ERIC Number: EJ1308221
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1559-0143
EISSN: N/A
From Program to College: The Vision and Curriculum Evolution of the Virginia Tech Honors College
Lewis, Stephanie N.; Velez, Anne-Lise K.; Ozkan, Desen S.; Thomas, Raymond C.; Carlson, Kimberly A.
Honors in Practice, v17 p29-44 2021
This article describes one program's thoughtful and strategic transition to a college and subsequent innovations to its curricular framework. Acknowledging that such a change affords honors practitioners the opportunity to implement best practices established within the honors community, authors describe the unique evolution of the honors college experience at their institution by way of expanding collaborative transdisciplinary courses, offering a new diploma option, and increasing opportunities related to undergraduate research. Collaborative transdisciplinary courses encourage critical thinking about complex problems in a small group setting. A new diploma option combines disciplinary depth with transdisciplinary capabilities through a four-year, multidisciplinary studio curriculum. Expansion from a single research training course to a suite of course offerings, or "guided research experiences," strengthens the college's goal of fostering undergraduate research. Authors suggest that the innovative curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop as change agents and global scholars. The triad of changes are derivative of the college's core values: to foster meaningful and sustained relationships with faculty, provide resources for independent learning, promote engagement in undergraduate research, yield and advance place-based and problem-focused experiences, guide students through intellectual engagement in global contexts, and seek to better engage students in their learning processes while preparing them for graduation.
Descriptors: Honors Curriculum, Curriculum Development, Interdisciplinary Approach, Inquiry, Active Learning, Problem Based Learning, Technical Institutes, State Colleges, College Students, Place Based Education
National Collegiate Honors Council. 1100 Neihardt Residence Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 540 North 16th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588. Tel: 402-472-9150; Fax: 402-472-9152; e-mail: nchc@unl.edu; Web site: http://nchchonors.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A