We Seek. We Connect. We Create. We Evolve. We Celebrate!
Dr. John Pollard, Franke Dean, W.A. Franke Honors College
These are the guiding value statements of the W.A. Franke Honors College, and they represent our collective and collaborative aspiration to seek new ways of thinking, connect with others, create experiences and knowledge, evolve and grow as humans, and celebrate that growth.
At Franke, we believe in the power of excellence, curiosity, and community. We are committed to supporting our students every step of the way as they pursue their goals and dreams. Our dedicated faculty and staff are here to help them discover and develop the best version of themselves—to guide them, challenge them, and celebrate their successes alongside them.
Last year brought many significant and impactful changes to the college. We introduced a new dual-degree program, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, inspired by the University of Technology Sydney, that layers onto a student's primary major and prepares them to face society’s present and future challenges through experiential learning, engaged critical thinking, and transdisciplinary study. We received a generous gift from Dr. John Lee Compton, establishing the Compton Lab for Discovery and Innovation. As part of that gift, Dr. Compton established the Compton Fund for Exploration, opening doors for students to take intellectual risks and follow their curiosity where it leads via Exploratory Mini Grants. These grants align with and elevate our interdisciplinary, experiential programming, from the Franke Honors Quest program, where students get involved in faculty-mentored research as early as their first year, to the Honors Thesis. Our academic programs, exclusively available to Franke Honors students, have blossomed, creating pathways for students to future-proof their primary majors by incorporating hands-on learning experiences with industry and community partners. And, in December of 2023, I was named as the Franke Dean of the W.A. Franke Honors College after serving as interim Dean for 1.5 years.
As we look to the future, we are eager to build on the momentum of the past year, focusing on student engagement as a cornerstone of student success, and finding ways to make sure every Franke Honors Wildcat feels connected to the incredible community that we are building and nourishing together. We will do this by continuing to invest in programs like PATH and Black Excellence Scholars, where students can connect with and support one another while gaining valuable leadership skills. We are committed to being a leader in Honors education, and will continue to set students up for long term success through innovative academic programing that connects them with experiences beyond the classroom. Our early assurance programs to medical and veterinary school, both unique among Honors Colleges in this country, will be accepting new applicants, providing students a clear path toward realizing their goals. And we will continue to emphasize collaboration with other institutions to make sure we're evolving in a direction that best suits our students, through efforts such as the establishment of the HSI-Honors Consortium.
The Franke Honors experience is grounded in the resources of a globally ranked University, while affording those who attend additional opportunities to seek, connect, create, evolve, and celebrate. As Franke Honors Wildcats, you are a Wildcat for life and I am grateful for our alumni and friends who continue to give and engage with our students. I am excited to welcome the class of 2028, more students, who I am confident will seek out opportunities through academics, research, and community engagement, to connect with peers, mentors and the wider community. I invite you to be involved with our community, help create knowledge, art, ideas, and solutions that contribute to personal growth and the betterment of society, evolve as students, citizens, and human beings, and celebrate all the hard work, achievements, and milestones along the way.
I am honored to serve as the Dean of this vibrant and dynamic community, and as Dean I am dedicated to ensuring each member of our Franke Honors community has the opportunities, resources, and support to be their best, achieve their goals, and get the most out of their Franke Honors experience.
Welcome, and Bear Down!
Dr. John Pollard, PhD, Franke Dean
W.A. Franke Honors College