Campus News MU Honors College hosts PASSHE student development conference Dr. Dennis Downey (far left) with the Millersville students who participated: Emily Neideigh, Daniel Lipson, Rachel Kunicki, Betsy Hernandez, Emily Yost, Amy Parker, Erin Runyon, Benjamin Shoff, Emily Lazar, Brittany Tomes, Jordan Weller, Cassie Werth, Chelsey Wirth and Allison Breiner.
On Monday, April 15, Millersville University’s Honors College hosted the PASSHE Honors Student Development Conference at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. Nearly 75 undergraduate Honors students from across the State System participated in a day of networking, advocacy, and panel discussions devoted to “best practices” in academic, social and community engagement. The conference was supported by PASSHE and the Office of the Chancellor, and it was held in conjunction with the spring meeting of the PASSHE Honors Directors Council. From start to finish, the entire program was student-centered and student-directed. Emily C. Neideigh, a Millersville Honors sophomore, chaired the planning committee that worked closely with peers from other campuses to define issues of common concern. “The conference was a great opportunity for the students from the 14 state schools to get together and discuss issues relevant to each of their honors programs,” said Neideigh. A dozen other Millersville students played vital roles in crafting the agenda, organizing registration and facilitating sessions. On the 15th, a dozen Millersville Honors students journeyed to Harrisburg to join their colleagues for strategy sessions dedicated to academic standards, integrating study abroad into Honors curricula, student governance, mentoring and alumni involvement, community-building, and promoting statewide advocacy, among other topics. Dr. Dennis B. Downey, director of Millersville University’s Honors College, accompanied the students. Drs. John Anderson and Vilas Prabhu, Millersville’s president and provost, respectively, attended part of the day’s activities.
24 Campus News Spring-Summer 2013
“It was great to see the continuous interaction, and to listen to the really well-formed ideas about community building and academic excellence within PASSHE being proposed by students,” Downey said. “I was especially proud that Millersville students had taken the leadership role, and that our University administration demonstrated strong support for their efforts.” One of the program highlights was MU alumnus Paul Beideman’s luncheon address. Based on 40 years of corporate and civic leadership, Beideman pressed the case for active student engagement and the value of alumni and professional mentorship as keys to future student success. He cited his own continuing support of Millersville University’s Honors College as a case in point. While noting the rewards of “giving back,” Beideman drew applause when he observed that it was just as important for universities to invest in student success in the job market as it is in recruiting students to come to the university in the first place. For his part, senior Daniel Lipson commented, “The poster session was one of my favorite parts of the day... It was a great opportunity to walk around, meet new people, and find out how the other Honors College programs operate.” Added Chelsey Wirth, “I never realized how different the honors colleges are in other PASSHE schools. It is so important to learn from diversity, and I think that is one of the most invaluable aspects of this annual conference—to be able to grow academically, socially and civically.” Building on Millersville’s success, West Chester University’s Honors College will host next year’s conference.