Story by ELAINA GONZALEZ/Opinion Editor and video by BRYNNA WILLIAMSON/ Managing Editor
This semester, the Honors Program at UT Tyler transitioned into an Honors College. As a result, Honors Director Dr. Paul Streufert and Honors Coordinator Laura Grace Dykes have announced some upcoming changes beginning in fall of 2023.
Dykes prefaced the announcement by saying, “Everything is meant to create more options, more flexibility.”
She hopes that the additions to the program will work to better accommodate students within different stages of their college careers.
New Space
The Honors Office will be moving from the third floor of the UC to the HPR building.
“It’s still close enough that you can buy your lunch at Chick-Fil-A, walk 45 seconds, and get to our offices and eat there,” Dykes reassured.
Instead of being one unit, the new space will be composed of several offices and classrooms for student and faculty use.
There will be three actual “offices” in the new complex. These will be used for full-time staff members Streufert, Dykes, and K’Lin Noble. Two classrooms will be reserved for Honors classes and student hangout spaces.
Despite the move, Streufert discussed wanting the close-knit community of Honors to remain.
“We really want your help, helping us create and maintain our culture there,” he said.
Honors staff plans to create a mural in the hallway outside the new office. This will be further discussed as the move takes place.
Point System
The previous Honors requirements were heavily influenced by a traditional four-year college path, which, according to Dykes, created issues for students who came in with dual credit.
As a result, Dykes said that the program is “changing the system to accommodate your desire to graduate early.”
Now, to stay in good standing with Honors, students must earn 50 points each semester. To earn these points, students will attend Honors courses, engage with Honors events, and complete a track by the end of senior year. Points cannot be accumulated in advance, but must be completed in full every term.
Three mandatory Honors events called “Colloquia” will continue to be offered during each semester. About ten Symposia will be available “as backup,” but these will be worth less points in order to encourage students to attend the Colloquia.
Streufert highlighted that these changes are not intended to create more work for students, but instead to create more flexibility. By completing the coursework and attending three colloquia, students can fulfill the requirements just as in previous years.
“We’re certainly not adding more to the plate,” he said. “We’re simply trying to make it so we can all track how we’re all at the right place in Honors.”
Semester Seminars
There will be a reinstatement of required seminar courses, which had previously been paused. Dykes emphasized the importance of these short meetings “for community-building and getting business taken care of.” These meetings will also allow students to find and track their points.
Students will be placed into seminars based on when they anticipate graduating. Dykes explains, “We’re no longer working from when you start; we’re working from your graduation date.” In other words, students who anticipate graduating within two semesters will begin their “senior” research project, even if it is not their fourth year at UT Tyler.
The change is intended to accommodate students with dual credit, early graduation dates, or non-traditional schedules. With this new placement system, members will receive the appropriate guidance to fulfill their Honors requirements in a fair and timely manner.
Besides these mandatory seminars, additional courses will also be offered to certain groups. For example, a seminar will be required for students who wish to travel with Honors.
All seminars will be face-to-face. The only exceptions are junior and senior Psychology and Nursing majors, who have different requirements.
Honors Tracks
In the past, Honors students were required to do two years of research. During these two years, students completed two contract courses (one per semester) and a senior research project.
While this track will remain an option, there will be two new available tracks in the areas of service or leadership.
“Most honors colleges have leadership and service options for people to be more involved, so we’re kind of trying to get more in line with national standards here,” Dykes said.
Juniors will complete either two contract courses (research), planning Honors service events (service), or organizing Symposia (leadership). Seniors will complete one year-long project in their respective track and present the results at Lyceum.
She emphasized that students who already contribute to the school in these areas should receive credit for their hard work.
According to Dykes, it’s also important that the service and leadership tracks be highly student-led.
“These things work must better when they are student planned… You guys care more about service that you choose and initiate,” she said.
All tracks will require a time commitment of 15 to 20 hours per semester, which is the same as the old system.
Travel Opportunities
Before COVID-19, Honors hosted trips for students to experience academic and cultural enrichment. However, during the pandemic and up until now, this has largely been halted.
However, the opportunity to travel will return in the fall and begin with a Domestic Travel Program. In order to attend any travel program, students must enroll in an additional travel seminar to prepare for the trip.
Every semester, Honors will take a group of students on a weekend trip to a destination within the U.S. The destination this fall is Tulsa, Oklahoma, in which students will explore the history of the city and its music. Travel, boarding, and museum fees will be paid.
The Domestic Travel Program is “starting small in the hopes that it will grow,” said Dykes.
“The end goal is that every Honors student takes a trip with us by the end during their time in the Honors College,” she said.
International travel opportunities will also be returning in 2024 with a two-week trip to Italy. Students will explore several famous cities and experience its culture, climate and history. Although most expenses for this trip are not paid, group discount rates are expected based on how many students sign up.
“There’s nothing quite like traveling together,” Streufert said. “It’s one of the best new things the college is going to offer.”
Questions
The Honors handbook has been updated on the UT Tyler website to reflect these new policies. For questions or concerns, please see the FAQ.
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