To better meet the changing face of students and their ever-diverse needs, West Virginia University is rolling out a new Honors Program experience, complete with updated courses and a new home, in fall 2005.
With a record enrollment in the Honors Program, more students are taking advantage of the creative academic opportunities and resources the University has to offer, said Keith Garbutt, director and Eberly Family Professor.
High-achieving freshmen have swelled the roster of the WVU Honors Program, Garbutt noted. During fall 2004, a total of 354 entering first-year students were admitted, compared to 270 in last years class, bringing the total number of Honors students to 1,162, up from 918 last year.
In response to the growing enrollment, the Honors Program has developed innovative, increasingly challenging curriculum tracks for millennials . Under the new guidelines, students may choose from one of two paths to excellence: The Professional Scholar track provides an enhanced experience in a professional curriculum while the 21 st Century Scholar offers integrated studies courses and a third-year research methods class.
The goal is to go beyond the experience in the major,Garbutt explained.We are developing new, integrated courses of study that examine a whole range of a topic. Students would work primarily on a problem-based learning approach, taking a real-life problem and analyzing approaches to this issue.
Honors students will also be required to complete a final-year thesis, similar to a graduate thesis, as part of thecapstone experience.This paper is part of the mandatory 24 credit hours of designated Honors courses, which also count toward general University graduation requirements,
Besides these changes, first-year students may choose to live in Stalnaker Hall, the newly-designated Honors residence hall on the downtown campus. With two-bedroom suites and plenty of study areas, Stalnaker offers a comfortable setting conducive to learning, Garbutt said. Students will quickly build a community of friends who share common academic interests and goals.
What will not change, he said, is the mission of the WVU Honors Program: to provide enriched educational opportunities for the Universitys most gifted, promising and motivated undergraduate students through special courses, an Honors orientation and personalized academic advising with faculty mentors.
No matter what your interestaerospace engineering, creative writing, political science, singing opera, forensic identificationin the Honors Program, you will be exposed to new ideas, surpass your goals and start your path toward a successful future,Garbutt said.As an Honors student, you will study with faculty members who are both experts in their fields and outstanding teachers. They will help you become a member of a major research institution.
Honors students say they are reaping the benefits of the program in and out of the classroom. Reyna VanGilder, a 2004 graduate in biochemistry from Fairmont, said smaller class sizesmost are limited to 20 studentsallow a hands-on experience that promotes valuable discussion and debate.
Such a setting permits a closer student-teacher relationship, which I found highly beneficial when requesting letters of recommendation for scholarship, internship and graduate school applications,she said.
Justin Hoot, also a 2004 WVU graduate, found the Honors classes to be challenging.
As an Honors student, I have been able to meet professors who genuinely care about student learning,said the economics major from Wexford, Pa.The Honors Program taught me to ask questions and to never be content. Through my experiences with various teachers, I have been enticed to try new things and to always be thirsty for knowledge.
WVU Honors Program staff, student ambassadors and co-mentors are always willing to assist whether a student needs help facilitating research, identifying financial aid opportunities or simply adjusting to college life.
Angie Hartness of Parkersburg graduated last year with two degrees, a bachelors in foreign language and a masters in secondary education.
The greatest experience I had was working as a mentor for incoming freshmen,she said.The friendships and self-reflection that come from it are invaluable.
Garbutt said the goal of the program is to not only stretch studentsintellectual muscles, but also to encourage a love for lifelong learning. Honors students are urged to participate in a variety of non-classroom educational activities, ranging from national scholarship competitions to community service.
In addition to traditional courses, I have taken advantage of studying abroad and undergraduate research,VanGilder said.Experiences like these not only broaden ones horizons, but also set a higher standard of learning.
Garbutt noted that WVU s Honors Program has helped produce some of WVU s 25 Rhodes Scholars, 25 Goldwater Scholars, 16 Truman Scholars, five members of USA Todays All-USA College Academic First Team, two Udall Scholarship winners and two British Marshall Scholars.
Our professors will inspire students to achieve things they might not have imagined,he said.
He added that the University Honors Program seeks well-rounded, talented and highly-motivated students, not just those who perform well on standardized tests. Several factors are considered in admitting students to the program, including high school grades and community service experience.
To be considered for the program, students must meet one of the following criteria:
- 28 ACT or 1240 SAT with a 3.8 grade point average
- 31 ACT or 1360 SAT with a 3.5 GPA
- National Merit Semifinalist with a 3.5 GPA
- Designated WVU Presidential Scholar
If students fall just short of one of these criteria, they may apply for provisional status. Provisional students must achieve a 3.2 GPA during their first semester at WVU to qualify. Current WVU students may participate if they have a 3.7 GPA after completing 14-34 hours of course work with no withdrawals or incompletes.
WVU Honors Program on the Net:www.honors.wvu.edu