Dr. Linda Thompson, direclorofStudem Support Services, and administrative assistant BillHodges lookoversome departmental reports. Thompson and her co-workers offered many services to students needing help with classwork. Pboto by Krisli Burns. cfJr. fgny fQng remains dedicated to betteringfionors Program Harding 's Honors Program has grown from its infan cy into a structured. program co ns tant ly adapting to students ' needs and concerns. Dr. Larry Long has been involved with the program since its inception in 1989 and remai ns dedicated to making it better. The Honors Program offi cially began in the fa ll of 1989 after three years of resea rch conducted by a committee c ha ired by Long . Suggestions from the administra tion, faculty and students led to the development of the committee and eventually the creation of the Honors Program. "The true importance came from a recognition that we were recruiting some really excellent students, and we didn 't offer them a program that would a llow them to reach the ir potential ," Long said. At the core of the Honors Program are specific cou rses designed to chall enge students. Long explained that the prograrn "ma kes classes different by emphasizing certain skills, certa in behaviors, that we feel a re necessary. " In general , the classes are smaller than traditional classes and focus more on discuss ion and personal interactio n between students and teachers. Junior Randall Parks has taken several honors classes. "The honors courses I have taken are my favorite classes. They are usually smaller and feature more one-on-one contact with the teacher. They aren 't harder than my other classes , just d iffe rent. They rea ll y challenge your mind, " he said. The Honors Program includes more than just special classes. It also offers opportunities to participate in activities with other honors students outside the classroom. Many of these activities , ranging from picnics and devotionals to mentoring programs, are directed by the student-led Honors Association. Long said the purpose of these activi ti es is "ma inly to get the students involved, because we fee l that's important. We especia ll y want the incoming freshman to meet some upper-level students right from the get-go. " Long is especially proud of the menroring program that matches incoming freshman with seniors in their major. "It allows them to get advice , not just from their adviser, the person on top of the mountain , but from the guy cl imbing the moun tain with them ," Long said. Parks, who served thi s year as president of the Honors ASSOCiat io n, 'said the best part of the Honors Program is "getting to know so many people who like to be involved in honors and who like to use the talents God gave them. " Students can join the Program in one of three ways: by receiving a National Merit or Trustee scho larship, by having a 28 or higher composite score on their ACT, or by having a 3.25 or higher cumulative grade point average after two semesters. "We have gone from a prototype program to what is, not just in our eyes, a fairly successfu l, popular , in terest ing program," Lo ng said. "The Dr. Larry Long preSides over a meeting ojhonors officers. After three years oj research, the Honors Program was formed fn 1989 to proVide students an opportu'nity to reach their Jull potential. Photo by Krisli Burns. most obvious change has been size; the fi rst semester we had 19 students, and today we have more than 500." Long said he envisions a constamly changing Honors Program. "The key to any program is [hat it continues to mature. As the University changes and grows, so must the Honors Program," he said. \Xlhile Long envis ions the program maturing, he also sees it clinging to the same traditions he fee ls have made it strong. " \Xle g ive th e s tud e nts more opportunities to develop and enhance their potential , to be closer to where they want to be, and that's what we' re all about. " - Scott Loftis Academics 51 ffiiI
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