UW-Eau Claire’s University Honors Program transformed into the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College at the beginning of the spring semester. According to the honors college director, Heather Fielding, the recently established college is part of the university’s strategic planning process.
Fielding said this has been a gradual process for the past 15 years. In 2010, the program nearly tripled in size, creating the need for more courses and activities. Currently, the Cosby Honors College has around 800 students who represent about 140 different majors.
“We’ve been moving in this direction for a really long time,” Fielding said. “It’s part of the natural life cycle of an honors program … If it keeps developing and growing, it’ll often turn into an honors college.”
The college offers over 30 honors courses per semester, all with an interdisciplinary focus and based on discussion. They mainly count towards liberal education credits, but Fielding said now they are trying to go beyond that, building in more options for students and expanding the curriculum.
Michael Carney, the interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said the university’s strategic vision is to elevate UW-Eau Claire’s profile and encourage students who want to be challenged and engaged in their learning to enroll.
“I think we were already operating as an honors college in terms of the quality of experiences, the small classes, unique courses … research experiences and honors contracts,” Carney said. “The breadth and depth of the honors experience was already at the level of a college.”
The new college is named after Mark Cosby, a 1981 UW-Eau Claire alumnus of the College of Business.
During his highly successful career, Cosby led various companies. He held positions such as the CEO of Michaels, president retail of Macy’s, Office Depot, Sears and CVS Caremark Corporation and chief operating officer of Yum! Brands.
Cosby has retired and decided to give back to the university. His generous donation will provide funding for the honors college. It is an endowment that will be spread out over the next few years, according to Fielding.
Since the University Honors Program was not established until 1983, Cosby was unable to be involved in it as a student. However, Carney said Cosby felt passionate about providing high-achieving students with more opportunities.
“The name is important,” Carney said. “It has a level of prestige and demonstrates commitment from the university for the honors experience … The name change elevates the program to a status that I think is probably more attractive to students.”
Fielding said the most immediate change for the new honors college will be the scholarships that honors students can apply for 一 made possible through Cosby’s donation.
“We had very few [scholarships] for continuing students before this,” Fielding said. “We’re really happy to be able to support students who are doing outstanding work.”
According to Fielding, Honors Student Council (HSC) will be a vital organization for students to be a part of as the student learning outcomes are revised for the Cosby Honors College.
“HSC serves as the student voice of honors,” Fielding said. “Getting involved in HSC would be a great way to have a voice in those changes and help us figure out what we can do to get everyone the most meaningful experience out of honors.”
Zoe Eineichner is a second-year psychology and organizational communications student and the co-president of HSC. She has been a part of honors since her first year at UW-Eau Claire.
One aspect of the former honors program Eineichner hopes to stay the same is the tight-knit community.
“I think we really get that personal connection as honors students, as well as the interdisciplinary aspects of the courses we’re in,” Eineichner said. “We can talk to people from different majors that we may not get to talk to in the 300 or 400-level classes of our major.”
Eineichner said she is looking forward to more leadership opportunities within the honors college, as well as additional resources, staffing and funding as it continues to grow.
According to Fielding, this change in status will allow for more fundraising and attract more interest from potential donors who share the same passion as Mark Cosby.
“Faculty, staff and students will all see honors as a worthwhile project that contributes a lot to the learning environment here, also helping to recruit our entering class every year,” Fielding said. “It’s all about putting honors at the center.”
Matczak can be reached at matczaij9603@uwec.edu.
