History of Honors Education

Modified: 2023-11-02 8:55 PM CDST

The history of honors education in the United States begins in Britain. After World War II it became popular in the United States. Today nearly 900 colleges and universities are members of the National Collegiate Honors Council. Those include higher education institutions of all types.

Rationale

• The ideal honors college is a place where students come to learn from experienced professors
• Unlike regular students, honors students usually have career goals in mind as early as their first year in college
• They also speed through their undergraduate years thanks in large part to bringing college credits with them from high school from AP classes, CLEP classes, dual enrollment via articulation agreements, and summer school.
  • Thus, they often have a head start in their chase for the required credits to graduate.
• Competition for students with better academic potential has caused many American colleges and universities to found Honors Colleges in order not to miss our on recruiting those students.
• In the United States Honors Colleges can be found at all levels and in public and private settings

History

• Oxford Tutorial System/Cambridge Supervision System
  • Early method of teaching at Oxford and Cambridge ("Oxbridge"). Involves student preparation prior and regular meetings alone or in very small groups
  • Still practiced today.
  • May date to the 11th Century
  • In 19th century Benjamin Jowett made it the universal method of instruction at Oxford
• Clarence Crane Brinton describes British education in 1925, he noted:
  • British students arrived at college with more advanced high school education
  • Program was three years and students took a relatively easy exam halfway through
  • Their final exams were comprehensive, written and oral, and difficult
• American Honors Colleges
  • Swarthmore College Honors Program (private college)
    • Founded 1922 by Frank Aydelotte
    • Imitated Oxford
  • Clark Honors College-University of Oregon
    • Founded in 1960
  • NCHC
    • Founded in 1966
    • Almost 900 Honors Colleges and Honors Programs
  • Benefits and Disadvantages
    • Benefits
      • Smaller classes
      • Better education
      • Priority registration
      • Honors housing
      • Honors credentials (diploma, transcript) may lead to admission to better graduate schools and professional schools
      • Helps the university (higher average GPA, better academic reputation)
      • Apply during freshman and sophomore year
    • Disadvantages
      • Not all courses will be honors level
      • During times of budget crisis honors might make tempting target for cuts
      • Resources and bureaucracy affect honors students the same as regular students
      • Resentment from other non-honors students
      • Stress on academics may change the college experience
  • SAU Honors College History
    • Founded in 2003 by Dr. David Rankin, President of SAU
      • The first new residence hall had just been completed and a colleague of Rankin suggested that he found an Honors College and an Honors Hall dormitory.
    • He did so and Dr. Lynne Belcher served as the founding director from then to 2009.
    • Here is Dean Don Watt's e-mail from December 4, 2002

      • From: Donald Watt
        Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2002 3:47 PM
        Subject: Honors College - Programs
        
        This afternoon at Deans' Council, I was asked by the VPAA to get input from LPA faculty regarding whether or not we would like to see and Honors College or Honors Programs at SAU.  I need this prior to next Wednesday's Deans' Council meeting.
        
        Please give me your thoughts (brief or comprehensive) as to whether or not you would like to see SAU start: 
        
        An Honors College (more comprehensive program)
        An Honors Programs (departmental honors)
        Some other type of Honors opportunities.
        Thanks for your help.  Good luck with finals!
        
        Don

    • Dr. Edward P. Kardas was named director in 2009 and continues to hold that position.

Admission

• Admission policies vary widely among Honors Colleges but most will require highACT or SAT scores, high high school GPAs, and letters of recommendation.
  • SAU admits high school students with composite ACTs of 30 or higher (and equivalent SATs) automatically
  • SAU admits Hallman Scholars and Presidential scholars automatically
  • SAU asks high school applicants with ACTs of less than 30 (and equivalent SATs) to submit two letters of recommendation and two essays based on the following prompts:
    1. One from a high school class
    2. One from either of these two prompts:
       1. What two classes should every college student take? Why? OR
       2. Describe a current problem or social issue that you consider important. Explain why.
  • An analysis revealed that potential students choose from the two prompts at nearly a 50:50 ratio

Graduation

• Nearly all SAU students admitted to the Honors College graduate but not all as Honors College graduates.
• Graduates must earn a GPA of 3.25 or better and earn at least 24 honors hours
• The record for most honors hours earned is held by Austin McDonald with 60 honors hours!

Fund Raising

• Fund raising is part of the job description of honors directors and assistant directors
• Soon, the SAU Foundation will open an online fund raising drive to raise $20,000 in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the SAU Honors Colleg
  • Already, nearly $3000 dollars has been raised as "seed" money
  • Two students will be featured in a short video that will be sent to ALL SAU Honors College grads

After

• Graduate, go to postgraduate school, get a job, and SEND MONEY back to the Honors College. Be sure specify "Honors College" in Gift Designation Radio Button marked "Other"

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