University Honors Program Update Provost’s Executive Council September 24, 1998

Overview of Initiatives Academic Program Review Making Honors an Intellectual Crucible Bringing Chairs and Deans into the Loop and Expanding the Faculty Base Revising the Alison Scholars Program Enhancing the Academic Experience Rethinking Program Governance Expanding Academic Advising

Academic Program Review Goals: Carefully examine content, structure, and size of the program (including course size) Identify program gaps and get concrete suggestions on addressing them Provide input to a 3-5 year strategic plan Self-Study already under way Writing Fellows Program being rethought

Academic Program Review Make-up of Review Team 3 external members Attempting to get honors director at Indiana University, member of Boyer Report Committee (or other prominent staff at Carnegie Foundation), and faculty in humanities from liberal arts institution 3 internal members Carol Hoffecker has already agreed Review will occur in spring

An Intellectual Crucible Goal 1: Make Honors Program the context for intellectual experimentation in teaching and learning—it’s the legacy Goal 2: Make Honors Program a model for integrating curricular and co-curricular with research, study abroad, or internships, in an interdisciplinary environment

An Intellectual Crucible Increase visibility of advanced honors certificate Make completing Honors Degree more attractive Re-emphasize Honors Forum courses as avenue for experimentation and recruitment of additional faculty

Chairs, Deans, and Faculty Two major problems in past: Insufficient communication with Chairs and Deans “Exclusive” nature of the Honors Faculty Problems being rapidly addressed by Ann Ardis, who has been meeting with Chairs of all Departments that have Honors Degrees or significant number of courses

Chairs, Deans, and Faculty Goals: Deal with Chairs, not individual faculty, in negotiating honors courses Significantly broaden base of faculty who teach honors courses Make teaching honors courses a reward; end “entitlements” Keep Deans informed of programmatic issues

Alison Scholars Program Current Alison Scholars Program is not living up to expectations Focus groups and discussions were conducted during Spring 1998 Proposed new program: Selection would occur at end of first year Alison Scholars would have same status as Dean’s Scholar in terms of flexibility in constructing majors

Enhancing the Experience Existing co-curricular activity is working well and is strongly supported by students Gaps in co-curricular programming (e.g., lecture series, etc.) need to be addressed to compete with top rank institutions

Enhancing the Experience Proposal being developed by Bill Frawley, Alvina Quintana, Ann Gibson, and others to create 1- or 2-semester sequences of related public events Additional ideas include resumption of University Forum series, linkages to departmental colloquia, and more faculty programs in residence halls

Enhancing the Experience Expand current opportunities for trips sponsored by Honors Program but open to all UD students, especially to faculty-led programs (e.g., art exhibitions) Working with Development Office on fund raising to endow these activities where appropriate

Rethinking Governance Currently have two groups: Honors Advisory Committee Honors Faculty Committee Role and function of each is unclear and overlapping Will be a focus of the APR

Expanding Advising Primary academic advising for Honors students done by faculty (e.g., 44 faculty advised 522 incoming students at NSO this year) supplemented by staff Numbers of faculty advisors has been increased by 30% since 1996, with focus on senior faculty

Concluding Points New leadership has re-invigorated the program APR likely to chart new directions to strengthen program Broader faculty base identified through Chairs will connect honors degree programs to departments Honors will play major role in creating exciting learning opportunities