Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title:University Honors Program records
Dates: 1981-2007 (bulk 1997-2005)
Location:32/3
Call Number:A88
Volume:11 cubic ft. (11 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The University Honors Program records document the establishment of the Honors Program at Northeastern University and the annual awarding of honors scholarships. The majority of the collection consists of the projects and theses completed to fulfill the Junior/Senior Honors Project requirement.
Historical Abstract:The University Honors Program was established on a university-wide basis in 1986 in order to attract and retain the brightest students to Northeastern University. Honors students take several honors courses and have access to cultural events, conferences, internships, and other opportunities. To receive the College Honors Project Distinction (upon completion of the project) or the University Honors Program Distinction (upon completion of the project and six honors courses, including one honors seminar), students complete a Junior/Senior Honors Project within their department.
Arrangement:Organized into two series: 1. Administration; 2. Junior/Senior Honors Projects.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Boston-Bouvé College.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Business Administration.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Computer and Information Science.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Criminal Justice.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Engineering.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of African-American Studies.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Architecture.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Behavioral Neuroscience.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Biochemistry.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Biology.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Chemistry.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Communication Studies.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Economics.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Education.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of English.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Geology.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of History.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Journalism.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Linguistics.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Mathematics.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Modern Languages.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Music.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Philosophy.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Physics.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Political Science.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Psychology.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Theatre.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Visual Arts.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Chemical Engineering.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). School of Engineering Technology.

  • College students' writings, American--Massachusetts--Boston.
Restrictions:The collection is unrestricted.
Related Materials:

Beginning in 2006, Honors Program theses are available online through Northeastern University Library's Institutional Repository (IRis).
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Willeke Sandler, July 2005

Scope and Content Note

The University Honors Program records document the establishment and criteria of the Honors Program at Northeastern University, and the annual awarding of honors scholarships. The majority of the collection consists of the projects and theses completed by Honors students to fulfill the Junior/Senior Honors Project requirement. These projects represent the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Computer and Information Science, the College of Criminal Justice, and the College of Engineering. The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering are most heavily represented.

Historical Note

The University Honors Program was established on a University-wide basis in the fall of 1986 in order to attract and retain the brightest students to Northeastern University. As early as 1984-85, the idea of a University-wide Honors program was discussed by a Committee of Deans. Several honors programs already existed in some of the colleges, but they did not reflect a uniform standard and the number of students in these honors programs was fewer than 250. The all-University Honors Program established in 1987 serves the needs of academically gifted students through advanced courses, advisement, and special activities. The program grew in size, from 400 in 1989 to 1,200 in 1992.The academic component of the Honors Program consists of separate honors sections of existing courses, honors adjuncts (a one semester-hour attachment to a class in which honors students meet outside of class with the professor for additional discussion and projects), and honors seminars, geared towards sophomore and middler honors students. Students receive the Honors Course Distinction after completing six honors courses, including one honors seminar. To receive the College Honors Project Distinction (upon completion of the project) or the University Honors Program Distinction (upon completion of the project and six semester honors courses), students complete a Junior/Senior Honors Project within their department. These projects encourage students to undertake research on a topic of their choice, which might not be covered in a course. In the College of Business Administration and the College of Computer and Information Science, specific honors courses satisfy the Honors Project requirement. In other colleges, such as the College of Arts and Sciences and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the project takes the form of a research thesis or creative project. To foster a sense of community among students in the Honors Program, they have access to cultural events, conferences, internships and other opportunities. In the past, these cultural events have included trips to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Ballet, and theater performances. In addition, the Honors Program office has a computer lab and lounge for students, and Kennedy Hall is designated as an honors dormitory for freshmen. To provide additional support, specific scholarships are available to Honors students. The Carl S. Ell Presidential Scholarship Program, established in 1987, annually awards full tuition to 12 or more incoming freshman who have shown academic promise. The Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Program awards full tuition for freshman year and half tuition grants for the remaining years to academically gifted African American students. Since 1993, the Matthews Undergraduate Award has provided funding for two or three students working on independent research projects for their Junior/Senior Honors Project.
Bibliography

Feldscher, Karen. Northeastern University-The Curry Years: Smaller But Better, 1989-1996. (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2000). (LD4011.N22 F45 2000)

Frederick, Antoinette. Northeastern University- Coming of Age: The Ryder Years, 1975-1989. (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1995). (LD4011.N22 F732 1995)

University Honors Program website. http://www.honors.neu.edu, accessed July 8, 2005; July 14, 2005.
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Series:
1. Administration, 1982-2005
Volume:.15 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

The Administration Series includes Ell Scholar booklets, the Honors Program newsletter, and the legislation to establish the Honors Program.
BoxTitleDate
1Correspondence and Memoranda1985-2003
1Cultural Events1988
1Ell Presidential Scholars (3 folders)1982-1989
1Honors Program Brochuresn.d., 2003
1Honors Program Historyn.d., 1982
1Honors Program Surveyn.d.
1Honors Project Guidelines2004-2005
1Outlook: Honors Program Newslettern.d., 1989
1University Committee on Scholarships and Honors Status Report and Update I, III1986
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Series:
2. Junior/Senior Honors Program, 1981-2005 (bulk 1997-2005)
Volume:10.85 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

This series is arranged by college, and alphabetically within each college. The colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering are further arranged by department and alphabetically within each department.
Summary:

The Junior/Senior Honors Projects series consists of the final projects of students in the Honors Program. These projects include various media, such as CDs, photographs, and videos. Approximately 20 of the folders contain the administrative form from the Honors Program office, but not the project or thesis.
BoxTitleDate
College of Arts and Sciences
1African-American Studies1988
1Architecture (10 folders)1992-2003
1Behavioral Neuroscience (2 folders)2002-2005
1Biochemistry (3 folders)1998-2003
1Biology (62 folders)1984-2005
1Chemistry (4 folders)1996-2000
Communication Studies
1A-H (5 folders)1998-2003
2K-S (6 folders)2002-2004
2Economics (13 folders)1992-2005
2Education (4 folders)1999-2002
2, 11 English (31 folders) 1990-2007
2Geology (3 folders)1999-2003
History
2A-M (6 folders)1982-2004
3N-W (9 folders)1988-2000
3Independent Major1993
3Journalism (8 folders)1993-2001
3Linguistics 1981
3Mathematics (4 folders)1997-2003
3Modern Languages (2 folders)2003
3Music (16 folders)1992-2004
Philosophy
3A-Sh (6 folders)1991-2004
4Sm-V (4 folders)1986-2002
4Physics (10 folders)1994-2003
4Political Science (28 folders)1993-2005
Psychology
4A-D (21 folders)1991-2004
5F-Z (63 folders)1990-2005
5Sociology and Anthropology (9 folders)1992-2003
Theatre
5A-F (8 folders)1997-2003
6G-P (4 folders)1995-2004
6Visual Arts (14 folders)1990-2003
6Bouvé College of Health Sciences (71 folders)1984-2005
7College of Business Administration (27 folders)1991-2001
7College of Computer and Information Science (2 folders)2003
College of Criminal Justice
7A-De (19 folders)1992-2005
8Do-W (57 folders)1992-2005
College of Engineering
8Chemical Engineering (9 folders)1993-1994
Civil and Environmental Engineering
8B-C (5 folders)1994-1998
9D-V (26 folders)1993-2004
Electrical and Computer Engineering
9A-He (57 folders)1992-2006
10Hi-Z (81 folders)1993-2006
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
10A-Co (14 folders)1993-2003
11Cr-Y (64 folders)1992-2005
11School of Engineering Technology (2 folders)1994, 2001
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