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The USI Honors Program

The USI Honors Program. Presentation to the USI Foundation Board of Directors Dane M. Partridge, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Management Director, Honors Program November 17, 2005. Mission.

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The USI Honors Program

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  1. The USI Honors Program Presentation to the USI Foundation Board of Directors Dane M. Partridge, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Management Director, Honors Program November 17, 2005

  2. Mission “The Honors Program will support our continuing effort to improve educational opportunities for all university students and will encourage more highly motivated students to reach their full potential in the classroom, the larger campus, and the wider community.”

  3. Background • Program admitted first students Fall 1998 • First University Honors Scholars graduated May 2001 • 53 University Honors Scholarshave graduated to this point • To date, ~ 600 students have been accepted into Program • Presently, ~ 260 students currently enrolled at USI are in Program

  4. Admission • 1200+ SAT or 27+ ACT automatically accepted upon application (w/3.0+ hs gpa) • Others may apply (GPA, class rank, etc.) • 1998-2005, number of “automatic qualifiers” applying to USI increased 117% • USI is increasingly a “school of choice” for top students in IN, as well as IL and KY!

  5. Program • Enhanced opportunities • Smaller classes • Priority registration • Honors housing • Theme floors now Living Learning Communities • Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) • Designation on Diploma

  6. Requirements • 21 hours Honors credit coursework (~3 hrs/semester), “A” or “B”, 3.25 overall GPA • Hons 101: Issues for the 21st Century • University core/major • Honors sections, Honors contracts • Senior synthesis • Service learning requirement pending • “Broader in scope/greater in depth”

  7. Student Status (through Spring 2005)

  8. Distribution of Continuing Students, by School (and most common majors)

  9. Incoming Freshmen (“Automatic Qualifiers”) [1]“Accepted” as of August 16, 2005; “enrolled” and “joined” as of August 17, 2005. Note that 33 of the 130 enrolled had a HS GPA < 3.0, which would lead to a deferral of an application to the Honors Program; the adjusted ‘join rate’ is 52%.

  10. Conclusions re: Mission, Purpose, Goals, and Expectations • For students: • Improved and expanded educational opportunities (esp in form of independent study and tutorial relationships with faculty) • Honors Living-Learning Community • Distinction of graduation as University Honors Scholar • Identification with community of motivated students • For faculty: • Challenges and rewards provided by working with intellectually capable and highly motivated students • For University: • Assists in attraction of talented students and recognition of academic excellence

  11. Toward NCHC “Fully-Developed Honors Program” • Important foundation laid in Program’s first seven years • Identifying targeted student population by clearly articulated set of criteria • Clear mandate from institutional administration • Program Director reports to Assistant VPAA • Program requirements involve substantial portion of participants’ coursework • Establishment of Honors Faculty Council and Student Council

  12. Toward NCHC “Fully-Developed Honors Program” • Mixed progress re: • Program’s visibility and reputation in terms of providing standards and models of excellence • Anecdotal evidence suggests Program becoming better known and supported • Faculty participation and selection • More faculty members need to become involved in teaching Honors courses • Academic advising • Many Honors students have made minimal use of Honors advisors • Laboratory for innovation • Most Honors courses involve contract sections of existing Core • Opportunities for Honors students to participate in regional and national conferences • Lilly Initiative will provide funding, including Study Abroad

  13. Toward NCHC “Fully-Developed Honors Program” • Items needing attention: • Honors curriculum featuring special courses, seminars, colloquia, and independent study • Most Honors courses to this point involve contract sections of existing Core • Program formulation relating to areas of concentration • Ditto • Suitable quarters constituting an Honors center with such facilities such as an Honors library, lounge, reading rooms, PCs, and other appropriate décor

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