Academics

Schreyer Honors College seeking faculty readers for admissions applications

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Schreyer Honors College is seeking faculty to join its admissions selection committee and review applications of prospective students.

The Honors College anticipates an increase in applications this year and plans to begin sending applications to reviewers in mid-to late-October. All applications will be assigned by early December and must be read and assessed by Jan. 13 to allow the college time to reach its admissions decision release deadline.

“The role of faculty readers in our admissions process is critical,” said Schreyer Honors College Dean Peggy A. Johnson. “It allows faculty to participate in the selection of fantastic students to our honors program who will end up in their classes and labs. It also sets us apart from all other honors colleges and programs. No one else has an admissions process like ours where faculty are integral to the results. We simply could not do it without them.”

Faculty readers will be asked to review approximately 40 applications, each consisting of three essay questions and five short-answer questions. Each application also will include two to four letters of recommendation for review. Readers will be asked to rate each application within the context of the pool they are reviewing. Reader training will be scheduled in October and is required for new readers. Faculty should also note that reading applications fits the criteria of University service.

“Reading applications to the Schreyer Honors College is simply fun,” said Associate Professor of Business Jiro Yoshida. “I sometimes find new perspectives on essay questions and surprising extracurricular activities. When I teach senior Schreyer Scholars, I don’t have many chances to hear them discuss general issues. By reading applications, I feel more connected to the students who may take my course in four years.”

“Although my task is to be an evaluator and rank student applications, I’m typically impressed and encouraged by the intellectual curiosity, global perspectives, and overall enthusiasm expressed by students that will make up the incoming Schreyer class,” said Justin Nordstrom, associate professor of history, arts, and humanities and the honors program coordinator for academic affairs at Penn State Hazleton.

If faculty members are closely related to someone who is applying to the Honors College this year, they are asked to recuse themselves from the review process.

Interested faculty are asked to contact Schreyer Honors College Director of Admissions Moradeyo Olorunnisola (mzd1@psu.edu) by Wednesday, Oct. 2 if they would like to participate.

Last Updated September 23, 2019