Priority Registration for Honors Students

Motion

To approve the request of the Honors Program that Honors’ students be given priority registration status.

Condition

After two years, the Academic Policy Committee (APC) will review the effect of this policy to determine whether or not this policy should become permanent. In particular, it will determine whether this perquisite enhances the Honors Program’s ability to recruit academically talented students to UWM and whether or not granting priority to Honors students has had a negative effect on other students.

Rationale

1. Without the opportunity for priority registration, students outside the College of Letters and Science have difficulty completing both the requirements of the Honors Program and the requirements of their major in a timely manner. Such difficulties discourage qualified students from entering the Honors Program.
2. The Honors Program is university-wide; therefor, the privilege of priority registration would not be granted to students in just one college or school;
3. Since admission to the Honors Program required academic excellence, and continuation in the Program requires unusual diligence, such students ought to be given special consideration;
4. The Honors Program believes this perquisite would enhance their ability to recruit academically talented students to UWM; and
5. Granting priority registration for Honors’ students would have little negative effect on other students.

As mentioned earlier, there was considerable debate about this policy, and several non-voting members raised questions about potential consequences.