Honors College to Host National Society for Minorities in Honors Conference

The Honors College will host the eighth annual National Society for Minorities in Honors Conference “Why Honors?” on the U of A campus Oct. 25-27. 

The conference will focus on defining the value of an honors education, evaluating success metrics and creating a welcoming and inclusive honors experience for all. 

Outside academics, students need spaces where they have a sense of belonging and access to a supportive community where they can thrive as scholars and individuals. Faculty, staff and students from across the country will come together to answer the question: Do high-achieving students from minority communities see themselves represented in the honors experience? 

The interactive conference includes panels, workshops and roundtable discussions that aim to provide examples of how programs or colleges are engaged in this work and presentations that challenge institutional boundaries.

“The Honors College in partnership with the Student Success Center are honored to host this key national conference dedicated to diversifying the honors population in higher education,” said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. “Join us for lively conversations about pressing issues facing both students and the dedicated professionals working in honors education.”

The National Society for Minorities in Honors was founded in 2015 to bring together and advance discussions and action in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion in honors education. 

Find more information and register for the conference. Registration rates will increase after Aug. 15. If you have conference questions, contact Xochitl Delgado Solorzano, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the Honors College. 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.