The National Honors Report Vol. XXII, No. 1, Spring 2001

Authors

Date of this Version

2001

Document Type

Article

Comments

Copyright 2003 NCHC Inc.

Abstract

Cover Story

"NCHC Stepping Stones: Imagination, Ideas, Discovery" by Joan Digby …1 In her presidential address, Joan Digby, whose conference was titled "The World of Imagination," has always been interested in the creative process. For Digby, honors education is life-long learning, a honing of skills made possible by honors that allow us to march through those open fields of discovery.

Teaching

1. "Design Your Own Space Mission" by Carol Browning …4 Browning, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, describes an honors section of a science research for non-majors. A good example of using faculty resources to share expertise to honors students working in teams to research and design their space mission.

2. "The Excellent Trace" by Lucas Harms & Maarten Hogenstijn …8 The Excellent Trace (or path) is a special program at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Its four-year program, each of the four years having its own courses. Levels of analysis rise from year to year. Socratic workshops. A program to be joined in any year.

3. "May It Please the Court" by Carolyn Barros et aL … 11 Two possibilities for using the moot court for educational purposes: Scholastic Simulation; Tournaments (state, nation-wide). Variations within each: honors students in teams for tournaments; as judges, lawyers, officers; pending cases, cases already decided, fictitious. Can be adapted by nearly every discipline (psychology, economics, education, for example). From students, faculty, and administration at the University of Texas at Arlington and Florida Atlantic University.

4. "Why Number Theory is an Ideal Subject for an Honors Course" by Max Warshauer and Terry McCabe ... 13 A course at Southwest Texas State University for majors and non-majors alike. A process of discovery for students through investigation, collaboration, and research. Beyond computation. Answering the why's.

5. "Interdisciplinary Shakespeare: A Multi-Media Approach" by Terry Reilly … 14 An introduction to a web-based, on-going project. An invitation to join. Details and website included.

6. "Deliberation: An Alternative Approach to Learning and Teaching Politics" by Elkin

Terry Jack. ... 15 An opportunity to develop skills for citizenship. Jack's article addresses the dilemma many students face between political involvement and apathy.

Learning

7. "Korea: The Attractions and Plans for 2002" by Joan Digby ... 18 An announcement of the upcoming Honors Semesters from Joan Digby, the NCHC's Immediate Past-President. Joan has used her expertise in Semesters and her long-standing relationship with Korean society to establish this Semesters 2002. She asks "for adventurous students who would profit from and be adaptable enough for this semester!"

8. The Fund for American Studies: NCHC Scholarships ... 20 Internships: full scholarship for an honors student from an NCHC-affiliated college or university. Check it out. See also Queen Nworisa's article elsewhere in this issue about her discoveries during her internship through the Fund.

9. "Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: The Human Drive for Community" by Billy Wilson ... 21 Fall, 2001: the NCHC/Phi Theta Kappa Satellite Seminar. Five seminars. Nationally-respected scholars. Lectures plus discussion with studio and television audience. Topics include "The Marginalized Community," "The Exploration of Community through the Arts and Humanities," and "The Future of Community."

Those Special Discoveries

10. "A View from the NCHC Spain Semester" by Sheri Spaine Long … 23 Spain, Spring 2000, during the year of the presidential election. Thirty-three honors students, world-wide coverage of the campaign, and Spain's fascination with politics. The academic director watches what happens.

11. "My Internship with the Fund for American Studies" by Queen Nworisa ... 24 An undergraduate honors student from the Schreyer Honors College, Penn State, shares her experience as an intern in Washington, D.C. The Fund for American Studies found her internship, registered her for courses at Georgetown University, and settled her into a place to stay. What's not to like?

12. "Washington D.C. Trip Proves a Capital Idea" by Nichola Saminather ... 25 Could also be called a monumental journey. Nichola, a non-American, views U. S. through its monuments in Washington, D.C. Another successful venture on NCHC's special City-As-Text© at Conference 2000.

13. "Life as a Young Black Male" by Samuel McDuffey ... 27 McDuffey, an honors student at Mississippi State University in Itta Bena, MS. He is an accounting major, with a minor in mathematics. He read his poem at NAAAHP (National Association of AfricanAmerican Honors Programs) annual convention, hosted by the Frederick Douglass Honors Program, Texas Southern University, November 9-12.

14. Eighth Annual Student Newsletter Contest … 28 Rita Barnes, Tennessee Tech, gives the details. Deadline: June 30, 2001

And Beyond …

15. "The Higher Education Forum" by Jim Knauer ... 29 Announcing an on-line deliberation in preparation for a conference program. Pre-registering for the program is not necessary. See article for details and website address.

16. "Selecting a College or University" from Stamats ... 30 Stamats is a marketing and communications firm that provides research services to over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. With Stamats' permission, the NHR offers its finding about the characteristics college-bound freshmen and seniors look for in choosing a college or university, the people who provide them with the most information about institutions, and their plans for college. Email and website addresses are included.

17. "Survey of Criteria for Admission into Honors Programs" by Earl B. Brown, Jr ... 32 Results of responses to email request asking for criterion for admissions to honors. Honors appears to be a closed society. Useful data.

18. "Practical Honors?" from the listserv … 35What does honors do? What practical benefits? Do we have any research? Intro by M. Brown.

19. Small College Survey by Larry Steinhauer ... 39 First in a series of articles on the results of the small college survey conducted by the Small College Honors Program Committee in Fall 1999.

20. Conference 2001 by Rosalie Otero, Program Planner ... 41 Reminder: PROPOSALS FOR CONFERENCE 2001 ARE DUE APRIL 16. IF YOU DIDN'T GET THE PACKET OF PROPOSAL FORMS, CALL OR EMAIL THE NATIONAL OFFICE AT RADFORD UNIVERSITY: 540-831-6100; NCHC@RADFORD.EDU. Update from Program Planner: interesting sessions; extended time for Poster Session; announcement of plenary speakers.

21. "NCHC Goals for 2001: Seeking a Shape and Direction for Our Future" by Hew Joiner ... 42

The president and committees work towards making the NCHC recognized as the major voice in honors education.

and, as always, Business Matters

22. Report: The National Issues Forum Task Force by Jim Knauer … 46 An assessment of the task force plus recommendations. NCHC's mission, its capacities, and its possible commitments.

23. Report: The Two-Year College Committee … 48 Minutes from the Two Year College Committee meeting held during the national conference in Washington, D.C.

24. Report: The NCHC Evaluation Committee: The Faculty Institute on Assessment. 49 August 3-5, 2000: Thirty-five participants. A call for other committees to offer seminars and workshops to members.

25. End-of-Year Committee Reports ... 50 A summary of NCHC Committee Reports for 2000. A chart of committees and their links. With a chart illustrating the committee structure within the NCHC. A call to join one of20 NCHC committees: deadline April 30.

26. Business Meeting, National Collegiate Honors Council- Friday, October 20, 2000 (D RAFT) ... 54

27. Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting, National Collegiate Honors Council- Wednesday, October 18, 2000 & Sunday, October 22, 2000 (DRAFT) … 55

28. "From the Home Front" by Earl B. Brown, Jr. (with spreadsheet on conference attendees, 1996-2000) ... 63 Conference attendance by (a) members by category; (b) non members; (c) total attendees; (d) institutional, by regions; (e) individuals, by regions-a sampling. Also a financial report, a membership report, and Conference 2000 report.