The Honors Program: Going beyond the stereotype

By Emily Abel

From its humble beginning of 10 students to the current 675 enrolled, the Utah State University Honors Program has much to celebrate with its recent 50th anniversary.

Celebrations included a faculty-student social held in April, complete with birthday cake and a piñata. A push for donations to the Honors Half-Century Research Fund was also made with the goal to make the next 50 years as bright as the last. The scholarship aids Honors students in their research-related endeavors while at USU.

“I would like to be able to give every single honors student as much funding for research and academic work as I possibly can. We are trying to create students who are going to change the world and we want to give them the resources to do it,” said honors program director Dr. Kristine Miller.

Initiating and leading research projects suited to their interests is part of an honors student’s capstone or thesis project. As each student must complete a capstone, the demand for funding has increased dramatically as the program has expanded.

In addition to the capstone project, each honors student must earn a minimum of 28 honors points. Points are accumulated through successfully completing course credits or documenting extracurricular contracts and co-curricular activities. Students must also maintain 3.5 cumulative GPA to graduate with honors.

While the requirements are strenuous, being an honors student is not without benefits. Study abroad opportunities, priority registration, free prints, smaller class sizes and tighter professor-student relationships are all part of life as an Honors student.

“The academic side of honors is very clear, and I think that is the common stereotype. But there is also a whole community that I think is important and worthwhile,” said Honors Student Council president Joshua Smith.

Miller also spoke of the value of the honors community for students.

“All the students in the honors program are extremely talented and bright, and they’re doing all kinds of exciting, interesting, world-changing kinds of things. We try to create spaces for those students to meet each other and talk to each other to get that sense of support and community,” Miller said.

This tight-knit community is not limited to just students. Having honors courses capped at 25 pupils enables professors to join the network.

“The honors program is always trying to bring in different speakers and professors so we can have one-on-one conversations with them. A lot of focus is put on actual interpersonal connections,” said Honors Student Council member Shelby Ruud.

Another benefit to the honors program is extra advising help. In addition to their academic advisor, students meet with program coordinator Amber Summers-Graham to ensure they are getting the most they can out of each semester.

“Amber really cares about each student. I was signed up to take a breadth class that was going to end up being a throw-away class. But then Amber emailed me and got me into a smaller Honors class that helped me develop a valuable first-name basis relationship with a professor in my department,” Ruud said.

The 2014 academic year brought historic changes to the Honors Program. Previously, students received departmental honors specific to their major. The incoming freshmen of 2014, however are now experiencing university honors. Students still complete honors in their major, but the new program allows for more cross-disciplinary work.

“The idea is that you’re not here to just get a major, you’re here to learn about the world,” Smith said.

The honors program also underwent a change in leadership last year. Dr. Miller, professor of English at USU, took on the role of Honors Program Director. Dr. Miller is passionate about her new position and looks forward to seeing what USU students will accomplish.

“One of my goals is meeting each student individually. I’m trying to create a program that is a community on campus. Not just on any one department but across departments and colleges. A place where people around the university can meet and talk,” Miller said.

More information regarding the honors program can be found by contacting their office in building A of the LLC.

— emilyabel25@gmail.com