Honors Program Encourages Academic Excellence

In an effort to further encourage academic excellence at the University of Bridgeport, several faculty members including Prof. Kurt Frey, Prof. Timothy Eves, Prof. Jeffrey Johnson, and Prof. Stephen Healey plan to start an honors program for students with a 3.5 or higher GPA next semester. The program strives to provide a more fulfilling college experience to those who want to be more challenged intellectually. It includes five specially designed Honors Courses as well as several events such as plenaries, speakers, debates, and other intellectually-stimulating events. As said by Prof. Timothy Eves, “We already have programs like the Academic Resource Center established to assist weaker students, but we have nothing for the more advanced ones, and thus, they are being intellectually starved.” Therefore the idea was proposed, in the fall of 2004 to the UB Faculty Council, UB Senate, and Board of Trustees where it received unanimous approval. The program is currently allowing all students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and at least 30 credit hours to participate. That number is currently about 130 students that organizers hope will grow as the program improves. Of the five courses being planned for the program, one is scheduled to be offered as an evening course next semester. Currently, the program employs the four faculty members mentioned earlier, but there are hopes that others will join as the program grows. The program is also gaining student support as five students responded in only the first day after the program was announced. While students were eager about this program, they expressed concerns about it as well. One student mentioned how the program might interfere with UB athletic schedules. Athletes are struggling enough to fit their sport commitments around their current schedules. Juniors and seniors also expressed their concern. One senior who already has 108 credits is planning on graduating this year and just can’t fit the extra courses into his schedule. Officials of the program recognize these concerns and will do their best to accommodate those affected students. They feel that all qualifying students should be allowed to participate as much as their schedules will allow it. That way, all events held by the Honors Program will be open to all in the program regardless of whether they choose to take the courses or not. Though the UB Honors Program has a long way to go, it has a concrete plan to get started and long-term ideas to grow. Supporters of the program have good intentions that it will attract more and more students and faculty and provide a more intellectually challenging atmosphere at the University of Bridgeport. Though financially, at the moment, the program’s resources are limited, hopes are that in the long run, funding for a more extensive academic