Providing Access and Support
through Specialized Honors
Communities
Jessamy Hoffmann, Ph.D., Assistant Director and
Academic Advisor, UConn Honors Program
Kaitlin Heenehan, M.A.Ed., STEM Scholar Advisor, UConn
Honors Program
Honors Education at Research Universities (HERU) 2015
Honors FAQ Sheet
Access via Honors
Holistic review of
prospective first-years:
Upper-division admission
review includes:
•
• College GPA
• College leadership/involvement
• Department support
• Letter of recommendation
• Essay
(Rising sophomores and rising juniors
are eligible to apply)
•
•
•
•
•
Anyone admitted to UConn
considered
SAT/ACT
Rigor of high school course of
study
GPA
Leadership/involvement
Letters of recommendation,
essays
STEM and Rowe Communities
STEM:
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–
–
–
In its first year
Part of NextGenCT
~75 each cohort
Designed to help students
who are committed to STEM
thrive and connect to valuable
curricular and co-curricular
experiences, focus on
individual support and building
relationships
Rowe:
– In its tenth year
– Designed to provide opportunities
and support for students who are
underrepresented, economically
challenged, and/or first generation
college who desire to have a
career in the health professions
Access via STEM and Rowe
STEM:
Rowe:
•
•
•
•
•
Further review of STEM promise
by Admissions
True engagement in curricular and
extracurricular STEM
involvements
STEM scholarship attached to
other merit scholarship
No current way to apply in as a
current student
•
First-Years:
– Culling of lists
– Search for appropriate traits
– In-depth review of Admissions
files
– Presentation of exceptional
candidates to committee
Junior Gaters:
– Review of application
materials which include letter
of recommendation, copy of
transcript, essay, resume
– Presentation of exceptional
candidates to committee
Student Introductions:
Sofia, STEM Scholar
• At first glance:
– SAT: 1290 (Honors avg. that year 1405)
– Eligible for Leadership Scholarship, which means demonstrated
commitment to multicultural diversity programs and initiatives
• Upon further investigation:
– Interned at Yale studying effects of nicotine on the brain between
junior and senior year of high school
– Involved in Pilgrim Fellowship mission trips and Action Against
Hunger
– Leadership through sports and coaching
– Mentored young girls on body image, self esteem, healthy living
Student Introductions:
Jozef, Rowe Scholar
• At first glance:
– SAT: 1170 (Honors avg. that year: 1398)
– First generation American-college student
– Immigrant with dual citizenship
– EFC less than $3000
• Upon further investigation:
– UConn Health Center High School Apprenticeship Program immunohistochemistry experiments in maxillofacial research
laboratory
– UConn classes in high school, including Principles of Biology
– Pre-College Enrichment Program - in electrochemistry
laboratory, resulted in published article
STEM Benefits
Leadership
Sofia is helping to
develop Honors in STEM
student organization
Advising
Sofia met with STEM Advisor
3 times to discuss potential
individualized major and
opportunities
Scholarship
Sofia receives $5,000 each
year as a STEM Leadership
Recipient
Community
Sofia participated in the Four
Arrows Challenge Course with
30 other STEM Scholars
Curriculum and
Academics
Experiential
opportunities
Sofia was in Calc & Chem study
groups; taking Next Generation
STEM Skills course
Sofia applied to attend a
Global Health Conference
at Yale
Rowe Benefits
Funding opportunities
Jozef conducted research,
studied abroad
Community
Scholarship
$1000/semester
Student-initiated programs
Jozef, member of Executive Board,
provided these programs
Mentoring
Jozef mentored by
Rowe alumna at Yale
Experiential
opportunities
Jozef visited Bodies Exhibit
STEM Results
•
•
•
•
•
Sofia:
“I believe that the Honors STEM
advisor was key to my success
– Working at Yale School of Public Health this summer
here at Uconn. She had the
– Ended first semester with a 3.629, first year with a 3.665
patience with me to explain how
things operate because I could not
– Is planning to change her major to an individualized
understand them at first. I would
major in Global Health.
recommend having a meeting or
78/79 met at least once individually with STEM Scholar advisor
conversation with her when you
are confused because she will
23/41 students surveyed cited advisor as most helpful part of
provide help no matter what.”
being a STEM Scholar, others cited connections to
opportunities as most helpful
Many students involved in research at UConn and have internships/research planned this summer
Plans to develop student organizations in STEM
“When I first got to UConn, I couldn’t help but think how large it was. The STEM
Scholar Program makes the university seem much smaller by allowing me to get
to know a small group of people within the Honors Program on a more personal
basis and also feel like I have a support system of people who truly understand
what it’s like being a STEM major. The program organizes workshops and
events, such as Success in STEM, which gives me STEM specific tools to help
me succeed both in and out of my classes.”
“As a freshman STEM Scholar,
I have already gained
experience sorting zooplankton
for diversity analysis in the
Urban Lab, discussing genetic
engineering techniques with
international students at the
annual iGEM competition, and
reaching out to my professors
and teaching assistants outside
of class.”
Rowe Results
“As the dinners and programs have Rowe
Scholars of all grades present, this tight-knit
community facilitates you making great
friends and learning from others’ experiences.
The Rowe Scholar and Honors programs’
faculty is truly dedicated to ensuring that
each student has a great UConn experience
and is prepared to succeed. By becoming a
Rowe Scholar, you are accepting a scholarship
and being welcomed into a community that
will help you make the most of your UConn
experience and enjoy it!
Jozef:
• Is applying to NIH Postbaccalaureate
Intramural Research Training Award
• Ended first semester with 2.5, ended last
semester with 4.0
• Honors thesis: PLGA microsphere/PVA
hydrogel composites for biosensor coating
against inflammation using microdialysis
probes as surrogates (received Rowe
funding for this research)
This program truly opens lots of doors for those
interested in health by offering students help,
support, insight, and opportunities that can prepare
them for careers in the health profession….From
supportive coordinators to fascinating and
interesting guests, the Rowe Scholars Program
definitely has impacted me and given me new
insights on the world of health. Personally, I would
like to become a dentist, and the program has
definitely proven invaluable in helping me decide
how to go about doing so.
2010-2014 average MCAT score for:
Rowe - 27.3
UConn - 26
Nationally - 25.1
34 out of 38 of those who
graduated as members of the
Rowe Scholars Program are
currently part of a health
related career/graduate
program.
As an incoming Freshman I knew that I
wanted to work in the Health care field,
but was unaware of the many different
opportunities that existed for me.
Through this program, I was able to
explore the various aspects of medicine
and I found a major and career path that
I have become very enthusiastic about.
Partnerships
•
•
•
Rowe and STEM partner with various offices/organizations:
– LSAMP
– McNair
– SPiM/D
– Pre-Med Society
– MAPS
– Women in STEM committee
– Biology Advising Center
To co-provide:
– Advising workshop
– Field trips (UMass Med School)
– Student support
– Success in STEM Academic Achievement Center workshop
Rowe & STEM originate experiences that benefit the community:
– John & Valerie Rowe Scholars Visiting Lecture
– Women in STEM panel
– Field trips (Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Trip)
– Courses: Mini Med School, Patient & Healer I & II, Next Generation STEM Skills
– Community Service
Discussion/Questions
• What does your Honors admissions process look like?
• How do you break down your larger program into smaller
communities?
• What support should be provided to students who may not have the
“typical” Honors application numbers?