The University Honors College seeks to positively impact student success and increase the retention and graduation rate of students participating in Honors. Students who complete the University Honors curriculum (in addition the their major requirements for graduation) are expected to demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and success, as evidenced by success in rigorous honors course work, participation in independent and advanced research and scholarship, successful competition for research awards and scholarships, acceptance into competitive graduate and internship programs and appreciation for the value of community-based projects.
The specific educational outcomes that support the program objectives are to produce Honors graduates who are able to:
• Demonstrate critical and analytical faculties:
- Read challenging and seminal texts derived from multiple academic disciplines
- Demonstrate effective critical and expository writing skills, using the accepted practices and approaches of the disciplines in which writing is assigned and incorporating a variety of resources into arguments of the student’s own devising
• Demonstrate the capacity to apply the principles of higher learning:
- Conceive and execute independent research projects
- Demonstrate a capacity for praxis through involvement in leadership and participation in civic activities.
- Integrate multiple disciplines in the implementation of research and praxis
• Pursue relevant careers or continuing study in graduate or professional schools and receive scholarships and awards recognizing their accomplishments and future potential.
• Participate in community engagement and learning, and develop an appreciation for the value of community engagement in their learning experience.
• Exhibit disciplined individual work habits, demonstrate application of discipline-based and/or cross-discipline-based knowledge, and conceive, plan and execute a high-quality research and/or creative capstone project/thesis in the appropriate disciplinary or cross-disciplinary context.
The Natural and Complex Systems (NCS) Program within the University Honors College encompasses the same educational outcomes as the original program, with the exception that the NCS program is focused on team-based research in an interdisciplinary context. Students who complete the NCS program should be able to:
• Effectively communicate with collaborators in other disciplines, and apply the scientific method to an interdisciplinary research problem in a team environment, as demonstrated by the conception, planning and execution of a high-quality team-based research project.
The Forty-Ninth State Fellows (FNSF) Program within the University Honors College encompasses the same educational outcomes as the original program. In addition, the FNSF Program is focused on helping students to develop leadership skills through additional required curriculum as well as co-curricular activities. Students who complete the FNSF Program should::
• Demonstrate familiarity with assigned readings for courses and co-curricular activities, effective verbal and written communication and facility in addressing assigned topics for written work.
• Demonstrate professional behavior at events and during program travel, including conversing with strangers, offering assistance, and formulating and asking meaningful questions of speakers and demonstrating cultural awareness.
• Have the ability to preside at meetings, including controlling the agenda and facilitation of meeting activities.
The University Honors College also measures several specific University-wide outcomes related to the promotion of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship on campus. Specifically, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship aims to promote the following outcomes for all undergraduates across the UAA campus:
• Encourage and provide opportunities for UAA undergraduates to participate in faculty-mentored independent research and discovery.
• Facilitate opportunities for UAA undergraduates to compete for funding for by research and discovery grants, travel grants and other awards in support of their projects.
• Facilitate and support UAA undergraduates presenting their research/scholarship project results at local, regional and national conferences and venues and/or publishing their work.
• Increase access to information about scholarships, grants, internship, mentorship, and study abroad opportunities for UAA undergraduates.
For a complete listing of expected student outcomes for all University Honors College courses, please click on the following link: Course Outcomes.
