Meet the Dean
Lynda L. Coon
Here at the University of Arkansas Honors College, our goal is to build a diverse, transformative community of students and faculty that prepares graduates who excel professionally, flourish personally and lead globally. As the flagship university, we are proud to serve the State of Arkansas by training the future leaders of Arkansas, the nation, and beyond.
The Honors College was created in 2002, when the University of Arkansas received a
$300 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. More than
one-third of this landmark gift was dedicated to endow Honors College Fellowships
and Honors College Academy Scholarships for exceptionally talented students, and to
endow special funds to support study abroad and undergraduate research opportunities.
While still relatively young as an institution, we have been ranked in the top 20 in a recent survey of 50 top honors programs at public universities, and tied for 2nd in excellence impact on our university. We are happy to see the word getting out on our Honors College,
but we're most proud of the honors experience that we offer to exceptional students:
Interdisciplinary Exploration
We offer honors programs in all majors, tailored to your interests, and bring together students and faculty from multiple disciplines to explore cutting-edge issues.
Study Abroad
50% of honors students have studied abroad by the time they graduate – that's three times the national average of 14%.
Research
100% of our students have engaged in original research or creative work by the time they graduate. Our students don’t just read the book, they work with people who are writing it, in all fields of study.
Access
Our Honors College signature seminars and forums give you a seat at the table with the university’s top administrators and most innovative and research-active professors, and some take you off campus to learn from community leaders.
Student and Faculty Support
Thanks to the Walton gift that created the college, we award up to 90 fellowships each year, each providing $72,000 over the course of four years. Each year we award more than $1,000,000 in research grants and study abroad grants to students, and provide stipends to faculty who direct research grant projects.
Student Success
The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates, consistently producing Fulbright, National Science Foundation, Truman, Marshall, Gates Cambridge and Goldwater Scholars, among others, over the past 10 years.
New initiatives
Currently we are exploring new initiatives in service learning, both abroad and right here at home; expanding on international research and internship opportunities; and – always – developing new honors seminars. These are exciting time to be involved in the Honors College! Welcome to our site; please explore all that we have to offer. And if you don't find what you are looking for here, please contact us at 479-575-7678 or honors@uark.edu.