UHP History

The Purdue University Senate voted to “promote the highest intellectual development of students of superior ability.” That aim is at the heart of the University Honors Program. Why?

The University Honors Program affords Purdue an opportunity to create a thriving academic community for students with exceptional potential.

Establishing a University Honors Program affords Purdue an opportunity to encourage faculty to experiment with course design. As a result of the Lilly Retention Initiative, 21 new honors courses have been created by colleagues from across the University and offered at the 100 and 200 level. Those courses are the basis on which a University Honors Program will structure a curriculum.

Establishing a University Honors Program affords Purdue an opportunity to promote collaboration among schools. The proposal for the creation of a University Honors Program specifies that courses from school honors programs may meet the course requirement for a university honors diploma. In addition, faculty from across the University will be asked to serve on the curriculum committee that will administer the University Honors Program.

Establishing a University Honors Program affords Purdue an opportunity to contribute dramatically to the important work of promoting “the highest intellectual development of students of superior ability.”