Wichita State University
From the Dean:
Now is the time to think ambitiously about the future of the university and the future of Honors. Modeling this kind of leadership for the future, your student council took the ambitious step this year of proposing changes to the bylaws to provoke a larger conversation about Honors admissions. How do we and how should we invite students into Honors? What does it mean to be a member of an Honors community? Is that journey defined only by tests and grade point averages or is it also about diversity of thought, diversity of experience, amibition, legacy, impact, empathy, and how these qualities are pursued and demonstrated?
Watch the recording of the General Assembly presenting the changes and rationale. Vote now on the proposed changes. If you have any questions, contact student council chair Abby Jurgensmeier at aljurgensmeier@shockers.wichita.edu.
Kimberly Engber, Dean
Honors College Updates
Cohen Honors College Student Council applications due May 15th
Applications to serve on the Cohen Honors College Student Council 2020-21 are open. Apply online by May 15th.
The Honors Student Council aims to develop a strong sense of community and common identity among Honors students by providing opportunities and serving as a refuge to all students of the Cohen Honors College. The Council uses innovative approaches to identify and address the challenges and needs of all Honors students and serves as the voice of students through communication with the staff, faculty and Dean of the Cohen Honors College. For information about current members, visit the Student Council page on the college website.
The student council meets every Thursday 5-6pm by Zoom. Visit the Cohen Honors College Facebook page for the link. To bring an idea or concern to the current student council, email aljurgensmeier@shockers.wichita.edu or honorsassistant@wichita.edu .
Cohen Enhancement Scholarship Virtual Event
Last week, we hosted a virtual opportunity for prospective students to hear from some Honors students about how their experiences funded through the Cohen Enhancement scholarship have impacted them. Thank you to Inneke Vargas, Maribel Sanchez, Aidan Jude and 2017 alumna Katie Deutsch for sharing their experiences and answering question from the virtual attendees. Also, thank you to the Office of Admissions for helping to promote and host the event.
Watch the recorded event here.
WHEAT Virtual Honors Hangout
WHEAT is hosting a Virtual Honors Hangout on May 6th from 3-6 pm! Join other Honors
students and faculty for online games, movies, and chances to win Honors House Points! 
Graduating Seniors!
The Bill & Dorothy Honors College is doing something especially for you. The Honors College wants to celebrate and congratulate you on graduating this year by putting together an online yearbook! If you are on an Honors Track, have a University Honors Minor or an Honors Baccalaureate please send a Senior picture to @Honors Assistant. Please also fill out the 2020 Honors Graduate Yearbook Form.
WHEAT Officer elections are now open!
WHEAT plans and hosts events for the Cohen Honors community. If you are interested
in becoming a member of our leadership team, please fill out this form.
The following leadership roles are open for next academic year:
- Secretary
- Community Service Committee Chair
- Social Committee Chair
You can email WHEAT President Tabatha Polk for more information about WHEAT and these
leadership roles at tlpolk@shockers.wichita.edu.
Faculty Mentor award nominations open until May 6th
Each year, Honors students are invited to nominate an Honors faculty member who has provided mentorship inside or outside of the classroom for the Faculty Mentor Award. To nominate a faculty member who has had a positive impact on you, submit a letter describing in detail what qualifies the faculty member for this award.
Submit your nomination through by May 6th by 5pm. Past recipients are not eligible.
Past Recipients:
2019 - William Woods, English
2018 - Peter Cohen, Public Health Sciences
2017 - Douglas Parham, Communications Sciences and Disorders
2016 - Elaine Bernstorf, Music
2015 - Stephen Brady, Mathematics & Statistics
Follow the Cohen Honors College on Social Media!
Honors Courses Still Available for Summer and Fall 2020
Seats are still available in several of the Honors Seminar offerings for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020. For full course descriptions, search the online schedule of courses. Type the word "Honors" in the Keyword field to see a list of all college and department honors courses.
Remember department honors courses have an "H" following the course number, e.g. PSY
111H. You also can turn a regular course into an honors course through an honors agreement.
Email Jessica.Raburn@wichita.edu with any questions or to arrange a meeting to discuss how these courses may meet general education and Honors requirements for you.
