Surviving Low Enrollment and Other Problems Facing Community College Honors ProgramsJOHN METZGERCAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The bad news

Unfortunately, a strong economy and low unemployment correlate with low enrollment at Community Colleges

This is not the case for most 4 year institutions Most community colleges have reported lower enrollment in all

programs Money is tight This has a direct affect on the feasibility of Honors Programs

The good news

Dual enrollment and early college enrollment is up As college tuition continues to rise, more students are finding

community college a better financial option We can make good on our promise to provide smaller classes—

because….

Problems running Honors Program:A work in progress

Creating the right criteria for admittance: this has its own set of problems. No one size fits all solution. Form criteria that works with your students while still maintaining rigor

Scheduling classes: two methods that don’t work. Pick ‘em out of a hat methodStudent doodle poll method

Program completion: many community college students are one and done, so program completion is difficult. Example—student applying to UNC

Possible Solutions Work directly with Early College programs and liaisons at your

institutions. Early recruiting and partnerships: identify strong candidates at high

school so that they can better integrate into Honors Program. Example of problem with ACA

Establish pathways or specific curriculum programs so that students can better plan courses and schedule around Honors classes. Long term planning will help drive program completion.

Partner with PTK, C-Step, and other programs Get help: Honors Directors can often live on islands. Form

committees, partner, and utilize resources of your institution. Be willing to say no.

contact information

John Metzgerjmetzger@cfcc.edu910-362-7276

UNCW Honors College“Beyond Your Major”

Why Honors?

• Context: Interdisciplinary, Innovative Courses

• Conversation: High access, high touch environment

• Community: Small Classes, cohort feel

• Connection: Increase the surface area of education

Title of Page Time fontsubtitle of page

“Best of Both Worlds”

Think Beyond Checklists

What do I want to do? [Career]

What do I want to do with my life?

Who do I want to be?

• Access/Connections• Small Classes (Capped at 20)• Liberal Arts Approach• Unique Research/Engagement Opportunities• High Touch Environment

Benefits

TELLING A STORY: HONORS IS LIKE…

Food for Thought: Culture through the Culinary Science through Theatre

Backstage, in the Emergency Room Art of Science, Science of Art

Design Thinking: Creating Learning Spaces Improvisation in Everyday Life

Art and Science of Mandalas Fertility in the Future

Geographies of Transformation Futurecasting

Rhetoric of Conspiracy The Happiness Advantage

CREATIVE COURSEWORK

THE PATIENT EXPERIENCEA PHOTO-ETHNOGRAPHY

CONTEXT

COMMUNITYCitizen Scholars

VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIESART, SCIENCE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CREATIVECONNECTIONS

NATURE - CULTURE - COMMUNI TY

COLLABORATIVE HONORS CAMPUS NEAR ASHEVILLE

CONNECTION

THE WORLD IS OUR CAMPUS• Wales

• Iceland

• London

• Spain

• France

• Italy

• Malta

• Costa Rica

• Honors Conferences

WHAT WILL YOUR STORY BE?

CONVERSATION

WHY HONORS: HOW TO TELL/SELL THE STORY

• Community of Excellence

• Way to engage donors

• Access to HIP

• Develop campus leaders

• Stories to Tell / Raise Profile

• Engage Faculty

• Increase Transfer Numbers

BUILD ON WHAT YOU HAVE

• Find Creative Faculty Honors

Community Organizations

High Ability Students

Hands-on Learning

Opportunities

Creative Faculty

Community Partners

Cultural Events

Advisors

RESOURCES

• NCHC

• Handbook for Community College Honors Programs

EXAMPLE CURRICULUM

• 9 Hours of Honors sections of Honors courses

• 3 Hours of Honors Contract Course

• 3 Credit Honors Colloquium (Capstone, theme-based)

• Service Hour Requirement

• Presentation at Annual Honors Reception.