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UNT opens Honors College for Fall 2005
About 900 students are enrolled in UNT's Honors College for its inaugural year, which kicked off Aug. 1 with a celebration attended by dozens of faculty members, students and graduates.
The Honors College, which takes the place of the 11-year-old university honors program, is expected to elevate UNT's level of honors education nationally and make UNT even more attractive to the best and brightest students. The number of applicants increased 30 percent since the spring announcement that the honors program was transitioning into a college. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the new college in March.
The college's goal is to double the student enrollment in the college to include about 5 percent of undergraduates — compared to the previous participation rate of about 2.5 percent or about 600 to 650 students.
According to Gloria Cox, Honors College dean, one of the greatest changes from the previous program is the implementation of a two-tier program. It allows freshmen and sophomores to earn an honors certificate by completing 15 honors credits. Students may become "honors scholars" by completing nine additional honors credits, including a thesis or major project.
Other students or those transferring to UNT may earn the distinction "honors scholar" by completing 15 honors credits, including the thesis or major project.
The Honors College is also increasing the number of courses offered. The honors program offered 15 to 18 courses each semester, but the goal of the new college is to gradually increase the number to 50 courses per semester. For example, seminars in archaeology, environment of Texas (geography) and theater appreciation were added for Fall 2005.
In addition, the college now has a research track to encourage research at the undergraduate level. Students can enroll in Honors 1500 (Introduction to Research), Honors 3500 (Research Methods) and Honors 4500 (Honors Thesis).
"It is important that our students have the opportunity to participate in the creation of knowledge, not just be exposed to knowledge in their lectures," Cox says. "We want to provide as many opportunities as possible for our students."
To learn more about the Honors College, visit www.unt.edu/honors/overview.shtml.
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BY JULIE ELLIOTT |
Other featured articles in this issue
- New InHouse@UNT format to launch in September
- Administrators to propose 2 percent merit raise pools for UNT faculty and staff
- Regents to discuss campus plans for Denton and Dallas at August meeting
- UNT to use multimillion-dollar bequest to fund unique research of behavior analysis
- Exhibit about UNT's branding process opens this month
- UNT summer commencement is Saturday
- About the commencement speaker
- UNT's First Flight Week, Howdy Week traditions continue this month
- Win a trip to Baton Rouge on UNT's Regal Eagle bus
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