By the late 1960s, NIU enrollment topped 20,000 students. Among the many needs of this growing and diverse population was greater challenge for the highest-performing among them.
In a document approved by the University Council on May 1, 1968, the Council on Instruction set forth the mandate of what was to become the University Honors Program. The study that preceded the Council’s vote concluded that the program needed to be separate from colleges and departments to ensure that an honors education had a coherent structure.
The Honors curriculum was to consist of both special sections of regularly offered courses and unique courses developed specifically for Honors students. Honors work was to “demand of students a high degree of scholarly discipline and expertise, be intellectually stimulating, and provide the highest quality of collegiate experience possible.” Honors courses were to be distinguished by a seminar-type structure, limited enrollment, and an emphasis on independent study.
Dr. John H. Ulrich was appointed as the first Honors director in 1969. Among his first responsibilities was working with colleges and departments on the development of honors courses. Among the first to express interest were the departments of English, Mathematics and Chemistry, and the International Studies program.
Ulrich also needed to recruit eligible students into the program. To qualify for Honors, a student needed to have graduated in the upper 10% of their high school class, or for transfer, to bring a minimum grade point average of 3.25.
The Honors Program was directed by an Honors Council, consisting of eight faculty and at least two students (later increased to four), and the student representatives enjoyed full voting rights.
Criteria for graduation with University Honors initially required that at least six of the required 24 hours in Honors course work be outside the student’s major field. This was seen as a necessary encouragement to students to liberalize their educational experience. Two years later, that requirement was increased to 12 hours.
During its first year of operation, the Honors Program enrolled 98 students and offered 15 courses. Two years later (and under the direction of a new leader, Dr. Roger D. Irle), Honors enrolled 439 students and offered 37 courses. Further improvements over the next few years included making the Honors directorship a full-time position, and adding support staff and an advisor. By the end of its first five years, the University Honors Program enrolled 648 students and offered 47 courses. And in 1973, the May Commencement featured for the first time 12 students who graduated “with University Honors.”
Today, approximately 800 students participate in the University Honors program each year, and over 100 courses qualify as Honors Program work. The program also includes co-curricular work to help students prepare for graduate school, career success, and to encourage lifelong engagement and service in their communities.
