Unit: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Program: Honors
Date: Thu Oct 10, 2013 - 10:19:44 am

1) Below are your program's student outcomes (SOs). Please add or update as needed.

Selected Studies Student Learning Outcomes

The Honors Program has identified a set of specific outcomes for students who complete the Selected Studies program.  Students who earn Sophomore Honors will be able to: 

  1. Show an understanding of the diverse nature of scholarship in the university;
  2. Articulate clearly a sound argument in written and oral form;
  3. Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources;  
  4. Conduct basic bibliographical, historical and geographical research;
  5. Engage purposefully in leadership/service, mentorship and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities.

Upper Division Honors Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Honors Program has identified a set of specific outcomes for students who complete the upper division component of the Honors Program.  Honors degree candidates will be able to:

  1. Write and publicly defend a proposal for the Senior Honors Project;
  2. Conduct independent scholarly work of professional or near professional quality in their field;
  3. Report research in oral and poster presentations in the format expected at professional academic conferences;
  4. Engage purposefully in scholarship, leadership/service, and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities outside of the classroom.

2) Your program's SOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.

Program's Website. URL: http://www.honors.hawaii.edu/programs/standards/slo.html
Student Handbook. URL, if available online:
Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure. URL, if available online:
UHM Catalog. Page Number:
Other: Honors course syllabi
Other:

3) Provide the program's activity map or other graphic that illustrates how program activities/services align with program student outcomes. Please upload it as a PDF.

Activity Map File(s) from 2013:

4) Did your program engage in any program assessment activities between June 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013? (e.g., establishing/revising outcomes, aligning activities to outcomes, collecting evidence, interpreting evidence, using results, revising the assessment plan, creating surveys, etc.)

Yes
No (skip to question 14)

5) For the period June 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the student outcomes that were targeted, if applicable.

Sophomore Honors Award Completion Survey
Please complete the questions below about your experience in the Selected Studies Program.

Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below.I am able to:
    Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree  
Show an understanding of the diverse nature of scholarship in the university.    
Articulate clearly a sound argument in written and oral form.    
Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources.    
Conduct basic bibliographical, historical and geographical research.    
Engage purposefully in leadership/service, mentorship and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities.    

The best aspects of the Selected Studies Program are:
The aspects of the Selected Studies Program that need improvement are:
Additional Comments:
Upper Division Honors Program Exit Survey

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information about your experience in the Honors Program at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa.  Your answers will help us to determine how well we are meeting our mission and to identify areas that need improvement.  Also, we hope that you will provide us with personal information and contact addresses so that we can stay in touch.  We also appreciate knowing your plans after graduation.  This information is confidential and will be used only by the Honors Program for assessment purposes.

1. Personal Information

Name: 

Student ID: 

Permanent address:

UH Email: 

Other Email: 

Graduation Date: 

2. Future plans

a. Graduate School/Professional School:

Where? 

Degree? 

Scholarship? 

b. Employment

Company/Institution? 

Position? 

c. Other

Please explain: 

3. Overall experience in the Honors Program

Please check the box that most applies:

Strongly

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Agree

1

Honors was one of the highlights of my college experience

2

Honors courses were appropriately challenging

3

The Honors Program website was helpful

4

The Honors Program office staff was helpful

5

Honors advising was useful

6

I felt that I was part of an Honors community

7

I was impressed by the caliber of other Honors students

8

I feel that Honors students are appreciated by UH Manoa

9

Honors integrated well with my degree program

 10

Honors has helped prepare me for my future goals

11

The Honors Program encourages co-curricular engagement

12

The Honors Program cares about its students

Comments:

4. The Senior Honors Project

Please check the box that most applies:

Strongly

Strongly

Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Agree

1

HON 495 was a good preparation for my Senior Honors Project

2

I found faculty open and receptive as I looked for a mentor

3

My mentor was supportive

4

My mentor was readily available

5

My mentor was interested in me and my project

6

I was properly informed of the requirements of the project

7

I feel that I was adequately helped to prepare my poster

8

I feel that I was adequately helped to prepare my oral presentation

9

I feel that my project was fairly assessed

10

I feel my project helps prepare me for my future endeavors

Comments:

5. What was the single most valuable part of the Honors experience to you and why?

6. What was the single least valuable part of the Honors experience to you and why?

7. Do you feel there was anything missing or anything that we might add to make the experience more

           valuable to you?  Please explain.

8. What recommendations do you have for other students starting the Honors Program?

9.  Do you have any other comments or suggestions?

6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.

Quantitative and qualitative data from student surveys were gathered.

7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

15 students completed the online Sophomore Honors Award Completion Survey.

8) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? Check all that apply.

Program faculty/staff member(s)
Faculty/staff committee
Ad hoc faculty/staff group
Director or department chairperson
Persons or organization outside the university
Students (graduate or undergraduate)
Dean or Associate Dean
Advisory Board
Other:

9) How did he/she/they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? Check all that apply.

Compiled survey results
Used quantitative methods on student data (e.g., grades, participation rates) or other numeric data
Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, or other open-ended response data
Scored exams/tests/quizzes
Used a rubric or scoring guide
Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used)
External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., Social Science Research Institute)
Other:

10) For the assessment questions/goals stated in Question #5, summarize the actual results.

