Honors program rebuilt for flexibility and immersion
Beginning in the spring 2022 semester, UAA debuted its reimagined and refocused honors program, offering students more flexibility, customization and engagement as they pursue areas they are passionate about.
“We wanted to design a new honors program that was modern, accessible and helps our graduates stand out from peers when hitting the job market or graduate school applications,” said Honors College Dean and Vice Chancellor for Student Success Claudia Lampman, Ph.D. “Because experiential learning is embedded into their education, students are impacting their communities while preparing themselves for lives filled with service and intellectual curiosity.”
The first big change allows students to continue into the honors program while building upon their already-earned credits, making it easier for students who changed majors, transferred to UAA from another school or who first acquired an associate degree — as many of UAA’s community campus students do — to enroll. The former honors program required students to take special honors courses, making it difficult for UAA students in majors like engineering and nursing to accommodate in their already full course loads.
The second major update is the program’s emphasis on co-curricular and extracurricular activities to promote immersive, experiential learning, including internships, studying abroad, lab work, gallery exhibitions and even existing employment. To shape these activities, students will choose one of four tracks: research and creative activity; community engagement; leadership; and multicultural and global studies. And to guide them through it all, students will be supported by faculty from the Honors Academic Board and mentors across UAA and their communities.
“Participating in co-curricular and extracurricular activities helped me build confidence in my leadership abilities,” said Manny Rodriguez, who is in the final year of his B.B.A. in management while working full time as a commercial real estate professional. “It can be difficult to realize your potential until you challenge yourself. The new honors program recognizes this and encourages students to make the most of their time at UAA. The lessons I’ve learned, people I’ve met and accomplishments I’ve made have been invaluable and will pay dividends for years to come.”
Discussions to reimagine the honors program began in 2019 after unprecedented reductions to the University of Alaska System’s state-funded budget eliminated several UAA program offerings. No stranger to adversity, UAA administrators and faculty worked to turn the obstacle of reduced funding into an opportunity to think deeply about how the honors program could be improved.
Despite being born out of adversity, the new honors program has a bright future. Sixty-five students have already been admitted into the first year with greater numbers anticipated in the future as the revamped program matures and partners with the wider university’s colleges and admissions department on events and initiatives.
“Universities that provide opportunities for students to engage deeply and form meaningful connections are those where students thrive,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Runge, Ph.D. “What the team designed exceeds my hopes and expectations and I believe it will exceed the expectations of UAA students. Every student is valuable and the new honors program is another way we can ensure their success.”