An honors program designed for the "intellectually elite" is generally favored by UB administrators, but its direction and focus are questionable as a concrete proposal by two deans may give way to another plan not yet complete.
During the fall semester, Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) Dean John J. Peradotto and Dean of the Colleges Murray M. Schwartz formed an outline for an honors curriculum. Before it was made public, however, University President Robert L. Ketter also suggested a program be established to cater to the "intellectually elite."
Peradotto said Wednesday that although his proposal had been submitted to Ketter for review after the president's announcement, "It is unlikely, I should think, that it will go through." Ketter announced at the Jan. 16 Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting that a "small group" will be constituted to work out the details of his proposal, but was not available Wednesday for further comment.
Peradotto explained that his program will attract very high quality students to the university. The chief objective of the deans' proposal would be to develop a "comprehensive view of the natural world, an understanding of the dynamics and vital traditions of western civilization, an appreciation of the uses and limits of reason, and a sound knowledge of either math or of one foreign language.
A private-school gem
The idea for the program evolved through Peradotto's work with Vico College and a "group of faculty working together from a wide variety of disciplines." He said there was interest in founding some aspect common to all.
According to Peradotto, he and Schwartz planned on springing their proposal on the administration after it was completed. A name other than "honors program" constituted the last preliminary detail. However, prior to their announcement, Ketter made his.
The minutes of the Executive Committee meeting said that the President would proceed to assemble a small group to work out the details for a proposal to be implemented in the near future.
The Peradotto/Schwartz plan outlines a traditional curriculum along the lines of the general education program approved last semester by the Faculty Senate. It calls for an integrated program involving 20 courses, a maximum of 200 students and 20 faculty members.
Peradotto told The Spectrum that he thinks Ketter has in mind a program with more involvement of, and more gearing toward, the professional schools. "I have looked at many honor curriculums," the dean said, "and most work with a fairly traditional liberal arts and science base."
Most other similar programs are in private institutions. Peradotto said that SUNY once proposed a system-wide plan involving scholars at various SUNY branches and students rotating to each, but it reportedly lacked enthusiasm. "What we are talking about is a small group internal to UB," he explained.
Fully-funded students
The formulated honors program includes 50 students admitted per year. Courses will be limited to groups of 25. Students will be required to take either math or a language: Literature and the History of Ideas; The American Experience (Political Science); The Visual experience; a music history course; Science; Epistemology and Practical Philosophy; History and Philosophy of Science.
In any given semester, an honors student would take two honors courses, In addition, lower division students would be housed together on-campus. The chief extra-curricular activity would be semi-monthly informal gatherings of the "intellectuals" from the community and university faculty members to discuss research.
Faculty would be borrowed from departments, which would then be credited with the corresponding enrollments. In addition to regular teaching duties, faculty members would serve as academic advisors for 10 students to oversee "intellectual development and curriculum."
Trouble with committees?
According to Peradotto, all students participating in the program will be fully-funded, "based on academic ability with no concern for financial need."
Peradotto explains in his proposal that there could be no guarantee of a select group of highly gifted students without an improved recruitment program and substantial scholarship offerings. He proposes that the university offer to cover tuition, room, board and other supplies, and a monthly stipend for personal use.
Peradotto said that, according to his original proposal, the top students in SAT scoring would be recruited, starting in the range of 1300 to 1400 combined math and verbal. "But we would have to take some other things into account," he said, citing for example, finalist on the National Merit Tests.
"I have sent letters to people from this group yearly, but have had nothing to offer them except a fine university," he said. "Recruitment should be successful if we have a big money package plus a concrete program to set them apart from students who have to struggle in registration lines for example," he continued.
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