Honors program not intending to expand housing
Vanessa Bitner
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: News
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Laurel Hall has expanded its honors floors from one to two this year after Dr. Marcia Godich, the Honors Director at the university, made the suggestion to the student housing authorities to do so, based upon an increasing number of honor students at East Stroudsburg University who wish to reside in Laurel Hall.
Laurel Hall is the closest housing to Stroud Hall where a majority of classes take place. Because of its location, this community tends to be an older crowd. According to Mike Kravetsky, the graduate assistant of Laurel Hall, "We have a nice atmosphere with a mix of well-behaved, mature and friendly students. Personally, this is a huge change from other dorms."
For the past three years, Laurel has had an honors floor. Students that reside there have to sign an Honor Student Residency Policy agreeing to "live and behave in accordance with a 24 hour quiet study environment and to participate in floor activities and programs that are offered in this community." According to Jackie Gomez, a residing senior on the honors floor in Laurel, "I have lived in other dorms before, and there is no difference in the atmosphere. The 24 hour quiet policy does not exist."
Alexis Bradley, a residing senior in Laurel Hall, stated, "I have heard something about Laurel changing into an all-honors dorm, but personally it wouldn't matter because I believe there is no difference either way."
The circulating rumors of Laurel Hall being turned entirely into an honors dorm are false. According to Godich, "I don't believe there will be any consideration of further expansion in the immediate future, since we don't have any immediate plans to expand the number of students in the honors program."
Despite the fact that there are no immediate plans to expand Laurel any further in the near future, Godich and Kravetsky agree it would be a good thing. "Students of similar interests and needs can help each other adjust to university life, and engage in study sessions and other activities of common interest. Such dorms encourage students to get involved in group service projects and sponsoring co-curricular events open to the university and community. Honors dorms also provide office space for the honors faculty and staff, which make them more readily accessible to the students," Godich stated.
According to Kravetsky, "Some non-honor students might feel like they are losing their options, but I feel that if Laurel did expand to entirely honor students, there would still be a sufficient amount of room to house them because of the new apartments being built for upperclassmen next year."
On the down side, honors programs have been charged with being elitist. Godich stated, "I have not found this the case among our students or those in other honors programs I have visited - including programs with honors dorms. In general, honors students interact with the general university population as much or more than other special interest groups."
Godich does not believe that honors students should be rewarded simply for being bright, but that they should be recognized for their achievements. Godich concluded, "An honors dorm can make it easier for them to complete a challenging program and to extend the benefits of their learning to the campus community at large."
Laurel Hall is the closest housing to Stroud Hall where a majority of classes take place. Because of its location, this community tends to be an older crowd. According to Mike Kravetsky, the graduate assistant of Laurel Hall, "We have a nice atmosphere with a mix of well-behaved, mature and friendly students. Personally, this is a huge change from other dorms."
For the past three years, Laurel has had an honors floor. Students that reside there have to sign an Honor Student Residency Policy agreeing to "live and behave in accordance with a 24 hour quiet study environment and to participate in floor activities and programs that are offered in this community." According to Jackie Gomez, a residing senior on the honors floor in Laurel, "I have lived in other dorms before, and there is no difference in the atmosphere. The 24 hour quiet policy does not exist."
Alexis Bradley, a residing senior in Laurel Hall, stated, "I have heard something about Laurel changing into an all-honors dorm, but personally it wouldn't matter because I believe there is no difference either way."
The circulating rumors of Laurel Hall being turned entirely into an honors dorm are false. According to Godich, "I don't believe there will be any consideration of further expansion in the immediate future, since we don't have any immediate plans to expand the number of students in the honors program."
Despite the fact that there are no immediate plans to expand Laurel any further in the near future, Godich and Kravetsky agree it would be a good thing. "Students of similar interests and needs can help each other adjust to university life, and engage in study sessions and other activities of common interest. Such dorms encourage students to get involved in group service projects and sponsoring co-curricular events open to the university and community. Honors dorms also provide office space for the honors faculty and staff, which make them more readily accessible to the students," Godich stated.
According to Kravetsky, "Some non-honor students might feel like they are losing their options, but I feel that if Laurel did expand to entirely honor students, there would still be a sufficient amount of room to house them because of the new apartments being built for upperclassmen next year."
On the down side, honors programs have been charged with being elitist. Godich stated, "I have not found this the case among our students or those in other honors programs I have visited - including programs with honors dorms. In general, honors students interact with the general university population as much or more than other special interest groups."
Godich does not believe that honors students should be rewarded simply for being bright, but that they should be recognized for their achievements. Godich concluded, "An honors dorm can make it easier for them to complete a challenging program and to extend the benefits of their learning to the campus community at large."