Student Engagement 1. Building a Diversified External Engagement Approach in Honors

Kevin Stoller, Assistant Dean for External Relations and Student Engagement, Oregon State University Honors College

The Oregon State University Honors College was created in 1995, with an initial cohort of 250 undergraduates. In the fall of 2023, the college welcomed 850 new students, bringing total enrollment to nearly 2,000. As the college has grown, the importance of building external engagement and investment in honors has also grown, both to develop scholarship and student support resources and to create cocurricular opportunities. Given the relatively small number and youth of Honors College alumni – almost 60% of alumni have graduated in the last ten years – the college has worked to establish engagement and fundraising opportunities among other constituencies, in addition to college alumni, including parents and families of current students and other Oregon State University alumni, many of whom have little knowledge of the college. During the 2022-2023 academic year, the college held over 50 external engagement events and opportunities, ranging widely in size and in constituent audiences. This presentation will share the Oregon State Honors College’s engagement strategy, provide examples of engagement opportunities and events, and discuss outcomes.