National Collegiate Honors Council

 

Date of this Version

2019

Document Type

Article

Citation

Honors in Practice, Volume 15, 2019

Comments

Copyright 2019 by the National Collegiate Honors Council

Abstract

In this article, a student, faculty member, and staff member address the question of how to engage underrepresented student populations in honors programs. A student of color describes how an honors course with experiential learning components captivated and motivated her, significantly altering her definition of self. The faculty and staff member acknowledge the necessary changes to large-scale policies, such as refining admissions criteria and implementing more diverse programs, in order to engage students of color in honors education. Key suggestions include cross-listing courses to engage current and prospective honors students, teaching honors courses and facilitating honors experiences that emphasize aspects of social (in)justice, and incorporating a holistic admissions process for both new and current university students. Identifying ways to engage diverse student populations in predominantly white programs is vital to both the success of all students and to honors education as a whole.

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