With a new dean in Jenifer Whitten-Woodring and an elegant new home at Allen House, it’s an exciting time of transition for the growing Honors College, which has nearly 2,000 undergraduate students enrolled this fall.

New homes for the Honors College, Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy and Asian American Center for Excellence and Engagement highlight a busy summer of campus improvements by Facilities Management.

Community college students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field took a free course at UMass Lowell over the summer through the STEM Starter Academy.

The Honors College expanded its study abroad options this year with new courses on Shakespeare’s London and the history of Madrid. Honors College Dean Jenifer Whitten-Woodring is looking for faculty partners to offer even more.

A 7-year-old dog nicknamed Eleanor the Eviscerator serves as a source of comfort for students at University Suites and around campus.

Starting this fall, UML will offer a new B.S. in Quantitative Economics. The degree is highly sought after by employers. It also better prepares students for graduate school, Economics Chair Monica Galizzi says.

Amara, a social media platform designed to create a more positive experience for users, took top honors at the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute’s 10th annual $50,000 Idea Challenge, held recently at Moloney Hall.

With mixers that follow a speed-dating format, the Honors College is matching more honors students with faculty mentors for research opportunities and final honors theses and projects. The college offers $1,500 fellowships to support student researchers, who may also be paid through faculty grants.

Students gain professional experience and expert education through UMass Lowell’s close partnership with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.