Since its creation in 1995, the Honors College (HC) has been home to many of the most outstanding undergraduates at Oregon State University. HC students are engaged in a variety of activities, inside and outside the classroom, that develop their abilities as leaders in their fields and in our increasingly interconnected global community. As we approach our twenty-year anniversary and an enrollment of over 1,000 students, the HC continues to evolve as a true destination of choice for the most talented and committed students in our region and beyond.
As the honors college of Oregon’s land grant university, it is central to our mission to ensure that students can access the HC experience regardless of their area of study, background, or financial means. We aspire to represent the best of the university in terms of both scholarship and diversity, and accessibility is crucial in achieving this goal. The growth in our student population since 2008 is one aspect of this. In the past five years, we’ve doubled in size and seen applicant numbers quadruple, testament to the strength of the HC’s message. The quality of our students remains competitive with the best colleges and universities in the country, and as we approach our target population of 1,000-1,200 undergraduates, we will reach the level needed to have a significant campus presence within the context of the university’s recent overall growth.
Access is also about developing experiences that support the aspirations and needs of each one of our students. The HC has always prioritized creating a culture centered on the student experience, and we have continued to work to enrich our community. In recent years, we’ve added new facilities – such as our highly successful first-year residence in West Hall and new study and lounge spaces – and new opportunities – like our faculty-student research matching events and our international service learning course – that are designed to create an honors experience that is both broadly inclusive and individually tailored.
One of the advantages of studying in the HC is the increase in opportunities to engage in experiential, hands-on learning, whether in our highly-interactive courses or through research, internships, service, or study abroad. These experiences are where HC students build leadership skills and the ability to connect ideas across fields and into real-world settings. As such, they are absolutely fundamental to our mission, and it is one of my central priorities to make sure that all students have the financial and structural support to pursue these opportunities. I am working with our external supporters and friends to build mechanisms such as the Honors Experience Scholarship that allow more students to access the unique engaged learning experiences that have established the HC as a top destination for high-potential students.
The HC is the centerpiece of OSU’s drive not only to attract the most outstanding students in our region, but to create a high-achieving culture that supports the development of transformative leaders. Since joining the Honors College in 2010, first as associate dean and then as dean in 2012, I have been amazed, inspired, and humbled to be a part of this incredible community. Being here, amongst such outstanding students, I am confident that the future, our shared destination, is in excellent hands.
Toni L. Doolen, Ph.D.
Dean, Honors College
I just want to share my good feelings about the alum gathering in Boston last night. Oregon State is really doing well.