Honors program introduces a second pathway to graduation

To better serve honors undergraduates whose post-baccalaureate goal is a job, not graduate school, the university honors program is launching a second pathway over the next few years. A key distinction is that in place of an individual, research-focused experience, honors students will work in interdisciplinary teams on a yearlong capstone project that focuses on one or more of the humanitarian challenges in the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These include poverty, gender equality, clean water, affordable clean energy, responsible consumption and quality education, for example.

The new innovation pathway also is more structured in its required seminars and supporting coursework, including honors sections of LD ST 3700 (Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and ENGL 3020 (Business Communication).

Laurie Law, administrative director of the honors program, said the new pathway addresses both the skillsets employers say they want in college graduates and Gen Z's stated desire to make a difference.

"We're creating something that's project-management focused, truly interdisciplinary and focuses on career readiness," she said. "We received feedback from students who were struggling to find value in an honors program when they're not on a path to graduate school, which is what a lot of honors curriculums are built for. We need to keep evolving to meet their needs."

She said the more structured curriculum in years two and three gives students a foundation to spend a year on a capstone project.

"Our goal is that they're pitching their [capstone] solution at one of the innovation competitions already happening at Iowa State or off campus," Law said. "This won't be a requirement, but that's the level we're trying to get students to work at."

Opportunities for faculty

Law said several changes for the honors program are in the works to help support the two pathways. First, the faculty director post will be revived as a half-time or full-time position. The position has been vacant since 2018, when former Morrill Professor of English Susan Yaeger stepped down from the honors program.

Secondly, an honors program student fee would provide the funds to incentivize faculty invited to be part of honors seminars or capstones. The innovation pathway structure would include quarter-time faculty fellows, perhaps three each year, who provide academic coaching support to the capstone experience. With student team members, they'd also help identify faculty with relevant expertise who provide insight, on a short-term basis, to a team and its humanitarian challenge.

"We need additional dedicated faculty for the honors program, and we know we can't keep asking them to volunteer," Law said.

Third, a whole new series of honors seminars is being developed that focuses on sustainability and community activism, including an alternative spring break to Costa Rica. Law said she has invited nine faculty members to teach sections of the seminars for the first time this spring.

Rolling out the new pathway

This fall's first-year honors students were introduced to the two pathways, Law said, although the year 1 course requirements for both pathways are the same with themes of community, discovery and leadership. Beginning this spring, second-year honors students may choose the new innovation curriculum. This will continue for two academic years until the innovation pathway is fully implemented during the 2026-27 academic year.

By chance and driven by student initiative, the innovation team capstone concept is being piloted this year by 12 honors students who formed three project teams. Kurt Rosentrater, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the quarter-time faculty fellow advising the groups as they develop their challenges this fall. During spring semester, he'll help them find the additional faculty resources they need.

Law said the honors program draws a large number of students who are career-focused after their four years, so it's smart to help them develop skills they can take to their first job.

"High-impact practices like learning communities and undergraduate research started across the country as honors programming, but eventually weren't reserved just for honors students," Law noted. "So, what's the new cutting edge for honors programs? Where can we have impact? Honors programs inherently are interdisciplinary, so we think this pathway makes sense."

At a glance: Honors program pathways to graduation