At this time, we invite submission of proposals for an upcoming volume featuring new empirical research exploring the value added of honors program experience, to be published in the National Collegiate Honors Council Monograph Series in 2018.
It is now routine for many in honors administration to offer student accomplishments vis-à-vis those of non-honors students as evidence that honors programs are successful, vital components of the colleges and universities where they are housed. Many programs can show that their honors students graduate at higher rates than non-honors students, that they graduate sooner, and that they graduate with higher GPAs, are more likely to go on to graduate and professional school, and that they win prestigious fellowships at higher rates.
Most honors students, however, are starting at a different place than students in the general student body because admissions processes for most honors programs and colleges ensure that unusually smart, talented, and highly motivated students enter their programs. Thus, the evidence often used to demonstrate the success of honors programs is limited because it does not statistically control or otherwise account for the differences that exist between honors and non-honors students at the moment that they matriculate and enter into honors programs.
We seek projects using methodologically rigorous approaches to disentangle the effects of honors program participation from baseline student characteristics, but we also encourage researchers using qualitative or mixed methods approaches to illustrate in creative ways the unique effects of the honors program experience. We especially encourage proposals that also address any varying effects of the honors experience for those with different gender identities or for first-generation students, racial or ethnic minorities, or other groups that face unique challenges in higher education.
Proposals should include detail about the sources and kinds of data used; verification, when necessary, that appropriate IRB approval has been secured before collection or use of data; what research method(s) will be employed; what stage of development the project is in currently; and either actual or expected findings from the research. Those wishing for their work to be considered for inclusion should submit proposals of 250–500 words by May 1, 2017; manuscripts for accepted proposals will be collected in October 2017, with anticipated publication in 2018.
Send proposals to Dr. Jerry Herron, Dean of the Honors College, Wayne State University (e-mail: [email protected]). Address inquiries to the same. www.nchchonors.org/monographcall