Memorandum
To:
From:
Date:
Re:
Gabriel Lugo, President, UNCW Faculty Senate
Kate Bruce, Honors Director, and John Huntsman, Academic Standards Committee
August 8, 2011
UNCW Honors College
Because the wrong file was uplinked to the Senate agenda page in March 2011 and the Senate did not
have the opportunity to read the full Honors College proposal, The Honors College and Academic
Standards offer the following motions for the Senate.
1. That, in keeping with its history as the Honors Scholars Program and “Honors Scholars” as
the term used to describe the students in the program, the formal name of the unit be: Honors
Scholars College. This name will appear on all formal communication (i.e., letterhead);
“Honors College” may be used informally.
2. That the mission of the Honors College is:
UNCW's Honors Scholars College provides undergraduates opportunities to engage in
independent and creative scholarly activity. The Honors College directs the four-year Honors
curriculum and departmental honors, provides students access to opportunities for global
enrichment and involvement in undergraduate research projects, and mentors students
through the application process for national scholarships and fellowships.
3. That the number of required hours in honors sections be increased by 3 hours in keeping with
national guidelines for Honors Colleges.
4. That the composition of the Faculty Honors Advisory Council be changed in the following
way (from 9 members to 12 members):
The Faculty Honors Advisory Council is comprised of 12 faculty members appointed by the Provost.
Nominations are made to the Provost by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee which receives
recommendations for members from the honors director based on preferences from faculty elicited by
the annual Senate Committee Preference Survey. Nine members come from the College of Arts and
Sciences, one from the College of Health and Human Services and one each from both professional
schools. Ex-officio voting members are the honors director and associate director, dean of University
College, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, chair of Academic Standards, the Provost or
representative, and the presidents of the Honors Scholars Association and Student Honors Advisory
Council. Members serve staggered three year terms. The Council assists and advises the director on
issues of curriculum, recruitment and retention of students, scholarship awards, program evaluation,
and other student concerns. Members of the Council serve as Honors liaisons to senior honors
projects. Faculty interested in serving on the Council should inform the Faculty Senate, their dean,
director, or department chair, or the honors director.
5. That an Honors College Advisory Board be developed to include alumni, community
supporters, faculty, staff and students.