Fall 2020 Honors Seminars Include:
HNRS 106AB - Exploring Our National Parks. Dr. Chelsea Redger Marquardt guides students in learning about our national parks through a service
leadership lens. Student will explore the service, volunteer coordination, historic
preservation, conservation and human impact. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Tuesday & Thursday
(CRN 16765)
HNRS 305U - The Power of Storytelling. Journalist Roy Wenzl explores narrative and
storytelling with honors students. Using their own lives as the source, students develop
story-telling techniques. 5:35 PM - 7:55 PM Monday (CRN 14783)
HNRS 405G - After the Fall: Identity in Literature. Dr. William Woods. This prescient
course starts with the premise that nothing human is eternal. Nations fail, cities
fall to ruin, and then, somehow, the human miracle: people gather themselves to begin
again, starting out on the long road back to security, culture and a new identity.
Accomplished literature professor, Dr. William Woods, uses literature spanning the
fall of Troy to the aftermath of WWI to examine devastation, renewal and new life. 11:00
AM - 12:15 PM Tuesday & Thursday (CRN 16787)
New Summer 2020 Honors Seminars (Remote)
Move forward your degree this summer with expanded course offerings in Honors. All offerings are in the new Remote format. Students in these courses will have designated or arranged times when they are expected to meet in a remote platform as determined by the professor.
HNRS 153T - Bang, Black Holes, Fate of the Universe. Explore the universe with astronomer, Martin Ratcliffe. Students learn about our universe
from the Big Bang to recent spacecraft missions. June 1 to July 24 remote, synchronous class times: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 11:00 – 12:00 (CRN 32445)
Summer Pre-session! HNRS 310G - Digital Imaging (1 credit). Martin Ratcliffe introduces students to the basics of scientific imaging using CCD
cameras in this short course. Imaging is used in areas such as medicine, astronomy,
engineering, meteorology, and Earth Resources/land management. During this course,
you will understand how CCD devices work, how to process images in black and white
and color, and what scientific information can be acquired. May 18-30th remote, synchronous class times: Monday through Friday 11:00 – 12:30; additional meetings
will be arranged. (CRN 32446)
HNRS 351 - Survey of Leadership. Dr. Chelsea Redger Marquardt guides students through an overview of the main leadership
theories and a history of leadership. Students learn to recognize and apply leadership
theory. June 1 – June 27 remote, synchronous class times: Monday through Thursday 9:00 – 12:00. (CRN 32444)
HNRS 406C - Making Social Impact. Dr. Eveline Ndinelao Kalomo leads students to explore how to understand social forces
and social change through qualitative research. Students use the information gathered
to design a qualitative research proposal and a poster presentation. Open to honors
students with a background in social sciences. Course may be used to fulfill the honors
research or creative activity requirement. June 29-July 24 remote, synchronous class times: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9:00 – 12:30. (CRN 32419)
New! Service-Learning and Community Engagement Course
Course Description: Examines the process, importance and outcomes associated with service learning and civic responsibility. Students learn how to address, formulate and structure partnerships with community agencies. Addresses topics such as basic communication, and relationship skills, leadership development, and the study of and exposure to underserved and underrepresented populations. Introduces skills and issues relevant to a variety of disciplines and industries.
Course Benefits:
- Personal Leadership Development in a Community Setting
- Understanding of Community Partners and Non-Profit Organizations
- Exploring Social Justice and Justice Based Service
- Developing Personal Understanding of Social Responsibility
- Honors Agreements welcome!
New! Seminar in Hispanic Applied Linguistics
Honors office contacts
- Main Office: The office is open remotely M-W 8am to 5pm. Email honors@wichita.edu, and Erin LeBegue will answer or route your question to the right person!
- Advising: Email Jessi Raburn Jessica.raburn@wichita.edu to set up a phone or Zoom appointment.
- Scholarships and Recruitment: Email Trish Gandu trish.gandu@wichita.edu
- Budget and Calendar: Contact Carla Mann Carla.mann@wichita.edu
- Teaching, Faculty, and Questions for the Dean: Contact Kimberly Engber kimberly.engber@wichita.edu
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