Honors Committee

The Faculty Senate Honors Committee provides a forum to address issues or ideas with the goal of improving the WOU Honors Program. It is one of four Faculty Senate curriculum committees and has advisory oversight over the honors curriculum.  Below is the Honors Committee charge, approved by Faculty Senate in 2016:

“The Faculty Senate Honors Committee serves in a review and advisory capacity with regard to the college’s academic Honors Program and its director. The committee will assist and advise the Honors Director with the evaluation of thesis proposals, the selection of Honors courses, and additional evaluation, Honors, and assessment requests. The Honors Committee is the curriculum committee for the Honors Program and makes its recommendations directly to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.”

The committee meets on the third Thursday of the months that classes are in regular session. In addition to faculty, class-elected honors students are full voting members — one of the distinguishing elements of the committee. Its structure derives from a desire for diversity as well as the participation of academic divisions within the program’s curriculum.

WOU Faculty Representatives

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Seats (4), one each from the Divisions of Creative Arts, Humanities, Natural Science & Math, and Social Science:

Creative Arts: Prof. Tim Cowart, Department of Dance
Humanities: Dr. Ryan Topper, Department of English
Natural Science & Math: Vacant
Social Science: Dr. Elizabeth Swedo, History Department

College of Education Seats (2), one from the Division of Education & Leadership and one from either the Division of Health & Exercise Science or the Division of Deaf & Professional Studies:

Division of Education & Leadership: Vacant
Division of Deaf Studies & Professional Studies: Prof. Erin Trine — Honors Committee Chair

Optional Seats (0-2), chosen solely from the Divisions of Behavioral Sciences; Business & Economics; Computer Science; or the Library

Division of Behavioral Sciences:  Dr. Brooke Nott, Psychological Sciences Department

Honors Program Director (ex officio):  Dr. Gavin Keulks, Department of English 

WOU Honors Student Representatives

Representatives from the sophomore, junior, and senior honors classes are voting members of the committee, as is the Honors Program Student Specialist.