Eastern Michigan University’s Honors College had a record number of applications submitted this year and Honors students said the success of the program is well-deserved.
Taylor Lash is an EMU graduate student studying occupational therapy and is also a graduate assistant at the Honors College. She said the success of the program is not easily pinpointed.
“It could be so many reasons,” she said. “There are a lot of benefits for students in the Honors College, and the increase in staff members has definitely allowed more opportunities to reach students.”
She said a new Honors College apparel line seems to have been well received around campus, and there are plans to possibly rent a billboard to help promote the Honors College continued growth. The Honors College has already doubled in size over the last three years.
“We have a fellowship program that does a lot of recruitment in pre-graduation classes,” Lash said. “I’m sure that’s boosted applications.”
Nicole Binbowski, a senior in the EMU Honors College and a computer science major, said she isn’t surprised the number of honors students has reached 1,400 members.
“It’s definitely a positive way to get students involved and to make goals,” Binbowski said. “There are a lot of smart people that you get to know and learn with.”
The Honors College freshman orientation also reached record numbers this year, with more than 400 students and 500 family members in attendance.
While displaying videos and pictures from her recent study abroad trip in Japan at the orientation on Sept. 2, senior Myriah Schwartz, a Japanese language and culture major, echoed the praises of the program.
“The Honors College is so beneficial and gives a lot of different opportunities, that’s what I tried to mostly express through my display from my trip,” Schwartz said. “There are chances for students to study abroad and a lot of different possibilities that are only available through the program, and it looks good on resumes.”
Schwartz talked to multiple groups of students as they passed her table in the student center and answered questions regarding a variety of different aspects of student life.
“I pretty much told them to take advantage of the opportunities,” Schwartz said.
At the orientation new students practiced writing during different exercises, went on a scavenger hunt throughout campus and there were also group activities in problem solving. The projects were designed to teach students how to overcome obstacles and challenges that may occur throughout their first year in college. The Honors College staff also inquired what the students hoped to experience and achieve during their college years.
EMU freshman and Honors College student Lauren Rinkus plans to study computer information systems and attended the orientation. She said the event was informational, and the layout of campus was the most appeasing aspect of EMU.
“We had a paper-scissors-rock tournament, which I wasn’t expecting,” Rinkus said. “But I really liked the way campus was secluded and everything is close by. It’s not spread all across the city.”
Vicky Scarberry is also an EMU freshman and plans to major in marketing while taking Honors courses, said the orientation was a nice introduction to college life.
“I like how this campus has a lot of cultural diversity, and the Honors program has really made the transition easier because I already feel like I’m involved,” Scarberry said.
There are no extra fees to become an Honors student and the offices are located throughout Starkweather Hall.
