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| In their new space in Oak View Hall, The Honors College Dean Dr. Graeme Harper introduces the honors thesis to 21 juniors at the start of the fall 2014 semester. |
2014 promises to be a transformative year for the
Oakland University Honors College. Continuing its mission to support high-achieving students with a stimulating curriculum and innovative research opportunities, the College is set to welcome the largest freshman class in its history.
This talented group of 300-plus students – roughly 40 percent more than last year’s class – joins OU at a time of expansion and growth for the entire campus, including newly constructed facilities for the Honors College.
“We aim to be a top-10 Honors College nationally, and with these wonderful new facilities we are able to be exactly that,” said Graeme Harper, Ph.D., dean of the Honors College. With more than 300 incoming freshmen, you’ll find Honors College students in every OU major from mechanical engineering to music, chemistry to journalism, education to health sciences, and more – with a large percentage of these students ultimately heading toward the medical field.”
More than 95 percent of OU Honors College members head to graduate school,” Dr. Harper added.
The Honors College is now housed in Oak View Hall, a $30 million living and learning residence, which features premiere student accommodation and teaching facilities. Highlights include a lecture hall with high-tech video projection, first-class sound and flexible seating, and two additional small classrooms that can be configured to create an interactive “green board” space, where students can sketch and explore on the walls and screens of the room.
Along with advising, administration and social spaces, Oak View Hall’s amenities include a computer lab, numerous student lounges and meeting rooms, a café, the latest-design kitchen and laundry facilities and individual climate control. The Oak View “Sky Boxes” are a design innovation that can be seen high in front of the building. They offer spectacular glass study spaces with panoramic views across Oakland’s sprawling campus, to the new Elliott Tower and beyond.
“Working collaboratively with our colleagues in
University Housing means that the Honors College is not just a place to learn or a location on campus,” said Dr. Harper, “It is part of the fabric of Oakland’s aspirations and those of our students – whether those students are in the Honors College or not. Our collaborative venture in Oak View Hall captures the strength of those aspirations wonderfully and, because of this, we will see even more success for Oakland students in the years ahead.”
This fall, OU Honors College students have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Making Discoveries Freshmen Colloquium, which features talks from NASA engineers and leading technologists, authors, futurists, musicians, and a team from Medical Brigades. They will attend a play, build a rocket, and have the chance win one of five $500 “Spirit of Discovery” Honors College Dean’s Choice Awards, given to Honors College freshmen who best exemplify the spirit of discovery.
“This year’s Honors College freshmen, which include
Oakland University’s Presidential Scholars, join a College that is now a very strong element of Oakland University’s total undergraduate population,” Dr. Harper said. “As a high-achieving group, these freshmen will contribute positively to every class they take.”
In addition to their formal studies, this year’s Honors College freshmen will be able to attend talks, screenings, workshops and seminars, learn about study abroad and study away opportunities, conduct career planning, meet leaders in a range of fields.
The
Oak View Hall and Honors College Grand Opening will take place during OU’s inaugural fall Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Sep. 20. RSVP to
attend@oakland.edu. The students will be formally inducted into the Honors College during a ceremony on Sunday, October 12.
