Measures Taken to Advance Honors Program

Office to Open and Video to be Produced

The students, faculty, and administration of Yeshiva College have taken significant steps to assure that the school's Honors Program begins by the 1999 fall semester. The program, under the direction of Dr. Frank Felsenstein, will require new students to enroll in first year honors survey courses (Honors 1 and 2) and then complete a minimum of six honors electives. Honors students must also write a senior thesis, participate in co-curricular activities such as summer courses or internships, and complete 108 credits at Yeshiva College.

Arrangements for present students to graduate with honors will be made on an ad personam basis.

The prerequisites for transfer into the honors college include maintenance of a 3.7 GPA as well as recommendations from previous professors.

Members of the administration assert that they are working to acquaint students with the opportunities the Honors Program will make available. A brochure listing current courses offered at the honors level as well as the requirements for each individual course has been published.

A video featuring future activities of the Honors Program is being produced. It will include several speeches and meetings held on such topics as faculty publications, student summer experiences, and the pursuit of Fulbright fellowships.

Fourteen honors courses are being offered this fall, including classes in the English, Biology, Chemistry, Bible, History, Philosophy, Psychology, and Political Science departments. Further, a physics program will be offered this summer that will afford students the opportunity to study in Florence, Italy for two weeks.

Felsenstein noted that "the new honors program will enhance the level of academic excellence in Yeshiva College. It will be an exciting opportunity for both students and faculty to move forcibly into the new millennium." Dean Joyce Jesionowski said, "students constantly drop by my office to express their enthusiasm over the new Honors Program…this is evidence that students were in need of such a program."

A new Honors office will be opening in Furst Hall room 108. Students interested in enrolling in the program are encouraged to speak to Dr. Felsenstein in the new office on either April 29^th or May 5^th from 11 am-1 p.m.