Feature University Scholars Program thriving By, Douglas llioons The University Scholars Program is a University-wide honors program for academically superior students. It is designed to challenge them, to enrich and broaden their general education, and to deepen their preparation for graduate study or a profession. Eligibility to participate during the freshman year at the Hazleton Campus is limited to students in two categories: 1) Mitering freshmen are invited to participate in the program as official University Scholars if their SAT score is at least 1300 and their evaluation predicts a grade point average of 3.20 for science or 3.40 for non-science majors. 2) Entering freshmen whose scores are near these levels and whose admissions evaluation indicates a high academic potential are also invited to participate in honors courses. At the end of the freshman year, such students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 and are in the top ten percent in their college will be invited to continue their participation in the program as official University Scholars. At the end of the sophomore year, students will be invited to continue if the GPA is at The honoi s course intent is to provide a more stimulating atmosphere in which to work. least 3.20, their average in the major is at least 3.80, and they are approved by their major program. WITHDRAWAL Students may withdraw from the USP by notifying the honors advisor in writing. Students who withdraw, whether voluntary or not, will not be penalized for modifications in program requirements made while they are University Scholars. THE HONORS COURSE The honors course is central to the honors ex perience. Its intent is to provide a more rigorous examination of the subject matter, to engage the student more fully in active scholarship, and to provide a more stimulating at mosphere in which to work. Its focus is on the rigor and quality of the work done, not on increase in quantity. There is an Honors Sup plement Option which per mits the participants in USP enrolled in a regular University course, to make of it an honors course and to receive honors credit. In an honors supplement it will be the quality of the work, not the quantity which is sup plemented. Simple in creasing of the volume of work required does not constitute an honors sup plement. Regular university courses are often available under the title "Independent Study". Independent study-research may be a highly rewarding part of a student's un dergraduate program and a significant preparation for graduate study. The nature of such work varies among the disciplines, ordinarily it is an inquiry, study, or research on a topic in which the student has acquired some background. Thus it may be most appropriate in the latter part of a baccalaureate program. The Senior Honors Thesis is required for an honors degree in most programs. It is more than just a requirement for an honors degree; it can be a capstone to the entire honors education - using and ex tending what one has learned, giving a "feel" for the sub ject, developing confidence and mastery, and providing one with an achievement worth noting. Success is more likely if one begins early to sort out topics and problems which arouse one's interest and curiosity. The honors degree is awarded to students who graduate as University Scholars and who complete an approved honors thesis or comprehensive examination (or both) as determined by the department or program. An Honors degree should be distinguished from "graduation with distinc tion", a recognition awarded solely on the basis of grade point average. Following are some of the opportunities and privileges for University Scholars: 1) Flexibility which permits construction of an individual program of study for each student is one of the most important privileges for a University Scholar. 2) Registration priority, that is, participants are guaranteed enrollment in their selected courses, is a privilege ac corded to students in the USP. 3) Library privileges accorded graduate students and faculty are also granted to University Scholars. 4) An Integrated Undergraduate- Graduate Program offers University Scholars, whose well-defined academic and career plans include graduate or professional study, the opportunity and challenge of integrating their undergraduate and graduate or professional courses of study into a single, con tinuous program culminating in both a •baccalaurate and graduate degree. 5) An honors degree is awarded to students who graduate as University Scholars. 6) During the junior and senior years, University Scholars can avail themselves of other opportunities. For example, a residence halls program for University Scholars is Professor Shaevel: A superior opportunity, Just terrific. designed to provide them with some interesting and stimulating intellectual experiences and community among them in the dorms. Honors foreign study is of fered which can make a significant contribution to an honors curriculum. A Study Lounge is provided for honors students in 215 Willard, which offers University Scholars a place for conversation and study. There are occasional honors seminars or semesters at other univer sities which are available to University Scholars and honors students from many universities. Professor Shaevel, who is the honor program's advisor feels that the program is "A superior opportunity, just terrific!" The program came into being about three years ago under the direction of the University Senate headed by Dr. Paul Axt. Every major university has one such program. One such student in the USP is Pam Eppinger, (4th term journalism.) Pam says that she feels she will get more out of college with this added challenge. She also hopes to get an edge in the job market by having this distinction on her diploma. She says she would feel she had missed something if she had passed up this op portunity. Library like Grand Central Station By, Michael Lobb Have you ever been in the Library on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday at around ten thirty? If you have, you realize that at this time it is louder in the library than it was at the recent Who concert! Mondays, Wed nesdays, and Fridays at the beginning of second period are the worst times to be in the library. I recently had a talk with Mr. Richard Tyce, head librarian to discuss this and other problems surrounding the 'library. Noise is defin,itely the biggest problem. Between classes, a lot of students stop in the library to see their friends and discuss their day. This is mainly because of the central location of the library and because almost everyone is in there at least once a day, either for a class or to work. Another problem is overcrowding. Sometimes on rainy days, there are forty or fifty more people in the library than there are seats. This causes people to stand around in groups and add to the noise. Are you a tobacco chewer? Well, believe it or not, this is another big problem. Mr. Tyce has received many complaints about this from the people who clean the library. The person who chews tobacco comes into the building and drags a garbage can over to where he is sitting so he can spit the tobacco into it. But, some of them are not "sharp-shooters" and therefore miss, showering the wall, carpet, and everything else nearby with salivated tobacco. Chewing tobacco, along with smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited in the library. Other problems are vandalism, The HIGNACRES COLLEGIAN Vol. 18. No. 1 November 30,1982 Executive Editor Pamela Eppinger Adviser Dr. Michael Santulli News Editor Pamela Eppinger . Feature Editor Misty Wagner Sports Editor Terrence McCarthy Business Manager James Nichols Photo Editor Michelle Vignapiano Layout Editor Michael Lobb Writers Nick Pisani Michael Lobb Steven Zarick Alan Smith Terry McCarthy Katherine Joscht Pamela Eppinger Tina Savage Douglas Koons Misty Wagner Photographers Michelle Vignapiano Susan Molnar Artist Victoria E. Robertson - The HIGHACRES COLLEGIAN office is located in the South Building room 108. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to noon. Other hours can be arranged by ap pointment. The COLLEGIAN phone number is (767) 454- 6559. Unsigned editorials represent the official view of the COLLEGIAN. Views expressed in bylined articles are those of the individual contributor, and they do not necessarily reflect the view of the COLLEGIAN. Responsible comment to printed material is invited. Page 6 Mutilation of books and magazines, stolen signs and even a stolen plant! However, these occurances are very rare. At the entrances of the library, those gates you have to walk through going in and out of the doorway, are a counting and electronic theft detection system. Every book in the library is coded and if not properly checked out the book will set off an alarm. This prevents what little theft there is, but causes a small problem, too. The books from U-Park have a different code system, so when someone with a borrowed book walks through, the alarm goes off. The system has to be turned off before these books can be taken out. Changes are going to take place. The entire card catalog system will be done away with and a new com puterized system will be put in its place. All the in formation that used to be on the cards will be put into computer terminals that the student will use. (The computers will be standard screen and keyboard models.) Complete in formation about materials available in ours and all other Penn State libraries will be kept in the new COM microfiche catalog. You might have already noticed the red warning cards in the catalog. These are there to tell you that no new cards have been added to the catalog since December 31, 1980. If you look for something and its not in the catalog they probably. have it in the microfiche catalog. Mr. Tyce and his staff are always available and very willing to help a student with any problem that he or she might have. James Nichols" Debbie Boyer Mary Anne Liotta Melissa Harrison Michelle Vignapiano Joan Holman
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