CSUN Restores Honor Program; Enrolls 140

Cal State Northridge plans this fall to resurrect its honors program, which had been gutted by budget cuts over the years and finally died in the wake of the 1994 earthquake.

About 140 students out of the total enrollment of roughly 26,000 have been admitted, said Patrick Nichelson, a religious studies professor who directs the honors program.

Entering students must have at least a 3.75 high school grade-point average and minimum SAT score of 1050 to be eligible. Continuing students need at least a 3.5 GPA.

Honors students will be able to take any of four special courses in freshman composition, public speaking, mathematical ideas and world drama. They will meet regularly with faculty mentors and accumulate a portfolio, including a self-designed Internet site.

“We want to give honors students a learning experience similar to that of a liberal arts college,” Nichelson said. “It is a vehicle for giving these students a more intensive community experience as well as careful mentorship and advisement.”

Graduates of the program will receive special commencement certificates and will be recognized at CSUN’s annual Honors Convocation. Advisors will help students design their portfolios to serve as foundations for job or graduate school applications.

Many on campus have hailed the return of honors as a symbol of the university’s continued rebuilding after the quake, Nichelson said.

“There is a sense that the campus is attracting more and more highly talented students,” he said. “If I hear any objections, it’s in the form of ‘Couldn’t it be bigger?’ or ‘We need more of this.’ ”