The Odessa College Board of Trustees approved starting an Honors College during a board meeting Monday.
Dean of the Liberal Arts and Education with STEM Pervis Evans said the administrative team recently approved starting the Honors College at OC for fall 2022.
The purpose is to offer rigorous coursework, an honors distinction and enriched learning opportunities.
Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA in high school and dual credit students must bejuniors or seniors at the time of entry.
A third of students over the past three years have earned a 3.5 plus GPA, Evans said. He added that they are anticipating 5 to 10 percent of students would pursue the Honors College opportunity.
Honors College students must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA, complete two honors courses within two years; volunteer two hours in the community per semester; engage in two Honors College activities per semester; complete a capstone project, research paper or internship.
They would be recognized with the honors distinction on their transcript and at graduation.
There will also be Honors Fellows scholars. The requirements are similar, but the number of honors courses would increase to four, as will the volunteer hours and activities.
They would also present at an Honors College symposium or conference, Evans said.
It would be open to any student, but they would prefer that students are on track toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Evans said they have great participation in their Phi Theta Kappa organization and they would be targeted for the Honors College, as would early college high school students.
Students would receive advising to and through college.
On a separate item, the board approved the OC Promise Program to start in 2024.
The program will be open to graduating seniors that will be part of the Class of ‘24 that will be first time in college students beginning in summer, or August 2024. It will cover tuition and fees.
Programs around the nation have increased the first time in college going rates and graduation rates.
“It’s not easy to do what we’re doing. It’s taken 75 years. This is going to be transformative,” President Gregory Williams said.
In other business, the board approved naming Tara Deaver as vice chair of the panel.
And Allisa Cornelius was named dean of the school of health sciences.
