UTSA | Catalyst | Summer/Fall 2021
Introducing the College of Sciences and Honors College Program A new intercollege partnership enhances the honors student experience By Kelly Holguin The Honors College and the College of Sciences have partnered to
distinguished senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, and
develop an integrated program that streamlines the ability for honors-
Dr. Terri Matiella, senior lecturer in the Department of Integrative
eligible students in the sciences to be both Honors College students
Biology—to develop the COSHON program.
and members of their college honors program.
“The Honors College curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary and
The new College of Sciences and Honors College (COSHON) program
experiential, while the college honors programs focus on disciplinary
brings academically talented science students through more
depth and application,” Fleuriet explained. “Together, they offer
engaging courses and opportunities for intellectual discussion. With
undergraduates the opportunity to maximize their professional and
a more than 95% retention rate for the first cohort of the program,
academic preparation with excellent teaching, research activities,
this collaboration opens the door for other colleges to successfully
service to their communities and personal development.”
collaborate with the Honors College in the future.
Honors College students are required to complete six experiences
The UTSA Honors College is a small, select college that fosters a
within the broad categories of service, professional development,
strong sense of community and success for its high-achieving
intellectual achievement and research, cultural exploration, engaged
students, all within the larger framework of a research university.
living, and skill development. The COSHON program helps students
The “dual citizenship” of Honors College students can be confusing
achieve these experiences through activities that will directly benefit
when they are also enrolled in the honors program of their respective
their future in the sciences.
academic colleges.
The two colleges jointly held an information session for College of
To alleviate this confusion, Dr. Jill Fleuriet, interim acting dean of the
Sciences and Honors College students, breaking down the program
Honors College; Dr. Sean Kelly, interim dean of the College of Liberal
requirements and how they connected to the experiential learning
and Fine Arts; Lydia Bueno, assistant dean of the Honors College;
requirements of the Honors College. The Honors College also helped
and Alegra Lozano, Honors College counselor, collaborated with
the College of Sciences host several workshops to inform faculty of
the co-directors of the COS honors program—Hector Aguilar,
the Honors College pedagogy. Additionally, the COSHON program
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