Current and incoming students at ETSU might be eligible for one of the new programs or 67 scholarships offered by the new Honors College.
For the first time in the university’s history, funds will also be offered on a competitive basis to enable students to study abroad in addition to the other 67 scholarships, said Dr. Jay Boland, director of the University Honors Scholars and Midway Scholars programs. Financial support ranging from $500-$1,500 will be awarded to help offset the cost of studying abroad. This program will be open to all students enrolled at ETSU.
With the new Honors College, more students will have the opportunity to get involved in honors programs. In addition to the already existing honors and honors-in-discipline programs, which promote academic excellence, two new programs will be housed in the Honors College – Midway Scholars and Arts Scholars.
“The new programs and scholarships are a great way for more students to get involved in the Honors College at ETSU,” said Travis Russell, a junior in the Honors Scholars program.
The Midway Scholars Program recognizes outstanding transfer students, and the Arts Scholars Program recognizes students who excel in visual and performing arts, Boland said. All of the 45 participants who are selected for these programs will receive scholarship support.
“I think that there has been a recognition at the university that having our current honors students has raised the academic bar across the campus,” Boland said. “The effect of honors students on the university is that other students are challenged more because of their presence.”
Along with these new programs, undergraduate research will be encouraged and recognized more than it has been in the past, Boland said.
Although a definite number has not been set, Boland said that he looks forward to making more student-faculty collaborative grants available for undergraduate research and creative endeavors. These grants can be used for student research, projects or travel to professional conferences.
“I think the Honors College gives students the opportunity to express their personal and professional desires in a variety of ways,” Russell said. “This allows us the opportunity to expand our education in a diverse and supportive environment.”
Plans for the new Honors College at ETSU became reality last spring. After conducting extensive research and visiting other Honors Colleges, committees of student and faculty representatives were assembled to come up with a proposal for an Honors College.
The proposal was then sent to the ETSU Academic Council, where it received unanimous approval. Then, after being thoroughly reviewed by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, plans for the Honors College were finalized.
“Honors is who you are and the work you do,” said Dr. Rebecca Pyles, director and dean-elect of the new Honor’s College.
To promote the Honors College, Dr. Bert Bach, vice-president of Academic Affairs, visited community colleges across the state to promote the Midway Scholars Program to potential students while Pat Cronin, associate professor of theater, has been traveling across country to recruit Arts Scholars. Other recruitment tools include new literature and a new web site.
Students are encouraged to take their work to professional conferences and become published. Students collaborate closely with faculty, and after the research is done, students are awarded Distinguished in Research at their graduation ceremony.
“I would like to see the Honors College bring a sense that this is a university where students pursue academic excellence, and that students who apply to ETSU apply here because of its academic standards,” Boland said.
“I think having an Honors College establishes credibility for the university and draws national attention to ETSU,” Russell said. “The honors program has made me push myself academically and extend myself into areas I never imagined I’d be a part of.”
Middle Tennessee State University is home to the only other Honors College in the state.
For more information, log on to www.etsu.edu/honors.

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