati Program of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce to provide a student version of its program. Leadership Cincinnati is designed to prepare top executives to be effective community citizens. Alumni of Leadership Cincinnati volunteer their time to help educate Lindner Honors-PLUS students regarding community service. Emphasis is placed on a variety of topics including:
    • Why companies and business leaders place a high priority on community service
    • Helping students identify opportunities to participate in the community
    • Enhancing each student's knowledge of how Cincinnati operates as community

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What about employment opportunities?

Lindner Honors-PLUS is a new program whose inaugural class successfully graduated in June 2002. Graduates have accepted jobs prior to graduation in brand management at P&G, corporate finance at Federated, information systems at AC Nielsen BASES, as well as many others. The median starting salary for the Class of 2003 was about $47,500. One-third of graduates received signing bonuses. Over 50 companies hire our students as interns or co-ops and each employer receives the resume of each graduating senior. Lindner Honors-PLUS is a visible program within the business community and job opportunities should continue to be excellent. For example, see below:

“We look to Honors-PLUS to graduate future generations of leaders for our companies, for Cincinnati's businesses, and for the Greater Cincinnati community.”

- Mr. Carl H. Lindner, Chairman and CEO, American Financial Group.

“P&G is supporting Lindner Honors-PLUS financially, our employees will be active as mentors for Lindner Honors-PLUS students, and we look forward to recruiting its graduates.”

- Mr. Robert L. Wehling, Global Marketing Officer, The Procter & Gamble Company

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How do I apply?

Complete the Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Application Form, which is available via the College of Business website as a download [PDF: 2,377KB] or from:

Mr. Scott Gregory
Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS
College of Business
University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210020
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0020.

Mr. Gregory can be reached by email or by phone at (513)556-7037.

The deadline for admission is January 15.

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What is considered during the admission decision?

Lindner Honors-PLUS seeks academically strong students who have demonstrated leadership potential. Selection decisions are based on both 'Honors' criteria (e.g., test scores, grade point averages, and class ranking, and 'PLUS' criteria, such as: Promise as a business professional; Leadership in school and community activities; Understanding of the global marketplace and diverse cultures; and Success through talent, commitment, dedication, and effort.

Lindner Honors-PLUS seeks to attract students whose academic measures place them in the top 10 percent nationally, whose extracurricular activities indicate excellent leadership potential, and who are motivated to become business and community leaders. Only 25-30 freshman and 4-7 transfer students are admitted each year with about 80% from Greater Cincinnati.

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What is the Study Abroad Program Like?

Lindner Honors-PLUS students are required to study abroad and experience first-hand the global nature of today's business world. This requirement is met in several ways. First, the honors sections of the business courses stress the global aspect of business. Second, each Lindner Honors-PLUS student is required to participate in the Lindner Honors-PLUS study abroad program. Third, Lindner Honors-PLUS students are encouraged to participate in other study abroad opportunities offered by the College of Business or the University of Cincinnati.

The Lindner Honors-PLUS Study Abroad Program is designed to provide its students with the opportunity to:

  • Experience first-hand the global nature of today's business world.
  • Study with faculty native to the region being visited.
  • Visit with both U.S. and foreign firms who are operating in the region being visited.
  • Discuss with US citizens working in the region what it means to be a US citizen working abroad.
  • Experience the history and culture of the region being visited.
  • Become more comfortable with traveling and living abroad.

Examples of the Study Abroad Program

Summer 2003 Program

The students who entered Honors-PLUS in September 2000 completed their study abroad program in August and September 2003. The quarter started in late June, with the first seven weeks being spent in coursework at UC and in a seminar intended to prepare students for the trip.

In early August, the students flew to Paris, France. After a free weekend in Paris, they flew to Helsinki, Finland and then traveled by bus to Tampere, Finland. Here, they studied for two weeks at the University of Tampere (focused on doing business in the Nordic countries), visited Nokia and a glass factory, and experienced Finnish history and culture. They were free to travel on the intervening weekend.

On Friday of the second week, the students flew to Paris and boarded a high-speed train for Amsterdam. A free weekend in Amsterdam was followed by a fast paced schedule of company visits. Seven companies, including Damen Shipyards, Siemens, and the Netherlands Central Bank, were visited in four days, where students were exposed to a variety of businesses and learned from numerous executive business leaders. The students then traveled by high-speed train to Paris, then on to Geneva, Switzerland, where many of the students took advantage of the free weekend by exploring the beautiful landscape Switzerland has to offer. The students then visited the World Trade Organization, met with a representative of the European Union, and visited P&G's Western-Europe headquarters. After a last free-day in Geneva, students then either returned to Cincinnati or continued to travel on their own.

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