TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Honors College officially launched its new strategic plan, Honors Forward, on Feb. 26, 2026, outlining a bold vision for the future of Honors education centered on developing thinkers, citizens and leaders.
Developed through a collaborative process involving faculty, staff, students, alumni and campus partners, Honors Forward establishes a shared model of Honors education designed to prepare students to navigate complex challenges, engage meaningfully in their communities and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.
The plan reflects months of input from the Honors community, including 606 responses gathered through four surveys and the work of a 32-member planning committee. Together, these contributions shaped a strategic framework grounded in the Honors College’s core values of curiosity, integrity, creativity and community.
“Honors Forward is both a celebration of what we have built and a clear statement of where we are headed,” said Honors College Dean Tiffany Sippial. “This strategic plan reflects our commitment to ensuring the Honors College remains a national leader in academic excellence and student opportunity, while staying grounded in the values and culture that make our community exceptional. Most importantly, it challenges us to think bigger about what it means to educate students, who will lead, serve and shape the future.”
The strategic plan focuses on three interconnected key skill sets:
- Thinking — promoting creative, critical and transdisciplinary approaches to learning
- Citizenship — expanding community engagement and ethical participation beyond the classroom
- Leadership — fostering collaborative leadership through teamwork, dialogue and shared responsibility
Through these priorities, Honors Forward provides a roadmap for strengthening academic excellence while expanding experiential and community-based learning opportunities across the Honors College.
Honors College Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Cassander Smith emphasized the long-term impact of the initiative.
“This plan charts our path for the next five years and ensures we continue providing the best possible intellectual experience for our students, who remain at the center of everything we do in Honors,” Smith said.
Key initiatives outlined in the plan include smaller class sizes in key courses, expanded applied learning opportunities, enhanced assessment practices, increased faculty expertise and clearer pathways for students to lead and serve both on campus and beyond.
Assistant Professor and Achieve Scholars Program Director Darren Surman, who served as a committee leader during the planning process, highlighted the collaborative nature of the effort.
“Honors Forward represents a defining moment where shared planning, imagining and dreaming become reality,” Surman said. “The Honors Forward vision for the future of the UA Honors College is an exciting and inspiring one, where new kinds of leaders, thinkers and citizens will be shaped to impact the world in distinctively Honors ways.”
The plan positions the Honors College to meet the evolving needs of students and society while reinforcing the University of Alabama’s commitment to high-impact, student-centered education. By emphasizing collaboration, varied perspectives and experiential learning, Honors Forward aims to define what a forward-looking Honors education can be in the years ahead.
To learn more about the Honors Forward strategic plan, visit the Honors College website at honors.ua.edu.
The University of Alabama Honors College provides an interdisciplinary, student-centered academic experience designed to challenge highly motivated students through innovative coursework, research, service and leadership opportunities. Serving students across all majors, the Honors College fosters intellectual curiosity, community engagement and collaborative leadership while preparing graduates to make meaningful contributions locally, nationally and globally. Learn more at honors.ua.edu.
