Honors 101 Students Find Themselves and Friends - Tracia Banuelos

     Honors 101 is a class designed for first-year students with the goal of succeeding in college. The course has all the same goals of the regular Introduction to the University course: teaching time management skills, building connections on campus, knowing where to locate and how to use the University’s resources, but Honors 101 has one key difference: it helps students discover what it means to be an Honors Student and how they can fulfill their role within the Honors College. This class best suits students on a quest to truly understand how the Honors College meets their needs while giving them the resources to pursue each individual’s unique goals. Although each class is structured differently, based on professor preference, each section is united by the overall goal of helping students help themselves. In addition to traditional instruction by a professor, each class shares two peer academic leaders whose sole goal is to aid the students. These peer leaders provide one on one peer mentoring sessions, answers about Honors and other questions students may have concerning their respective majors at all Honors 101 students. 

     Every month the peer leaders put together an event for the students. The previous session included information about student involvement, resources available, scholarships, and on campus jobs. The next event is a True Colors personality test. The first 25 students that RSVP for the event will receive a special gift. The final event in November will be a cross- major discussion over a topic soon to be determined. Honors 101 meets for 50 minutes once a week and counts for one credit hour.

Don't Blame The Boat - Dr. Kimberly Engber

(Shocker Rowing)

     Almost five years ago, I climbed into a single sculling boat for the first time. It was late in the season, and the big Arkansas River had turned cold and murky brown. The boat wobbled as I struggled to hold the two oars in one hand, crouched down on the dock, and stretched one foot out to reach the shoes. As I settled onto the seat, my instructor said, “Just remember. Never let go of the oars. And, if something is going wrong, don’t blame the boat.” This is useful advice for someone setting out relatively inexperienced in a craft that depends on the rower to keep it upright. “Don’t blame the boat” is another way of saying that the balance of the boat is in your hands, not that the problem is never the equipment you’ve been given but that each wobble will teach you something about your technique.

     I am thinking about this advice now as we all embark on a new semester and the first academic year as an Honors College. The balance of this boat is in all of our hands. In spring 2015, we are launching the new Leadership Survey course along with several 300-level seminars that will engage you in history, policy, and the contemporary arts. Several Honors students are working on developing internships with non-profit organizations. What ideas do you have for the future of Honors?

Remember you are always welcome to stop by Shocker Hall to talk with an Honors Undergraduate Fellow, Advisor, or the Dean. We all look forward to hearing more ideas that will push our Honors community to reach top speed!