Construction begins this week on the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College in Shocker Hall to create additional student space and a seminar room. Honors offices have moved to 113 Hubbard Hall during construction and are open 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

We anticipate that student printing will be available during regular office hours by the third week of classes.

Safe Streets is a Wichita area non-profit that works to prevent substance abuse among high school and junior high school students. Each semester, instructors implement a substance abuse prevention program called Botvin’s Life Skills Program in local Wichita schools. In this program, young adults act as instructors so that the high school and junior high school students can connect with someone close to their own age.

This volunteer opportunity requires 2-3 hours of service per week. Volunteers will gain valuable resume experience by becoming certified Botvin’s Life Skills Instructors. Mandatory training is on January 28^th so interested students should contact Alissa Bey, Community organizer at Safe Streets, before this date.

Alissa can be contacted at alissa@partnersforwichita.org

You have seen and heard about the works of the Horizontes Project. Responsible for bringing the world’s largest mural to Wichita, the Horizontes Project, “is an artist-driven, community engagement art project that aims to connect two underrepresented neighborhoods in north Wichita, the predominantly Latino NorthEnd and historically African American Northeast neighborhoods, which are both physically and psychologically separated by large grain elevators along the industrial corridor.” Come explore the project and artists at the open reception, January 25^th 6-8pm at the Kansas African American Museum during Final Friday.

Apply for the Outstanding Cohen Honors Student Award by Feb 11

Applications sought for the 2019 Outstanding Cohen Honors Student Award. This award recognizes a high-achieving senior leader who takes on challenges and demonstrates commitment to academic excellence in honors. A student may win this award only once.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, February 11.  To review the eligibility requirements and application process, go to Outstanding Cohen Honors Student Award.

This award is sponsored by Dorothy and Bill Cohen. Recipients receive a signed image by astrophotographer Ken Naiff and recognition on a plaque in the college.

The Great Plains Honors Council conference invites students to submit oral presentation or poster proposals. This student-friendly conference is a great place to share your work with Honors students from honors colleges and programs in our region. Did you write an interesting research paper for an honors option course? Complete a poster based on your undergraduate research? Make a substantial change in a student organization or overcome a leadership challenge? Submit to present your work at GPHCC!

Submissions are due to honors@wichita.edu by January 30, 2019. Conference organizers require all oral presentation and poster proposals to be approved by the honors director/dean and submitted by the director/dean by February 1, 2019. Students also may compete for the BOE paper award or poster award.

For more information about what is required to submit a proposal, visit the conference submissions page.

GPHCC takes place April 5-7, 2019 in Tyler, Texas. The conference theme this year is “Coming up Roses.” More Questions? Email honors@wichita.edu

HNRS 305W - Women in Tech (3 credit hours)

Instructor: Susan Sterrett

Wednesdays | Jan 22 – May 16 | 12:30pm - 3:00pm | Room: A132, Shocker Hall | CRN: 26629

Examines the rise of computing and information technology from the perspective of women in the profession, up through and including the present, and including intersection of racial and gender discrimination in the field. Course includes historical studies, effects of lack of diversity on quality of computing technology, including bias in algorithms and machine learning, and issue of gender and the culture of "tech." Papers and discussion will require students to formulate their own critique of readings. For a final research assignment, students will identify where issues of bias and discrimination might be playing a role via AI, Big Data, or computing technology, or in a computer-related STEM profession, and make suggestions as to what could be done to improve the situation, modeled on the successful programs examined in readings and reports.

General Education Humanities/Fine Arts Issues & Perspectives (Humanities)

Carla Mann joined the Honors office to support critical office functions and projects including admissions, website, college meetings, daily office operations, budget, purchasing, payroll, and managing the Dean’s calendar. Carla began her WSU career supporting the Student Government Association and most recently worked in the Business Advising Center. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Adult Education and Leadership. We are delighted she is bringing her talents to the Honors community.

Message from the Dean: Welcome to the Spring semester, Honors community!

To read Dr. Engber's Message visit the Message from the Dean Web Page.  

Resources for Honors Faculty

Our student assistants are available to help faculty with copies or other course-related matters such as room reservations for special events.

Copying and Scanning

Use the copier in 113 Hubbard for your course materials as needed. Faculty may submit a request for copies to the front desk 24 hours in advance or ask for the copy code from our front desk.

Office Space and Kitchen Use

113A Hubbard Hall just inside our main office now serves as a break area. This room will house the student printer and two computers (coming soon!).  Please feel free to use the refrigerator (in 113) and the microwave (in 113A) and have a seat at any table to enjoy the whispering walls of Hubbard Hall.

Course Information and Teaching Support

We hope all faculty members teaching in Honors will take some time on the first day of class or include a section on your syllabus to explain what makes your course an Honors course. Students are interested in how you are engaging them in “more meaningful work.”

If you haven’t updated your syllabus recently or have general questions about technology or accessibility, take a look at the Teaching Support page.

Please feel free to email honors@wichita.edu with any questions during the semester.

The University is transitioning to an online appointment scheduling system. The Cohen Honors College will be transitioning to this system soon. In the meantime, please email Honors@wichita.edu to set up an appointment, call (316) 978-3375 Option #2 to check if immediately available, or stop by the office in Hubbard Hall RM 113.

Thank you,

Jessica Raburn
Assistant Director & Academic Advisor
Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College
Wichita State University

By Appointment: Email honors@wichita.edu.

Walk-Ins: Thursdays 2:00-3:30. 

To submit a story to the Weekly Update email Jeromiah Taylor at honorsassistant@wichita.edu. For more updates visit the Cohen Honors Twitter.