The Honors Program should continuously examine its approaches to attracting and retaining high-quality students.
Objective
Promote Higher Honors Awareness On Campus
The Honors College seeks to expand recruitment of current students (applicants from within the university). We will develop at least three effective initiatives for reaching this objective.
Indicator
Increased Promotions Aimed At Raising Applications From Current SHSU Students
The indicaton of increased visibility comes through the completion of the initiatives. The success of these promotion initiatives will be indicated by tabulating the percentage of increase in applications from candidates currently enrolled at Sam Houston (rather than beginning freshmen or transfer students). A second measure should be the number of applicants accepted into the program.
Criterion
3% Minium Increase
The significant initiatives to promote internal growth should equal or exceed three. The applications from current SHSU students should increase by a minimum of 3% over the same period in 2009.
Finding
SHSU Applicant/Acceptence Increases Not Achieved In 2009-10
The Honors College instituted five inititatives for promoting the Honors College to current students: (1) an Outstanding Student Reception, (2) a flyer posted around campus, (3) an Honors College video display in Academic Building IV, (4) an Honors FAQ distributed to interested students, and an Honors College banner displayed on campus. Despite these initiatives, the objectives of 3% increase in applications and students accepted into the Honors College were not met. In 2008-09 the Honors Program had 81 applications from current SHSU students with 43 being accepted. In 2009-10, there were 70 applicants, of which 39 were accepted. The 2010 admissions represented a decline of 12%, while students accepted decline by 9%. The supporting documents in this section indicated the promotion initiatives undertaken this academic year.
Action
Continue Current Efforts And Consider Other Initiatives
The disappointing findings do not change our belief that the goal is a good one. They do perhaps indicate that we need to redouble our efforts to attract current students and possibly to try to improve or expand our current initiatives. We do believe that certain factors contributed to the outcome: (1) a leveling off of current enrollment figures for the University and (2) the fact that some of our initiatives (particularly the banner, video display, and newsletter) did not happen until late in the academic year. We will implement our recruitment strategies in early fall of 2010. We believe the earlier implementation date will result in increased enrollment.
Goal
Enhance The Overall Honors Educational Experience
The honors program should strive to provide avenues for academic and scholarly fulfillment both within and beyond the honors curriculum
Objective
Expand And Enhance Honors Involvement In Undergraduate Research
In order to continue to grow its role as an educational leader on campus and to assume the responsibilities of becoming a college, the Honors College should strive to expand research opportunities and support for honors students as well as to become the center for undergraduate research at the university, both within and beyond the Honors College.
Indicator
Increased Participation In The Undergraduate Research Symposium
While the 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium was a success in content, presentation, and organization, it was not a complete success in participation. Through expanded commitment of resources and staffing, we will make every effort to promote the 2010 Symposium to both students and faculty, with the aim of increasing participation at every level. The success of this objective will be measured by the simple number of student presenters and non-presenting conference attendees relative to the corresponding numbers for teh 2009 Symposium.
Criterion
Percentage Increase In Levels Of Participation
Given the low participation last year and our commitment to devote significant resources to the Symposium, we will be aiming for a substantial increase in participation and attendance. The Honors College seeks a 20% increase in the number of presenters and the number of non-presenting attendees over the 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Finding
Presentation And Attendance Increases Exceeded
Both objectives were far exceeded. Including student posters, there were 68 student presenters, which represents an increase of 112%. The number of non-presenting attendees rose from 73 to 127, an increase of 74%. This excellent result becomes the benchmark for the 2011 Symposium. The finding attachment shows the student presenters and their presentation titles.
Action
Building On The Success Of The 2010 Symposium
The Honors College will institute the organization, promotion, and conduct procedures we used for the highly successful 2010 Undergraduate Research Symposium. This was a maximum effort, calling into force all the resources--financial and personnel--available. We fully expected a significant increase in participation, and we reached a number that justifies the expenditure of resources. Our action would be to hope to duplicate the success of this year's Symposium, though we will try to expand the numbers even beyond this year's. We have already allocated equivalent resources and, as a result of positive feedback from faculty and administration, have undertaken to secure additional outside support. Planning for the 2011 Symposium has already begun.
Goal
Growing Program Resources
The Honors Program operates under adequate but limited annual renewable resources and should seek to expand its support from both internal and external sources.
Objective
Increase The Contributions From The 2010 "Let's Talk" Fundraiser
The "Let's Talk" fundraiser, held in April, is the major source of external fundraising for the Honors College. The objective will be to increase the gross income from this vital source of funding.
Indicator
Increase In Funding Received From The "Let's Talk" Fundraiser
In the weeks following the 2010 "Let's Talk" event, we will perform an evaluation survey, which we will use to help us improve the event (including, hopefully the amount of money raised). Part of our post-event evaluation will be to compare income and costs of the event. Given that costs vary, the best test of the event's success will be a side-by-side comparison of gross proceeds for the 2009 and 2010 "Let's Talk."
Criterion
4% Increase In Total
Planning for the 2010 event was set into motion in the weeks following the 2009 event. Given new initiatives in both promotion and ability to contact potential donors, we aim for a 4% increase in total receipts. Given variability of costs and the nature of the event, total receipts (including sponsorships and ticket sales) is the best measure of year-to-year success.
Finding
Slight Shortfall In Projected Increase Of "Let's Talk" Receipts
The total income received from the 2009 "Let's Talk" event was $54,700. The corresponding figure for 2010 was $56,050. This represents a 2.5% increase, slightly short of our aim. Given the difficult economy and certain scheduling conflicts that we were not aware of, this is not a disturbing result. While we always perform a post-event evaluation (see supporting document) and will use those results to improve the 2011 event, we do not anticipate making significant structural or promotional changes to the current program. "Let's Talk" remains a signature fund-raising event for the Honors College.
Action
Continue Successful Strategies And Look For Ways To Improve
Given the difficult economy and certain scheduling conflicts that we were not aware of, this is not a disturbing result. While we always perform a post-event evaluation (see supporting document) and will use those results to improve the 2011 event, we do not anticipate making significant structural or promotional changes to the current program. "Let's Talk" remains a signature fund-raising event for the Honors College.