HONORS COLLEGE

1. HONORS COLLEGE Vision Paper http://www.iupui.edu/~fcouncil/ IFC Meeting, 5/6/08

2. Background • Task Force Appointed – October 2007 • Melissa Biddinger, Scott Evenbeck, Kathy Johnson, Ted Mullen, Simon Rhodes, Frank Ross, Marianne Wokeck • Data from peer institutions reviewed • Site visits– Nov & December ‘07 • University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Illinois Chicago, IU Bloomington, Purdue University – West Lafayette • Vision paper drafted – January 2008 • February – May, 2008 – Dissemination of draft/solicitation of feedback from IUPUI community • Honors Program External Review – April, 2008

3. Peer Comparisons – Honors Programs

4. Peer Comparisons – Honors Colleges

5. Peer Comparisons - Space and Staffing

6. Core Values • Must reflect campus-wide strengths in the Health and Life Sciences, as well as the Arts and Humanities • Curricular requirements must be flexible to accommodate the diversity of majors and programs at IUPUI • Degrees should NOT be granted by Honors College • Students expected to engage in research and other creative endeavors as well as service and are encouraged to study abroad • Must recruit and retain a diverse student body

7. Internal Meetings: Spring 2008 • Vision Paper shared w/ 18 units across campus that are engaged in undergraduate education • Units asked: • How do you see an Honors College articulating with your school/unit? Are there conflicts between your departmental honors program and the university-wide General Honors notation requirements? • What are the primary advantages and disadvantages of an IUPUI Honors College? • If there are disadvantages, how can they be alleviated? • When resources are tight, how can an expanded Honors Program help to grow resources?

8. Recommendations • Curriculum: 24 credit hours of honors coursework • Honors coursework and completion of honors requirements should be clearly noted on transcript • Faculty: should be compensated for honors instruction • honors instruction should be included in standard teaching load (not overload) • multi-year contracts with units would help stabilize the curriculum • Space: central location on campus would be ideal (has been added to Master Plan list) • “College” status would heighten visibility, but would not represent a significant change in programming • Immediate objective: thoughtful increase in student participation (including continuing/transfer students)

9. Growing the Honors Program • Automatic admission for students receiving Top Scholarships (implemented in 2006) • Bepko, Herbert Presidential, Plater Distinguished Scholars, Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholars, Honors Scholars, and Academic Excellence Scholars • Partnering with Enrollment Services in the recruitment of high ability students • Increased numbers of scholarships for continuing/transfer students are being considered • Honors Professional Admissions Program • Instituted by AY 08-09 recruiting year • Preferred admission to graduate and professional programs across campus (contact: Melissa Biddinger) • Continue to grant honors credit for research and study abroad experiences – Honors Program is an ideal context for promoting the ‘RISE’ initiative • Grow curriculum (particularly ‘dedicated’ honors courses) through course development funds and through creative repurposing of existing opportunities (Cutting Edge Lecture Series; Indiana Leadership Seminar)