<p>As most of us know, the Honors Program at Tulane was changed pretty dramatically recently, with this incoming class being the first to come in under the new guidelines. They even changed the name of the program that just occurred from Honors Weekend to Top Scholars Weekend.</p>
<p>So I would appreciate anyone that attended the event relating anything you can remember about how they are positioning the current program, what they are saying the advantages are, why they made the changes (if they said), and any hints they may have dropped about the future direction, such as something possibly called The University Scholars program. That makes me think maybe they are working off of the Newcomb Scholars model, which I think is fantastic. In any case, all input is welcome.</p>
<p>fallenchemist - my recollection is that Tulane was planning to have a second program which I believe will be called University Scholars. It will be much smaller (perhaps 75 people). Dr. Luongo indicated that incoming freshman could apply for admission to the program at the end of their first year. I don’t recall the differentiating factors between this new program and the Top Scholars although it looks like it is being positioned as more exclusive.</p>
<p>Here’s the scoop, from what I know:</p>
<p>At the end of Spring 2013, Tulane discontinued the requirement that students fulfill the Honors Program in order to graduate magna and summa cum laude. Those honors are now determined by GPA alone. So for students admitted with Honors status, there remain a number of opportunities (special courses, housing, advising . . .), but none of these are required. The honors thesis remains for students who have academic or scholarly ambition. Students who write a thesis graduate “with honors in” their major or majors.</p>
<p>The Tulane Scholars Program is planned to begin Spring 2015, and will aim to give a more structured experience for students who desire greater academic/intellectual engagement–students who are, in effect, on a thesis track. It will offer some required courses, special advising/mentoring by Tulane faculty, a residential community, and other co-curricular opportunities. The plan is that the program will include around 75 students per academic year.</p>