Cindy Pemberton, Chair, Office of the ProvostChuck Connely, UMKC TrusteeFrances Connelly, Department of Art/Art History Dave Donnelly, Bloch School of ManagementRobin Hamilton, Student AffairsJohn Herron, Department of History Etta Hollins, School of EducationDiane Hunter, Miller Nichols LibraryKristin Lee, School of NursingGayle Levy, Department of Foreign Languages & LiteraturesSabrina Madison-Cannon, Conservatory of Music and DanceSally Mason, Administrative Assistant, UMKC Honors ProgramHeather Pace, School of PharmacyMelisa Rempfer, Department of Psychology Amy Watson, Office of the Provost

Purpose: To help attract high-achieving students, UMKC plans to transform our current Honors Program into an Honors College. As part of a high-impact learning experience, the Honors College will provide students with advanced educational competencies access to academically-challenging opportunities, including more focused courses and the opportunity to fast-track into graduate/professional programs.

Charge: The Task Force will conduct a peer review of other honors colleges, recommend a model for faculty affiliation (including structure/ governance) and identify an admissions and curricular review process.

Academic excellence is the primary mission of the UMKC Honors College. The College will promote a climate that develops independent scholars and challenges them to achieve their potential. Our goal is to build a community of engaged learners who, through superior scholarship, ethical integrity and community engagement, will enhance the University’s reputation as an academic leader.

1. Critical Inquiry and Research Skills2. Interdisciplinary Thinking3. Cultural and Artistic Expression4. Cultural Competency5. Community Responsibility and Civic Engagement6. Leadership

Inquiry-based pedagogy; interdisciplinary model High-impact learning experiences Small classes—capped at 20 students Two tracks◦ Two-year program (30 hours): graduate with “Honors”◦ Four-year program (30 hours + 12 hours): graduate as “Honors

Scholar”

Honors Platform I: World Literatures and Cultures I (3 hours) Honors Anchor I: Honors Toolkit—Investigation and Analysis

Seminar (research methods; 3 hours) Honors Discourse I (3 hours)

Honors Platform II: World Literatures and Cultures II (3 hours) Honors Anchor II: “City as Laboratory” (engaged learning with

KC’s space and people; academic-service learning; 3 hours) Honors Discourse II (3 hours)

Honors Platform III: Bio- and Environmental Ethics and Policy (3 hours)

Honors Platform IV: Foundational Seminar: Great Ideas (3 hours)

Capstone Course: Applied Democracy and Politics (3 hours)

Honors Discourse III (3 hours)

Beyond the Classroom Experience (6 hours)◦ Study Abroad◦ Internship◦ Laboratory experience◦ Student-led, advanced community engagement project

Senior Honors Thesis or Project (6 hours)◦ Honors thesis/project practicum (3 hours)◦ Honors thesis/project independent study (3 hours)

▷ Reasoning and Values ▷Human Values and Ethical Reasoning

∘ Platform Course I: World Lit & Cultures I ∘ Platform Course III: Bioethics and∘ Anchor Course I: Honors Toolkit: Environmental Ethics & Policy

Investigation & Analysis ∘ Platform Course IV: Foundational ∘ Honors Discourse I Seminar: Great Ideas

▷ Culture and Diversity ▷Honors Capstone Course: Civic andCommunity Engagement

∘ Platform Course II: World Lit & Cultures II ∘ Applied Democracy and Politics

∘ Anchor Course II: City as Laboratory ∘ Honors Discourse III∘ Honors Discourse II

• Six non-tenure-track positions teaching 3/3 load.• Post-docs• Short-term appointments

• Four joint-appointment, tenure-track positions teaching 2/2 in the Honors College and 1/1 in their coordinating department.

• Each year, two UMKC professors will be awarded Honors Faculty Fellow positions to teach a one or two course sequence in the Honors College. A small stipend will go to either overload pay or to their unit to replace their classes.

Dean of the Honors College (direction, budget, recruitment)

Director of the Honors College (day-to-day operations, course coordination, teaching one course/year)

Executive Staff Assistant Advisor Advisory Council (representatives from every unit;

chaired by the dean of the Honors College)

Year 1: 180 studentsYear 2: 360 studentsYear 3: 420 studentsYear 4: 520 students

Total goal after 4 years: 540 students