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The Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College Weekly Update

Oct. 21, 2022
By Kyndal Dorzweiler

Black and white graphic with college name, the date, and an image of WuShock.

Events & Deadlines

Lead for Tomorrow- Spring 2023 Applications due November 1

White graphic with the Lead for tomorrow logo on it. At the top there are five icons. From left to right, they appear as a blue globe, a green plant with three leaves, two yellow chat boxes stacked atop one another, an orange circle witha white arrow pointed to the left, and a teal location marker.

Have you heard about Lead for Tomorrow? We are so excited to host our 3rd Leadership Academy this spring. Check out more information below and all the details on our website. Applications are now open and are due November 1 online. 
 
Complex ideas. Messy Problems. Connecting as Leaders. All while engaging in meaningful courses and educational travel. This is Lead for Tomorrow. Let me put it this way- What happens when you bring together 5 faculty thought leaders from different departments, 2 classes – spring and a one-week summer pre-session, and 1 focus on understanding how to lead for social change through understanding Connected Leadership? You build an intellectual community of honors students and faculty that students have shared is the highlight of their Honors experience, their favorite class, and an awesome opportunity to learn and travel. 
 
Here is a great testimonial from one of our Faculty Thought Leaders- “The collaboration of instructors leading up to this class has been amazing and I believe it is going to be absolute awesome experience for students to dive into all the different approaches to learning around a conceptual topic. This is the class I would have wanted to take, where you study a topic or theme through a team of instructors delivering a variety of perspectives and a different student learning experience each week.” - Doug Stucky, Faculty in Design Thinking.
 
We know Honors students have big dreams and ask big questions that don’t fit neatly into disciplinary models and majors. They want to leave a legacy. That’s what Lead for Tomorrow is all about. For more information, including how to apply, visit www.wichita.edu/honorslead. (Costs associated with travel are covered by a gift from Dorothy and Bill Cohen.)

 

Honors Student Council Halloween Party Tonight!

Black graphic with vines as a border. There are orange and violet colored flowers on the vines as well as animated skulls. In the middle of the graphic is text that reads " Honors College Halloween Party: October 21 six p.m. to nine p.m. honors college lounge." Below that text is an image of a skull and below the skull is text that reads "movies and popcorn, painting supplies, caramel apples, costume contest." At the bottom of the graphic is an orange banner that says "Questions? Email degoodwin@shockers.wichita.edu."

The Honors Student Council is hosting a Halloween Party! Come on down to the Honors College lounge for a fun night of fall festivities. There will be movies, popcorn, painting, and even a costume contest! Be prepared for a fun night full of spooky frights.

The Halloween Party will be on October 21st, 2022 from 6.pm. to 9 p.m. Bring your spookiest costumes and your ghoulest friends!

 

For any questions, please reach out to Danielle Goodwin at degoodwin@shockers.wichita.edu.

Shooting Sports Team Open House on October 28th!

The Honors College has students that are involved in a variety of sports. Our very own Brandy Henrickson and Tyler Bayliff are members of the WSU Shooting Sports Team, and they will be hosting an Open House on October 28 at Ark Valley Gun Club starting at 4:30 p.m. It will be a networking opportunity with the Shooting Sports Team, High School Shooting Teams, and other faculty and students!

For more information, please contact Brandy Henrickson at bmhenrickson@shockers.wichita.edu.

Join the Honors Bowling Team!

The top half of the graphic is a bowling lane with images of bowling balls and pins on it. In the bottom right corner of the top half, there is a bowler rolling a ball. At the top of the graphic, the text reads "Doubles Bowling! Teams Now Open!" The bottom half of the graphic is a bright purple color and it has text that reads "Create a team on IMLeagues or join an existing active academics affiliated team!" Below that text, there are two QR codes labeled "honors discord" on the left and " WSU Leagues Website" on the right. At the bottom it says "Registration ends November 28th."

The Honors Council is inviting you to join in the Doubles Bowling League! Bowling is a great way for you to spend time with your friends and compete with other students!

You can join these teams by scanning these QR codes or by visiting the WSU Leagues website! 

Registration Ends on November 28th, so sign up while you can!

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Reese Pekny at rjpekny@shockers.wichita.edu. 

Active Academics: Join the Cornhole League!

Blue graphic with diagonal light blue lines. Top of graphic has text that reads " Teams Now Open! Corn Hole Teams of 2-3" witha cornhole board next to the text box. Below are two QR codes. The one on the left is labeled "Honors Intramurals Discord" and the one on the right is labeled "WSU IM Leagues Website." Above the QR coes is a little text box that reads "Join an Active Academics Affiliated Team or Create a Team on IMLeagues." Registration ends November 11

The Honors Council is inviting you to join in the Cornhole League! Cornhole is a great way for you to spend time with your friends and participate on campus!

You can join these teams by scanning these QR codes or by visiting the WSU Leagues website! 

Registration Ends on November 11th, so sign up while you can!

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Omar Farhoud at oxfarhoud@shockers.wichita.edu 

 

News & Information

Honors Team Members Take New Advising Positions!

