Eileen Catte decided to try out some honors classes at Anne Arundel Community College this semester. But both of the ones she signed up for were canceled.
As she scanned the course catalog for other honors classes, she zeroed in on an environmental science course. Although it wasn't an honors class, Catte was able to make it one under a new honors contract program launched this semester at the college.
Under the honors contract, a teacher and a student must agree to 15 hours of one-to-one instruction as well as a project in addition to the regular coursework. Catte, an avid environmentalist, received approval to design an on-campus rain garden that would prevent erosion by catching storm water runoff.
After the class is finished, she and her teacher hope they can persuade campus officials to plant the garden.
Catte said the experience will be more than just a science course. "It's like, wow, activism," Catte said.
The honors contract is just one of several initiatives the college has launched this year to expand an honors programs.
This year, there are eight students in the program, and four others have applied.
Students who earn at least 18 credits in honors classes will receive a new honors certificate. The certificate will grant them automatic entry into the honors programs at Stevenson University and the University of Baltimore, as well as $1,500 scholarships to both institutions. The University of Baltimore will offer the scholarships as long as money is available, said Kelly Koermer, who oversees the honors program.
Students can earn an honors certificate with 15 credits if they earn an associate's degree in applied science. This applies whether or not they plan to transfer.
The college has set aside a new office for Koermer near the library to run the program, as well as a lounge for honors students only. Officials have designed honors program ball caps, shirts, pens and planners that they are using to promote the program on campus and off.
The freebies are a hit with the high school students that the college is trying to attract, said Katherine Voss, assistant for the honors program.
"The additional PR has really helped get our name out there and really helped us with recruitment," she said.
Although the college has had an honors program for many years, school officials felt that it needed to be built back up again, Voss said.
