Honors College records

The Honors Program [now Honors College] grew out of a study made of superior students at the school in 1957-58. Following this study, a college steering committee suggested the development of “a program that will effectively challenge the interests and abilities of the gifted student.” The steering committee made it very clear that a special program would be required. The following year a faculty Honors Committee was established to supervise and set long-range policy. Dr. Jerome A. Fallon, Associate Dean and Director of Instructional Services, was asked to serve on the Honors Committee and to act as Director of the Honors Program.

In September 1959, Ball State Teachers College established the Honors Program to “provide a maximum of intellectual challenge and individual opportunity to the student of high academic potentiality.” Offering special sections of some courses, waiving certain general requirements and devising special courses and seminars, ninety freshmen were selected to inaugurate Honors work. One year later 120 freshmen were admitted. More than 500 students participated in the program during its first four years. In 1963, the first students who had completed the four-year Honors Program graduated, receiving special recognition during Commencement.

From these early beginnings, the Honors Program became an integral part of academic life at Ball State. Under the leadership of Dr. Victor B. Lawhead, Professor of Higher Education and Dean of Undergraduate Programs, who supervised the program from 1964–67; Dr. Alexander MacGibbon, Professor of English, who guided it from 1967-70; and Dr. C. Warren Vander Hill, Professor of History, who became the director in 1970, the Program expanded in several directions.

In 1979, the University’s Board of Trustees recognized the fact that, over the last several years, the Honors Program with its four-year core curriculum, residential housing option, and departmental honors representatives had become an Honors College and granted official approval to change the name from Honors Program to Honors College, effective with the beginning of the 1979–80 academic year.