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New Scholarship for Incoming Honors Student |
A generous friend of the University Honors Program donated $10,000 this year to provide a scholarship to an incoming student who has a strong high school record and is interested in majoring in microbiology. This year’s recipient is Anuja Kapil from Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio. While in high school, Anuja volunteered at Bethesda North Hospital, played piano and tennis, and volunteered in the Over-the-Rhine community, Adopt-a-Grandparent Program, and a peer-tutoring program at her school. This scholarship will help defray the cost of her Miami tuition.
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Successful External Evaluation of Program |
In 2007-2008, the University Honors Program underwent its first formal program review. In preparation for the review, we developed a strategic plan with five objectives: (1) increase the strength and diversity of our applicants and enrolled students; (2) develop a comprehensive and research-supportive curriculum; (3) create opportunities for student enrichment and leadership outside the classroom; (4) enhance the community involvement of our students; (5) cultivate relationships with alumni and program friends. We also created a self-study document [ link to pdf version of self-study].
A team of internal and external reviewers studied the documents and visited our campus last November. Their final reports praised the program, noting that it “is a critical part of Miami’s commitment to quality undergraduate education. It is, without question, a sound program.” Their major recommendations include: (1) gaining greater visibility across the university and nation; (2) revising the curriculum so that it is less “front-end loaded”; and (3) continuing to advance diversity as an educational resource.
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New Revisions to University Honors Program
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In response to the program review reports, we developed a new proposal to reform the University Honors & Scholars Program (effective fall 2009), which entails: (1) sequenced (three tiered) curricular & co-curricular experiences leading students to self-authorship; (2) clear student learning outcomes for each tier; (3) robust and rigorous set of curricular and co-curricular offerings for each tier that seamlessly merges academic affairs with student affairs; (4) individualized and self-designed plans of study (with learning contract & portfolio); (5) fewer course offerings but greater stability and quality control (more faculty development, assessment); (6) greater continuity of desired outcomes across all elements of the program; (7) greater consistency in compensation for faculty teaching in all tiers and greater levels of compensation when the faculty member is able to engage more deeply with students; and (8) the uncoupling of UHP participation and merit scholarships for students.
Because the University Honors Program yields and retains students at a much better rate than the University Scholars Program, we will eliminate t he University Scholars Program and increase the number of University Honors Program students from 1000 to approximately 1600. The proposal has been fully approved by all honors-related advisory committees, Liberal Education, Council of Academic Deans, and the Office of the Provost. It also was accepted on the University Senate consent calendar.
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Improvements to Harrison Scholars Program |
Last fall, the Harrison Scholars elected on representative from each class (first-year to senior) to come together to consider new improvements to the program. They developed a proposal with the following recommended changes: (1) Harrison students must be in good standing in the University Honors Program to maintain their scholarship; (2) Harrison students are required to complete a thesis; (3) Harrison students are required to participate for one year on the Harrison Student Committee, which will plan at least one major public event each year. These changes will take effect in 2008-2009.
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John Obrycki Wins 2008 Goldman Prize |
John Obrycki (’08 Honors graduate) will spend a year studying the history, and future, of the agricultural community in southwest Ohio as recipient of the 2008 Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize. The prize, valued at approximately $32,000, annually allows an exceptional Miami senior to realize a dream. It is believed to be among the largest undergraduate awards in the country.
Combining elements from his three majors - environmental studies, history and American studies - Obrycki will investigate how southwest Ohio's agricultural system has changed since the early 1800s. He will also document how it has responded to the profound changes in American agriculture that have occurred over the past half-century, collecting oral histories from more than 100 farmers and agricultural specialists. "The goal of the project is to transfer agricultural knowledge to future generations," says Obrycki. "I want to focus on the future of agriculture in the region by looking to history to see what lessons are applicable for us all today and for tomorrow." Using archival research, he will trace land use patterns and reconstruct the food system of the region from the past two centuries. A large part of his project involves organizing a conference to be held at Miami next February: "The Future of Agriculture in Southwest Ohio."
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Iordan Ganev Wins Goldwater Scholarship |
Miami sophomore and Harrison Scholar, Iordan Ganev, a mathematics and environmental science co-major from Oxford, has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship - the most prestigious award of its type for undergraduates in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. He is among 321 Goldwater Scholars selected nationwide on the basis of academic merit. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 per year for college expenses. Only 16 students from Ohio schools, public and private, were selected.
Ganev has worked with mentors Nancy Solomon and Brian Keane, since he was a first year student, conducting statistical analyses on how data from field studies of prairie voles can be used to interpret the species' social organization and behavior. He is a contributing writer to a manuscript for submission to the Journal of Mammology, and co-author of a presentation on the project that will be given at the International Society for Behavioral Ecology meeting this summer, according to Solomon.
Ganev is "probably the best undergraduate that I have worked with...he is excited about learning and passionate about science and mathematics," said Solomon. "He is one of the few students I have met who has started attending departmental and informal research seminars as a first year student."
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