As I begin my fourteenth year as the Director of the Honors College, it is thrilling to see where we have come and consider where we have yet to go. I remember an interview I had over seventeen years ago as part of my Kellogg Fellowship with the president of Marietta College in Georgia. Upon meeting me she said, "So, tell me, what's your passion?" Without hesitation, I can say that my "passion" today is the work that is happening in the name of West Chester University Honors. From our curriculum to our greatest asset, the gifted young men and women who hold membership in Honors, our College truly embraces the university's call for a "Plan for Excellence."

Dr. Kevin Dean Director of Honors

Without question, the cornerstone of the Honors College is the curriculum. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition of education, we offer an interdisciplinary course of study focused on personal leadership development. Our mission challenges students to reflect upon what contributions they will make to their communities -- perhaps the greatest testimony to the value of a higher education degree. Our curriculum prepares students to discover their own giftedness, to see the value of team approaches to problem solving, and to have exposure to the components necessary to enact real change. The core courses replace traditional general education courses. To make logistics of Honors work with every major program on campus, Honors students are given priority scheduling.

The pride of the Honors College is our student body. Students in Honors represent a diversity of academic backgrounds spanning 36 distinctive disciplines. Such diversity truly enlivens discussions in class when a pre-med major and a major in music education can come together to discuss strategies for economic enhancement, formation of ethical standards for genetic testing, and approaches to survey research. While students spend a majority of their time with peers in their home departments, Honors provides a living-learning community environment where students reside in a designated Honors residence hall. Over the past years this option has increased in its attractiveness as a video/film technology lab, study lounge and group meeting space were added to the floor. The Honors Student Association, the social arm of the College, holds monthly meetings and hosts a wide range of service and social opportunities each month.  As testimony to the impact this group makes on campus, the university recognized the Honors Student Association as “Organization of the Year” for 2007-2008.  Through H.S.A., students clocked over 1,600 hours of community service and volunteerism.  Anticipations for 2008-2009, in addition to multiple opportunities for on campus and community service each month include: our annual bus trip to Washington D.C., Tail Gate and Group Attendance at a September Philly’s game, fall NYC trip to see the Broadway production of “Wicked”, Halloween Haunted Hay Ride, special movie and theatre performances, guest authors, holiday party in Princeton, spring semi-formal dance, sponsorship of our annual graduate school fair, our annual Aid for South Africa (ASA) Fundraising Walk and Cultural Celebration, teacher celebration tea, recruitment events, and the spring banquet.

A highlight of May 2008 was the study project in South Africa, involving a team of 41 Honors students and faculty.  In addition to seeing wildlife and splashing in the Indian Ocean, students conducted a community needs assessment in Guguletu Township, just outside of Cape Town.   Students also worked at H.E.L.P. Ministries Soup Kitchen (feeding as many as 6,000 elementary school children daily), spent time at Sparrow Village (an HIV-AIDS orphanage) and Nikosi’s Haven (care center for mother’s with HIV-AIDS and their children).   Video shot by our students will be used in spring 2009, as the basis for a special topics Honors seminar, “Documentary Production for Social Justice Causes.”  This was our 4th such study project since 2001.  The next group program is been planned even now for 2010. I am so proud of the contributions to improved communication and access to health care that our students’ research has encouraged.

This year, I am particularly excited about our 2nd group travel to China.  In May 2009, some 20-30 Honors students and faculty will travel to China, as an extension of a spring 2009 Honors seminar, and study educational leadership, culture, art and oral history.  We anticipate spending time with elementary school students and teachers and college students from Tianjin University.  We will gain first hand experience in traditional Chinese medicine, silk manufacturing, and wildlife preservation and speak with local leaders about the impact of the Olympic experience.  Visits will also involve the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and of course climbing the great wall.  A new feature this year is an amazing opportunity for the WCU delegation to spend some time in Taiwan.

We also benefit from a renewed grant from the Bonner Foundation that supports greater development of the Bonner-AmeriCorps Leaders Program--an opportunity for students to receive a $1,000 educational award for outstanding leadership and service. Finally, as an outgrowth of our fall 2007 “25th Anniversary Celebration of Honors” at WCU, we anticipate even greater opportunities for interaction between our alumni and current students. 

Dr. Kevin W. Dean
Professor, Communication Studies
Director of Honors College