Ramapo College Proposed Honors Program

October 16, 2003

This is a reformulation of a report initially prepared by the College Honors Task Force,

Professor Don Fucci Chair

This proposal was prepared by Martha Ecker, Associate Provost and Peter Goetz, Dean of Enrollment Management with the invaluable assistance of Nancy Mackin, Dean of Students and Pamela Bischoff, Vice-President for Student Affairs.

Well-prepared first-time, full-time students are applying for admission to the College Honors Program in greater numbers. These students have asked us to re-examine the existing program and to make changes that reflect the profile of our current student population. The long-time concern about the lack of scholarship opportunities, as a recruitment tool for the Honors Program, is incorporated in this proposal for a restructured Honors Program.

1) New freshman Presidential and Ramapo Scholars will be reviewed by Associate Provost Martha Ecker, Dean of Enrollment Management Peter Goetz, and the Honors Director to determine who will be invited to apply for the program. Freshman student applications will be reviewed every two weeks on approximately the 15^th and 30^th of each month beginning on about October 15th, and "invitations" and Honors applications will be mailed shortly thereafter.

2) Students will take 8 Honors courses, 1 per semester, culminating with an Honors thesis in their senior year. All students are expected to participate in a meaningful experiential program for at least one semester. Students will be required to present their theses at an on-campus "thesis meeting" toward the end of the academic year. There will be two tracks to the Honors Program, one for science majors and the other for non-science majors. These are among the courses being considered.

Science Majors Non-Science Majors

Semester 1–First Year Seminar Semester 1–First Year Seminar

Semester 2–Western Studies Semester 2– Reading in Humanities

Semester 3–Readings in Humanities Semester 3– Lab Science

Semester 4–Global Politics Course Semester 4–Western Studies

Semester 5–Statistics Semester 5–Math Course

Semester 6–Upper Level CA/AIS Semester 6– Upper Level CA/AIS

Semester 7–Senior Seminar Semester 7–Senior Seminar

Semester 8–Honors Thesis Semester 8–Honors Thesis

Total–29 credits Total–29 credits

* This could be a newly designed course dedicated to Honors students only.

3) To remain eligible for the Honors Program, students must maintain a cumulative gpa of 3.3, reviewed after each academic year. This is the same gpa required of all admissions-based merit scholars.

4) First-Year students will live together on a floor in the new Phase VIII residence hall. A separate lounge will be made available to be the "Honors Lounge," dedicated for the use of Honors Program students. After the first year, students will live in the housing of their choice, although a dedicated Honors housing space may be considered.

5) As juniors, students will be expected provide student peer support in, among other possible programs, the First-Year Peer Mentoring Program, as either a paid EOF supplemental instructor or as a paid tutor in the Center for Academic Success. Students will be required to work at least 5 hours per week.

6) Students will be expected to attend at least one academic and/or national college Honors conference. These trips will be partially subsidized when students make a presentation or convene a round table and/or poster session.

7) One cultural event will be planned each semester. We will do our best to tie it into course work being studied during the semester.

8) An Honors reception will be held at the end of each academic year. Parents will be invited to learn about the accomplishments of their students.

9) An Honors director will be appointed, on a half-time basis, to oversee the program including but not limited to: budget maintenance, course planning, assigning appropriate faculty to courses, supervision of graduate assistant, monitoring grade point averages, event planning, reception planning, exploring study abroad options, overseeing junior year honor student service responsibility, and serving on the Honors Student Application Review Committee.

10) A graduate assistant will be hired to accompany students to cultural events, cultivate a living-learning environment, serve as a liaison between the Honors director and the students, assist in conference scheduling, oversee the Honors Lounge, and perform any other duties as assigned by the Honors director.

*Start-up equipment for Honor’s Lounge $ 2,500

* Honors Brochure–Includes Creative and Printing (10,000) $10,000

* Half-Time Replacement of Honors Director $9,600

* Graduate Assistant–Tuition, Salary, Housing, and Meals $27,200**

* Honors Lounge–Equipment, Furniture, and Technology $2,500

* Cultural Events (2 per year)–Bus, tickets, food $3,000

* End of Year Reception–100 people $2,000

Budget–Year Two

* Honors Brochure–Printing (10,000) $7,500

* Half-Time Replacement of Honors Director $9,600

* Graduate Assistant–Tuition, Salary, Housing, and Meals $27,200**

* Honors Lounge–Equipment and Technology $2,500

* Cultural Events (2 per year)–Bus, tickets, food $5,650

* End of Year Reception–175 people $3,500

Budget–Year Three

* Honors Brochure–Printing (10,000) $7,500

* Half-Time Replacement of Honors Director $9,600

* Graduate Assistant–Tuition, Salary, Housing, and Meals $27,200**

* Honors Lounge–Equipment and Technology $2,500

* Cultural Events (2 per year)–Bus, tickets, food $8,150

* End of Year Reception–250 people $5,000

Budget–Year Four

* Honors Brochure–Printing (10,000) $7,500

* Half-Time Replacement of Honors Director $9,600

* Independent Study–Faculty Overload for Thesis Supervision $4,800

* Graduate Assistant–Tuition, Salary, Housing, and Meals $27,200**

* Honors Lounge–Equipment and Technology $2,500

* Cultural Event (2 per year)–Bus, Tickets, Food $10,400

* End of Year Reception–325 people $6,500

* Total Year Four $108,500

**The GA portion of the budget includes a $12,000 per year housing waiver

By: September 26^th---Meet with Nancy Mackin to finalize proposal and needed

budget.------------DONE

October 3^rd--------Present proposal to Sandy Pfeiffer

October 10^th-------Make final changes in proposal

October 24^th-------Receive faculty feedback

November 7^th-----Meet with Christine Baker to create Honors brochure

December 1^st------Have Honors director in place