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NEWS
| JAN. 28
Honors College
Program promotes Honors student interaction
A group of freshmen live together
as a community.
By Marisa
Alvarado
Contribution to The Shorthorn
David Nielsen says being in the Honors
College Learning Community program is like starting college with
a group of friends.
The program grouped most of the 13 freshmen participants together
in dorm room suites. It is co-sponsored by the Honors College and
the Maverick Scholar Association and started in fall 2002 for incoming
Honors College freshmen to connect with the university, promote
academics and build social networks, said Dawn Remmers, director
of Student Success Programs.
As high school seniors, the students were given an opportunity to
join the community through acceptance into the Honors Program. He
said no one who applied was rejected.
Nielsen, pre-computer science engineering freshman, said the members
of the small community occasionally attend parties together and
hang out when they get a chance. Most participants, though, are
meeting other students on campus and doing their own thing, he said.
“It’s sort of good that we’re not all roommates,”
Nielsen said. “It gets the ball moving in terms of meeting
people.”
Some members are not concerned with being involved on campus. Biology
freshman James Harmon said he mainly focuses on studying and only
attends the program’s events.
Remmers said students have an identity within a group, and the program’s
aim is to provide participants with access to faculty, advisers
and friends. The program makes it easier for students because of
scheduled events and programs designed to get those specific results,
she said.
“It all needs to happen right up front,” said Mary Ridgway,
Center for Community Service Learning director.
She said many students can make the transition of getting involved
on campus by themselves, but usually need someone to lead them.
The suite environment promotes interactivity in the dorm, leading
to a community of support, Director of Student Affairs Andrew Quicksall
said.
Although the students do many activities together, there is no chance
for students to have any kind of codependency on one another, he
said.
“They were 13 very different people when they arrived here,
and they still are,” he said.
Electrical Engineering freshman Matt Dilger said he signed up for
the program to meet people and have a spot in Arlington Hall.
All participants live in Arlington Hall and pay regular room and
meal plan rates. Dilger said he knew he wouldn’t make it into
Arlington Hall because of the long waiting list and saw the program
as his opportunity.
While living together, the freshmen take many of the same classes.
Having their schedules set for them works for most, but some are
annoyed with certain courses.
Participants were required to take a one-hour Honors Enrichment
course last semester.
“A lot of us were kind of upset,” English freshman Kacie
Landrum said. “The class was like preaching to the choir.”
She said she appreciates knowing where to go for help despite having
taken what she considers an unnecessary course.
This semester members are taking The Honors Service Learning class,
which promotes tutoring and mentoring in Arlington schools. Through
various programs in Arlington, the freshmen will complete 25 hours
of community service that are required for the semester.
“What better role models than bright energetic honors students,”
Ridgeway said.
In addition to weekly meetings and community service, participants
must also turn in reflection journals at the end of the spring semester.
The main objective of learning communities nationwide is to see
the students succeed in their academics and lower the 33 percent
average of freshmen who leave college after their first year.
“The whole world is studying this phenomenon,” Ridgeway
said. “It all comes down to that first year.”
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