Summer 2025 Newsletter
Dear alumni, families, and supporters of the Smittcamp Family Honors College (SFHC),
Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue of Honorable Times, the semi-annual SFHC Newsletter!
Every year in May, our graduating senior scholars are asked to complete an Exit Survey wherein the following is one of the questions: What were the most positive aspects of your time at the SFHC (and Fresno State)? Here are some of this year’s responses:
“Being around like-minded peers who were supportive and friendly was crucial to my positive experience at Fresno State. The understanding that everybody wants everybody else to succeed really came through to me and pushed me to be better.”
“….I also enjoyed taking GE courses with other Smittcamp students. It created a unique learning environment where everyone was engaged and genuinely interested in the material.”
“….Overall, SFHC gave me both structure and support while also creating space to grow alongside an inspiring group of peers.”
“The community and incredible professors. I had an amazing time engaging with topics and individuals outside of my major, which truly emphasized the value of lifelong learning for me and removed any hesitation I once had about exploring new subjects.”
Reading through the above responses reminded me of one of the hallmarks of honors education at SFHC, i.e. cultivating inclusive, student-centered practices to promote thriving learning communities. While high academic achievement is the expectation in any honors program, it is easy to forget that excellence can look different to each student. Therefore, successful honors programs are not only associated with academic rigor but are also beacons of inclusivity, empathy, and holistic student support.
As the first step toward promoting inclusive excellence, the SFHC has long recognized that equity and rigor are not mutually exclusive. As such, assignments and activities have been designed by Honors directors and faculty in such a way that allow multiple avenues for students to demonstrate mastery—through presentations, artistic interpretations, research papers, or community-based projects. By giving students choice, their diverse learning styles and lived experiences are validated. This approach not only promotes deeper engagement but also affirms that excellence can manifest in many forms.
In addition to the GE-based Honors courses, both “Honors Colloquium” (HONOR 1) and “Scholarly & Creative Activity” are SFHC requirements wherein student identity is embedded into the curriculum. In the Colloquium, many invited speakers present case studies and historical perspectives that, collectively, reflect a global and intersectional worldview. This, in turn, provides opportunities that recognize and honor the contributions made by different groups and the challenges they face. In addition, our own scholars are regularly invited to share their personal narratives, reflections, or cultural knowledge. This approach not only fosters a learning environment where identity is acknowledged and celebrated but also positions scholars as co-creators of knowledge, a powerful shift that transforms honors education into a collaborative, rather than hierarchical, endeavor.
The Scholarly & Creative Activity requirement, instituted in 2012 and applied to the graduating class of 2016, can be fulfilled via one of three ways: (a) completion of a college- or department-based Honors program, (b) completion of an Honors project (via HONOR 180 units) under the direction of a Fresno State faculty member that leads to a professionally-written project paper and an oral presentation (usually at the Honors Colloquium), or (c) completion of an internship project under the direction of an off-campus professional who collaborates with a Fresno State faculty.
In this reimagined honors community, achievement is not defined solely by GPA or accolades but by the richness of relationships, the diversity of voices, and the sense of purpose that guides each student’s journey. Honors educators are not just transmitters of knowledge but architects of belonging. When inclusion and student-centeredness become the cornerstones of honors education, all students—not just a select few—are empowered to thrive.
Thank you for your continued support of SFHC—one of the greatest treasures at Fresno State and the Valley.
With gratitude,
Saeed Attar, Ph.D.
Professor & Director