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FutureSTATE 2015

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FutureSTATE 2015 Progress Reports

Spring 2008

ENHANCE STUDENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Initiative: Increase course offerings and programming through the Shackouls Honors College, developing additional sections of honors courses and increasing staff to meet expanding program needs, and expand efforts to recruit and mentor future scholars and leaders through the Distinguished Scholars Program.

Achievements of the past year:

  • Spring 2007: Equipped and furnished 2 additional classrooms in Griffis; inaugural Conerly Honors Lecture (Rep. Lee Hamilton).
  • Summer 2007: Hired Associate Director (This is a half-time position charged with serving as Mentor to the Distinguished Scholars and Coordinator of the Honors Undergraduate Research Program).
  • Fall 2007: Secured recurring funding for Distinguished Scholars Program; funded 5 additional honors courses; Honors advising for freshmen; hired 2nd graduate assistant (shared with BCoE); second Conerly Honors Lecture (Dr. Steven Pinker).
  • Spring 2008: Reclassified Administrative Assistant II to Business Manager I; Funded 4 additional honors courses; launched Honors Undergraduate Research Program; third Conerly Honors Lecture (Hon. Antonin Scalia).

Goals for the next year: Fund 9 additional honors courses; grow the now fledgling Undergraduate Research Program; increase staff pending funding (convert half-time Associate Director to full-time; hire a master's level Honors advisor/recruiter).

Constraints to full implementation of this initiative: Shackouls endowment not yet completed.

Proposed modification of this initiative: None

Other comments: In the coming months, we will explore modifications to the entrance and participation requirements for the Honors College (raising the standards for admission and increasing participation requirements to a minimum of 24 hours of Honors coursework; requiring an internship, study abroad experience, senior honors thesis, or similar capstone experience).