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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1985)
Honors College provides the ‘best of both worlds’ By B.J. Thomsen Of Ibe Emerald Hidden away on the third floor of Chap man Hall is the home base of a program rarely used by the majority of University students. But even though it’s size is small, the goals of the program are not, says Frances Cogan, ac ting director of the Honors College. “The Honors College acts as a small Frances Cogan private college within a larger university,” Cogan says. The big advantage of the Honors College is that it combines the best of both worlds, Cogan says. Like a small, private college, it has small classrooms and plenty of teacher/student in teraction. But it also maintains the advantages of a large university with relatively low tui tion, and a large library, curriculum, and pro fessoriat, she says. The University Honors College opened its doors in 1960 as an alternative to the average curriculum, Cogan says. Now with approx imately 400 students at any one time, the Honors College is still one of the few in the country, she says. Kent State’s program was one of the first in the country followed by other schools, in cluding Washington State University and the University of New Mexico. The Honors College, a member of the Na tional Honors Council, stresses a broad, liberal arts education. Because Honors College courses substitute for general University re quirements. students in the program still must take the majority of their requirements for their majors within the regular departments, Cogan says. Honors College members are required to take 25 hours of honors courses and are discouraged from taking more than 27 hours, Cogan says. Students planning to graduate from the Honors College must take three terms each of honors literature, honors history, honors social science, honors lab science, honors math above 150-level, and honors arts and letters. They also must take two years of a foreign language because the Honors College awards only bachelor of arts degrees. Also required are two terms of colloquia, which are 400-level courses outside of the ma jor and one term of senior seminar, which is preparation for the thesis all students must write and defend orally during their senior year. All courses stress the writing compo nent, Cogan says. Cogan says Honors College courses differ from standard University courses in several ways. The classes are discussion oriented, smaller, and move at an accelerated pace, she says. Also, primary sources are used whenever possible, Cogan says. “If a class were studying Plato, for instance, they would read ‘The Republic’ instead of a textbook on Plato,” she says. The Honors College has four resident pro fessors including Cogan. Henry Alley, English professor; Bernard Lightman, history pro fessor; and Dennis Todd, biology professor, who also acts as the math/science adviser, make up the rest of the faculty. The resident professors are associated solely with the honors college and no other part of the University, Cogan says. Resident professors at the Honors College are required to have a Ph.D in their field of ex pertise, which is different from most univer sities, Cogan says. And, says Cogan, unlike many other honors colleges around the country, the University has many of its own facilities such as a library, a study lounge, a typewriter room and its own classrooms all located on the third floor of Chapman Hall. Students who want to enter the honors program must apply, Cogan says. Unlike other schools, the University Honors College does not recruit. All applications are reviewed by each of the resident professors and are condidered on the basis of five criteria: SAT scores, combin ing to a total score of 1200; GPA, 3.5 or above; two teacher recommendations from past in structors; an essay discussing the applicant's educational background and educational goals; and transcripts, which are checked for a “varied and vigorous” curriculum. Cogan stresses that failure to meet any one of the five criteria will not eliminate applicants if they show strength in the other areas. Cogan notes that the Honors College is often a helpful step into graduate school, giv ing students headed in that direction valuable experience. University student wins prestigious scholarship By Diana Elliott Of the Emerald A University junior was awarded a Truman Scholarship last week, by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Founda tion of Washington, D.C. The award carries an annual max imum stipend of $5,000 per year for four years. Aaron Thomas Was one of two Oregonians among the 105 reci pients to be awarded one of the scholarships, which are granted to promising students who have demonstrated a firm commit ment to a career in public ser vice at the federal, state, or local levels. Eric Semler, a Dart mouth College student was the other Oregonian selected. As long as Thomas maintains his academic standing, he will receive the scholarship for his two remaining years as an undergraduate, as well as two years of graduate work. “I’m excited about it because it takes the burden of financing my education off my parents,” Thomas said. The foundation makes one new scholarship available an nually to a qualified student from each state. Additional scholars from 13 regions can also be recommended by the Regional Review Panels and may be selected for the scholar ships as “scholars-at-large.” Thomas was awarded the scholarship as a scholar-at large. Thomas will travel to In dependence, Mo. on May 12 to Aaron Thomas receive the award at a ceremony at the Truman Presidential Library. “I’ve channeled a lot of energy into my school work,” Thomas said. “And this is a great award.” Thomas plans to finish his studies in political science next year while on a University domestic exhange program at Rutgers University in New Jersey. After that he plans to study law. Thomas said that he hopes to go to an Ivy League law school, but that will depend upon his grades and LSAT scores. “I’ve always wanted to go to law school,” Thomas admitted. “This scholarship money will allow me the money to do that.” Correction Tuesday, the Emerald incorrectly reported that Mollie Rennie earned $25,000 while employed as an entertainer on a cruise ship. This information is incorrect. The Emerald also reported that Rennie is from Newberg, which is incorrect as well. Rennie lives in Eugene. 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