Creating a Profile of an Honors Student: A Comparison of Honors and Non-Honors Students at Public Research Universities in the United States

Authors

Andrew J. Cognard-Black, St. Mary’s College of MarylandFollow
Art L. Spisak, University of IowaFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 2019

Citation

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council 20:1 (Spring/Summer 2019), pp. 123-157.

Comments

© Copyright 2019 by the National Collegiate Honors Council

Abstract

This study uses data from the 2018 Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Survey of undergraduate degree-seeking students to develop a profile of an honors student. Nineteen research universities participated in the 2018 SERU Survey, with a resulting sample size of almost 119,000 undergraduate students, of whom 15,280 reported participation in or completion of an honors program. No other study has surveyed honors students on such a scale and across so many institutions. This study could be useful for recruiting since it would give recruiters a better idea of what to look for that would make prospects successful in an honors program/college. Knowing what high-ability students expect from their education could also be useful in structuring an honors curriculum and experience accordingly. Finally, knowing better the wants and needs of high-ability students could be useful for advising, mentoring, and counseling honors students.