Summary of Sophomore Honors Award Completion Survey

Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below. - Show an understanding of the diverse nature of scholarship in the university.
Strongly Disagree   1 7%
Disagree   1 7%
Neutral   2 13%
Agree   7 47%
Strongly Agree   4 27%
Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below. - Articulate clearly a sound argument in written and oral form.
Strongly Disagree   1 7%
Disagree   0 0%
Neutral   1 7%
Agree   6 40%
Strongly Agree   7 47%
Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below. - Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources.
Strongly Disagree   1 7%
Disagree   0 0%
Neutral   0 0%
Agree   5 33%
Strongly Agree   9 60%
Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below. - Conduct basic bibliographical, historical and geographical research.
Strongly Disagree   1 7%
Disagree   0 0%
Neutral   0 0%
Agree   9 60%
Strongly Agree   5 33%
Please complete the grid below with the degree to which you agree with the statements below. - Engage purposefully in leadership/service, mentorship and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities.
Strongly Disagree   1 7%
Disagree   0 0%
Neutral   3 20%
Agree   5 33%
Strongly Agree   6 40%
The best aspects of the Selected Studies Program are:
The Honor's A classes are very diverse and have challenging curriculums with smaller class sizes, which really enhances learning. There is also a great selection of interesting Sophomore Seminars to choose from, relating to any major.Early Registration was the main thing that lead me to it. But I thought that the teachers of the selected studies were all really good.Small classes and the comfy chairs in the Honors Lounge.My Honors Professors have been very helpful and the courses were interesting.Social networking and meeting other students who share similar ambitions and valuesThe smaller,...
The aspects of the Selected Studies Program that need improvement are:
The Freshman Introduction to Research class was very basic.I can't really think of anything in particular.More A sections would be great.Course choices are rather limited and instructors are not the bestScholarship helpThere should be a description about the professors who teach the honors courses so students have an idea about what the honors course is going to teach. classes should be more discussion based and research skills should be emphasized moreCommunication of class offerings to honors students.A larger pool of classes to choose from (a wider range of topics). NoneNone, loved it.Ad...
Additional Comments:
I had a great time in the Selected Studies Honors Program, and I am glad that I decided to go this route. I will be recommending the program to others.I think the teachers made selected studies much more than a normal class. I could feel the genuine interest they had in teaching and care for the education of the students they taught.I really like the lockers and the cheap coffee. =DPlease allow students to claim unused lockers after 2 weeks into the semester.Thank you N/A

Upper Division Honors Program Exit Survey

Questions #1 and 2: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-C5VCjlXTy0al9haW9sbV9yQmc/edit?usp=sharing

3.     What was the single most valuable part of the Honors experience to you and why?

For most students, the emphasis on independent research and completion of their Senior Honors Project were the most valuable parts of their Honors experience. Others stated that the guidance and mentorship they received from their thesis advisors and mentors were also meaningful parts of their Honors experience. In addition, students found their participation at the biannual undergraduate conferences, Fall Forum and Spring Symposium, to be a significant part of their Honors experience as it prepared them for future professional presentations.

4.     What was the single least valuable part of the Honors experience to you and why?

According to the majority of the students, the least valuable part of their Honors experience was taking either HON 291 or HON 491, Honors Sophomore/Junior Seminar, as they were not always relevant to their major or necessary for their Senior Honors Project.

5.     Do you feel there was anything missing or anything that we might add to make the experience more valuable to you?  Please explain.

Many student stressed that a more user-friendly website would have been helpful and beneficial in navigating important information, deadlines, and forms. Other students looked for more opportunities to interact and network with fellow Honors students in a variety of settings, such as welcome reception and social outings. Additionally, many students also felt that an integration of other majors and disciplines such as Business and Apparel Production Design Management, with the Honors Program would have been valuable in conducting their Senior Honors Projects.  

6.     What recommendations do you have for other students starting the Honors Program?

One of the recommendations provided by the students is to plan ahead and start immediately on the Senior Honors Projects to avoid procrastination. Additionally, students stressed the importance of finding a thesis advisor or mentor who is knowledgeable and committed to their Senior Honors Project. Other students advised that regular communications with thesis advisors and Honors Program staff is important to avoid missing deadlines, requirements, and important information.

7.     Do you have any other comments or suggestions?

Although the Honors Program was challenging and required arduous work, many students found their experience in the Honors Program to be invaluable and instrumental as it challenged and helped them grow and develop academically, personally, and professionally during their undergraduate years.  

11) What was learned from the results?

Overall, students in the Selected Studies Program have consistently very positive experiences. The area that needs most improvement are the course offerings in regard to a greater variety of courses to offer.

Although the Honors Program was challenging and required arduous work, many students found their experience in the Honors Program to be invaluable and instrumental as it challenged and helped them grow and develop academically, personally, and professionally during their undergraduate years.  

12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.

We are already trying to increase the number and diversity of Honors courses offered every semester. 

13) Reflect on the assessment process. Is there anything related to assessment procedures your program would do differently next time? What went well?

In the future, we will consider using an online survey for the Upper Division Honors Program Exit Survey to make it easier for students to submit and for compliation of responses. Using an online survey for the Sophomore Honors Award Completion Survey has proven helpful in these aspects.

14) If the program did not engage in assessment activities, please explain.
Or, if the program did engage in assessment activities, please add any other important information here.

Thank you for having us complete annual assessment reports. It really encourages us to review the assessment tools and data that we use and collect.