Image of Jessi Raburn.

Jessi Raburn has accepted an advising position in the College of Health Professions. Her last day in Honors will be Friday, October 28.

Image of Erin LeBegue.

Erin LeBegue will become an academic advisor in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Her last day in Honors will be Friday, November 11. 

We’ll miss their great work in Honors, but we’re fortunate to keep them here on campus. Join us in celebrating Jessi and thanking her for her significant contributions to the student and faculty experience in Honors. Please stop by the Cohen Honors office (Shocker Hall Building A) Thursday, October 27th 2:00-3:00pm. We’re planning an open house gathering for Erin on Friday, November 11th.

Congratulations Cohen Scholars!

Image of Cohen Scholars with Dorothy Cohen, Dean Engber, Rick Case, President Muma, and Dr Elizabeth King. Last week students receiving Cohen scholarships were invited to the president’s residence to meet Dorothy Cohen and discuss with her their plans and concerns for the future. Thank you to President Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case for hosting the event and to Dean Engber, Dr. Elizabeth King, and Dorothy Cohen for making these scholarships available to students!  

Dr. Harrison Featured in The Sunflower!

Our very own Dr. Kevin Harrison was highlighted in the October 6th issue of The Sunflower! This article showcased his Black Lives Matter class and how his class fosters active citizenship, personal growth, and encourages a diverse perspective. To read more about Dr. Harrison and his Black Lives Matter class, visit the Sunflower webpage!

Celebrations of Diversity in the Cohen Honors College

Aaron Valentine in traditional Osage regalia.

"More meaningful work" happens when educational freedom exists and life-long learning is cultivated.  Therefore, Honors courses truly breathe when diverse student perspectives cross-pollinate with rigorous academic curriculum.  Honors graduate assistant Aaron Valentine is a testament to the types of unique and rewarding learning experiences taking place in the Cohen Honors College.  In courses taught by both Dr. Chelsea Redger-Marquardt and Dr. Kevin Harrison, Aaron has shared his perspectives and experiences as a member of the indigenous Osage Nation.  Pictured here in his native Osage regalia, Valentine understands that long before the words "land of the free and home of the brave" were ever uttered, various lands throughout our great nation were home to indigenous nations. In fact, Aaron's Osage ancestry has a strong connection to both Kansas and its current headquartered location of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  Using a combination of physical artifacts, videos, and historical knowledge, Aaron expresses stories of an Osage legacy that prides itself on being hunters, farmers, warriors, and preservers of life among other things. Aaron has proven to be a living example of the diversity we proudly boast and embrace in the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College and we are proud that he is a part of the Honors team.   

Spring Course Schedule Available to View!

Visit the Schedule of Courses to view the current Spring 2023 course schedule. A few additional courses may be added in October. Now is the time to schedule your appointment with your first-year or major college advisor to begin planning. Remember to tell your advisor that you are an honors student! 

To see a list of department honors and honors college courses, select “Search by Term” and type “honors” in the keyword box. Questions? Stop by Shocker Hall Building A or email honors@wichita.edu 

Visit our webpage for more information!

Some common questions:

When should I take HNRS 486 Honors Collaborative Research?  

HNRS 486 is recommended to take in your 2nd or 3rd year. You also can work on individual research with a faculty member to meet the research requirement. You can register for HNRS 485 or petition to use a current research project and presentation to meet this requirement. 

How can I change my Cohen Honors College track?

You can add, remove, or change your honors track yourself in the Change of Major app in your MyWSU portal.

What do I do if I’m not able to take an honors course this year?

To maintain good standing in Honors, we ask you to keep a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and complete at least 3 honors credits per Academic Year (Fall, Spring, Summer) or complete a 12-credit track. If you can’t take a course every year, email honors@wichita.edu and explain your plan to stay on track to complete requirements.

Can I request an exception to an Honors requirement?

Yes, we encourage you to design your honors education to challenge you and work with your major or professional goals. Complete the online petitions for exceptions form to request an exception to an Honors requirement.

What do I do if there are no courses in my major or an area that interests me?

You can request to turn a regular course into an honors course. Review the online honors option agreement form for suggestions, talk with your instructor, and turn in the form by the third week of classes. Remember that not all instructors will have time to design honors-level work for the course. Don’t be offended if your instructor says no.

What if I’m not sure which courses to take this semester?

To find a suggested sequence of honors courses, visit www.wichita.edu/honorsyearbyyear. Email honors@wichita.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

Do You Have Questions about Honors?

Email honors@wichita.edu at any time or stop by Shocker Hall during 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. office hours to:

- Make an appointment with Honors academic advisor Jessi Raburn
- Ask scholarship coordinator Erin LeBegue a question about the Cohen Enhancement Scholarship or other Honors scholarships

The Honors student lounge, kitchen, and printing areas in Shocker Hall are open 24/7 by keycard access for all Honors students. Talk to the Honors Student Assistant at the desk or email honorsassistant@wichita.edu if you have any trouble.

We want to hear from you! Submit your news to the weekly update.

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