Student Engagement 2. Fostering a Sense of Belonging and Connection Among Honors Students in a Research University 

Amy Atkisson, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Across higher education, we know success is tied to student wellbeing.

Keeping students engaged and making sure they feel connected in a larger Honors College can be particularly challenging.

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Honors College has grown from a few small specialized Honors programs in 2011 to a full Honors college with more than 2500 students enrolled this year. We have made it a primary focus to maintain that invaluable sense of connection through our rapid growth, then throughout and after the pandemic.

This presentation will focus on utilizing best practices in Honors education to keep students engaged, beginning with a literature review focusing on post-2020 student wellness and student engagement. I will share the coeducational programming approach of the UAB Honors College. I will discuss several programming successes and failures, including logistics, creative use of physical and virtual space, and incorporating student voices.

A particularly successful project I will highlight is our Honors College New Student Retreat and our small group leaders - SMART Leaders (Student Mentor And Retreat Team). This three day experience immerses our approximately 600 new students into the Honors College, UAB, and Birmingham. Further, the SMART Leader program provides a significant leadership development opportunity for 150 student leaders.

I will share our experiences over the last decade, including what we’ve kept and what we haven’t and why. I hope for a discussion among attendees and sharing of others’ experiences as well.