Williams, an SIUC history professor involved with University Honors since 1987.

There were about 300 students when I began in this program, Williams said. Now there are between 1,200 and 1,500 students, with the enrollment growing gradually every year.

I think the program has grown because of word of mouth, said Williams. More people have become aware of the quality of the program, whereas in 1987, not many knew about it all.

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Williams said the program offers recognition and rewards for undergraduate students with a minimum 3.25 GPA and 12 or more credit hours.

University Honors is a well-thought out program that has been around for one generation or more. The current program has been here for about 10 years, Williams said.

Williams said the program curriculum allows students to substitute up to 32 hours of honors seminars in place of general education classes.

Most students take one or two classes, although they can take

all of their science, social studies and humanities courses with us.

Ambar Zobairi, a senior political science and history major, said the courses are one of the best parts of the program.

The courses are very different from general education classes. Instead of 300 students in a lecture, there are about 12, she said. The classes are more intellectual and more specific.

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Although the curriculum is wonderful, the students are the outstanding part of the program, Williams said.

The dynamic portion of this program is the students, not what we offer, he said. It’s the students who determine the character of this program.

According to Williams, one feature of the program is the breakfast seminar with visiting lecturers. Throughout the year, four lecturers give a public lecture open to the Carbondale community. The following morning, the lecturer holds a question and answer seminar with a small group of University Honors students.

The breakfast seminar is really a chit-chat hour between the students and the previous nights speaker, Williams said.

Few people are chosen to go the lectures, but they are really good, Zobairi said.

Williams said Papyrus, the University Honors journal, is another feature of the program. Papyrus publishes essays, term papers, poems, short stories, photography, painting, sculpture and other forms of creative and scholarly work. The fall 1995 edition was released this week and copies are available in the University Honors Office.

Dr. K. K. Collins, programs previous director and honors professor, said he enjoyed his 10-year involvement with University Honors.

It’s splendid, said Collins. It has offered me the chance to teach great students.

The Honors Program will have an open house Sept. 13 in the Student Center Gallery Lounge beginning at 2 p.m. New, prospective and continuing Honors students are invited.