History
Appalachian State University has offered team-taught honors courses that fulfill core curriculum/general education requirements for over 35 years. In the late 1960s, several departments hired new faculty members with innovative ideas regarding student learning. Some of these new faculty members began advocating for an honors program, which they had experienced at previous academic institutions, among them Dr. Tom McGowan and Dr. Tom McLaughlin in the English department. The honors program began under the leadership of Dr. O. Kenneth Webb in the General College before later moving to Academic Affairs in the late 1980s. In 2008, honors moved to the newly formed University College, led by Dr. Dave Haney.
Dr. Hans Heymann organized the first departmental honors program in English in 1970, and, at first, honors was only available in academic departments. Dr. Helen Latour (Languages/Latin), and Dr. Max Smith (Music) were instrumental in forming the General Honors curriculum in the late 1970s, with the first General Honors course offered in the early 1980s. The honors courses and curriculum have been revised several times since it began, most recently in 2007.
In the late 1970s, the Honors Program began administering the Chancellor’s Scholarship; it became the University’s only full academic scholarship during the 2007-2008 academic year. The University Honors Program was renamed the Heltzer Honors Program in 2004 to acknowledge a generous bequest from Harry and Jerri Heltzer of Lenoir, North Carolina.
University Honors Coordinators/Directors:
Dr. Hubie Williams (English, 1981-1984)
Dr. Tom McLaughlin (English, 1984-1987)
Dr. Don Saunders (History, 1987-1999)
Dr. Ozzie Ostwalt (Philosophy and Religion, 1999-2004)
Dr. Lynn Moss Sanders (English, 2004-2008)
Dr. Leslie Sargent Jones (Biology, 2008-present)
Dr. Hans Heymann organized the first departmental honors program in English in 1970, and, at first, honors was only available in academic departments. Dr. Helen Latour (Languages/Latin), and Dr. Max Smith (Music) were instrumental in forming the General Honors curriculum in the late 1970s, with the first General Honors course offered in the early 1980s. The honors courses and curriculum have been revised several times since it began, most recently in 2007.
In the late 1970s, the Honors Program began administering the Chancellor’s Scholarship; it became the University’s only full academic scholarship during the 2007-2008 academic year. The University Honors Program was renamed the Heltzer Honors Program in 2004 to acknowledge a generous bequest from Harry and Jerri Heltzer of Lenoir, North Carolina.
University Honors Coordinators/Directors:
Dr. Hubie Williams (English, 1981-1984)
Dr. Tom McLaughlin (English, 1984-1987)
Dr. Don Saunders (History, 1987-1999)
Dr. Ozzie Ostwalt (Philosophy and Religion, 1999-2004)
Dr. Lynn Moss Sanders (English, 2004-2008)
Dr. Leslie Sargent Jones (Biology, 2008-present)
