Kathy Tran-Peters is hopeful more students will discover the college’s burgeoning Honors Program this year.
The program was launched last fall, but at a time when people were preoccupied with the pandemic – most students were not aware of what Tran-Peters, coordinator of Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies at Salt Lake Community College, had to offer. She says the program is designed to increase opportunities and enhance students’ academic experiences by leveraging High-Impact Practices (HIPs), reflective ePortfolios, honors courses, small cohorts, and enrichment experiences. While in the Honors Program, students receive individualized success coaching, financial support and faculty or peer mentoring.
“The goal of the Honors Program is to work alongside students in defining and achieving their version of what success means to them and removing any obstacles or barriers that may be preventing students from achieving their vision,” says Tran-Peters.
As a cohort, students take nine credits of honors courses that satisfy the Social Sciences (SS), Humanities (HU) and second half of Composition (EN) General Education requirements. “General Education courses are built into the Honors Program rather than requiring additional hours to achieve Honors designation,” says Michael Young, Associate Dean of General Education, Honors, and Interdisciplinary Studies. “We think students will appreciate the way the program is designed.”
At least a few students have discovered the program and are already seeing progress in their own studies. “The classes are intellectually rigorous and engaging, and the instructors are dynamic, says Jessica Ducuara, Honors Program student and peer mentor. “The learning materials really complement what SLCC has to offer. The Honors Program truly prepares students for success.”
Upon graduation, students receive an Honors Program designation on their degree and transcript that can provide students a competitive advantage in preparation to apply to scholarships and transfer to four-year institutions. SLCC has also partnered with the University of Utah to provide a seamless transfer into the University of Utah’s Honors College that also offers SLCC Honors Program transfer students with scholarship and housing opportunities.
“Ultimately, we envision an inclusive, diverse community of academically-motivated learners from across the college,” says Tran-Peters. “We recognize that the reality of honors programs across the nation is that they have historically not been set up to serve first-generation, low income, or racially-minoritized students. We want to change that here at SLCC by challenging and rethinking the Honors Program’s core practices and policies.”
SLCC Honors Program believes that inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility are integral to fulfilling the mission for personalized, engaging, and transformative student-centered experiences. Learn more about the new SLCC Honors Program at www.slcc.edu/honors.
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