'Honors' Program Could Benefit Many

by Anne Dolan
The opportunities afforded students in the Freshman Honors 
Program could benefit thousands more at the university, 
agreed participants at the April Faculty Forum and Dinner. 
However, demands on faculty time and large class sizes 
present very real obstacles, they said.

Liz Beck, Honors Program coordinator, began the discussion by 
summarizing the program's benefits to student participants: a 
feeling of "belonging" at ISU, more interaction with other 
students and their teachers, mentoring and research 
experiences that help shape the direction of their 
educations, and first-hand knowledge that faculty members 
aren't "scary."

Some said that students with B and C grade averages have the 
same needs as honors students, but don't receive the same 
opportunities.

"We're neglecting students who aren't in the Honors Program," 
noted Richard Engen, chair of the veterinary physiology and 
pharmacology department. "I know that half of them can be 
turned on to academics; 2.9 (grade point average) students 
would benefit from it, too."

Some said it's unreasonable to expect faculty with large 
classes -- particularly those in the 200 to 500 range -- to 
have time to develop a supportive relationship with even half 
of their students. Assistant professor of history Amy Bix 
said students who want extra opportunities need to step 
forward and make their aspirations known. If they don't, it's 
difficult to find "the gems" among the crowd, she said.

Others said faculty need to tap other resources to help and 
challenge students who want more. Suggestions included using 
base groups (teams of 8 to 10 in large classes that help each 
other learn), training upper level students to help freshmen 
learn about people and procedures in their departments, 
involving Cooperative Extension employees in mentoring and 
service opportunities for students, and asking help from 
alumni and community people to provide co-ops or summer 
experiences that supplement students' classroom education.

Beck said that university professionals, from Ames Lab 
scientists to museum directors, have helped create useful 
mentoring experiences for students.

Most in attendance agreed that such opportunities shouldn't 
remove the responsibility from faculty to spend time with 
their students. Faculty shared several examples of students 
whose academic performance improved significantly because 
faculty took the time to talk with them outside class. 

Paul Brackelsberg, professor of animal science, said faculty 
advisers who don't take that role seriously miss a golden 
opportunity to influence their students positively.

The Faculty Forum and Dinner series will be on summer hiatus 
until September. Faculty who want to suggest topics for next 
year's discussions should send ideas to Steve Richardson, 
director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, 4-2402, e-
mail: stevenr@iastate.edu.

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contact:  Internal Communications, (515) 294-3129
updated:  4-21-95