Students receive welcome into honors college
Shunitra Ingram
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: News
Instead of the many activities high school students could have participated in on Saturday, a little over 100 students chose to spend their day at ASU's first honors reception.
The day was created by Rebecca Oliver, director of student services in the Honors College, and was designed for incoming freshman that have been formally admitted to the Honors College at ASU.
"The idea is to heavily focus on the academic experience and to get them connected," Oliver said. "The more students are connected, the more likely the students will do well academically."
Oliver, who considers herself to be a life coach for students here at ASU, has implemented many different programs in the Honors College.
Last month, selected students called Honors Ambassadors participated in a telethon, during which they called prospective honor students, and on April 18 the Honors College has designated a day for all incoming honor students to register and tour the campus, which will be the first official Honors Orientation Day.
During this time, students will also be able to meet with professors, administrators and other faculty members.
"Unlike the regular orientations, this one will be much smaller and allow students to get a feel of what honors will be like at ASU," Oliver said.
From the many activities that Oliver has implemented, such as the Honors lecture series, comes the best of them all, the new Honors Living-Learning Community, or HLC.
HLC will house all honors students as well as classrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities. The main talk about features of the building are the full sized beds offered to upper classman and the wheelchair accessible rooms for students with disabilities.
Ryan Beaird, SGA president and junior business major from Missouri, was admitted to ASU as an honor student and encourages all honor students to stay in the new community.
"The social aspect, I believe, is the most beneficial," Beaird said. "And being surrounded by like peers makes it even better."
Although the Honors College is considered more challenging than the regular university curriculum, Beaird encourages all students, not just honor students, to de-stress as often as possible.
"Don't overload yourself," Beaird said. "Find time to have some food."
Having the motto "live, learn, belong," Oliver likes to think of the honors college as a way to fit in.
"Freshmen get an opportunity to live with new peers, learn life changing knowledge and find a place where they belong. And that's what the honors college is all about," Oliver said.
The day was created by Rebecca Oliver, director of student services in the Honors College, and was designed for incoming freshman that have been formally admitted to the Honors College at ASU.
"The idea is to heavily focus on the academic experience and to get them connected," Oliver said. "The more students are connected, the more likely the students will do well academically."
Oliver, who considers herself to be a life coach for students here at ASU, has implemented many different programs in the Honors College.
Last month, selected students called Honors Ambassadors participated in a telethon, during which they called prospective honor students, and on April 18 the Honors College has designated a day for all incoming honor students to register and tour the campus, which will be the first official Honors Orientation Day.
During this time, students will also be able to meet with professors, administrators and other faculty members.
"Unlike the regular orientations, this one will be much smaller and allow students to get a feel of what honors will be like at ASU," Oliver said.
From the many activities that Oliver has implemented, such as the Honors lecture series, comes the best of them all, the new Honors Living-Learning Community, or HLC.
HLC will house all honors students as well as classrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities. The main talk about features of the building are the full sized beds offered to upper classman and the wheelchair accessible rooms for students with disabilities.
Ryan Beaird, SGA president and junior business major from Missouri, was admitted to ASU as an honor student and encourages all honor students to stay in the new community.
"The social aspect, I believe, is the most beneficial," Beaird said. "And being surrounded by like peers makes it even better."
Although the Honors College is considered more challenging than the regular university curriculum, Beaird encourages all students, not just honor students, to de-stress as often as possible.
"Don't overload yourself," Beaird said. "Find time to have some food."
Having the motto "live, learn, belong," Oliver likes to think of the honors college as a way to fit in.
"Freshmen get an opportunity to live with new peers, learn life changing knowledge and find a place where they belong. And that's what the honors college is all about," Oliver said.
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