Featured – Page 34 – University Honors Program Blog

Science Course Changes

January 10, 2014Featured, General News

Note these important changes to two Honors science classes next semester:
Global Climate Change Biology
Professor LaTisha Hammond
HONR 1034:MV2 – 4 Credits
CRN: 94873
TR 10:00-11:50am
The change: Prof. Hammond’s two sections have been combined into one, and the lab is now built in to the course (meaning, no separate lab on Friday morning anymore!)
—-
Science in the media: Investigating claims about your health
Professor Carly Jordan
HONR 1034:MV – 4 Credits
CRN: 96451
MW 8:30-9:45am (Must register for accompanying lab meeting W 1pm-2:50pm)
The change: Prof. Jordan’s course is updated to this semester with the following addition to the course description:

This semester, the students will decide what we learn and how we learn it. Students will propose ideas for health-related claims they feel are interesting and important, and we will choose a few together and decide which related concepts we will need to explore. Each student will take responsibility for at least one claim, compiling information and resources to help us learn about the topic. Students will create teaching materials, design assessments, and propose experiments to explore each claim that we can all complete together. The class will be very small, so each student will have a customized learning experience, and will directly shape the content and format of the class.

For complete course descriptions, check out the Scientific Reasoning and Discovery Section of our course descriptions page!

Do You Need an Honors Contract? [Deadline]

January 9, 2014Featured, General News

Yes. This is just as important as the Magna Carta.

If you’re taking a contract course, make sure to get your Honors Contract complete.
How do you know if you need to complete an Honors Contract? If any of these apply to you:

Internship for Honors credit,
Undergraduate Research,
Research Assistantship,
Senior Thesis (Not the same as Special Honors in your degree — that’s a different form found here)

Get the RTF-EZ here and the Contract Form here. Don’t forget your proposal!
You’ve got until COB Friday, January 31st, 2014.
Confused? Make an appointment.

Two Science Open House Events!

December 3, 2013Events, Featured1 Comment

A Science Open House is your opportunity to see what other UHPers have been doing in their science courses and enjoy some tasty finger foods too. (Sometimes, there are even tiny sandwiches.) But mostly, the science. You should come for the science. It’s a poster session… with little tiny food items.
Stop in any time during these poster sessions and bring friends!
Thursday 12/5, 3pm-4:30pm in the UHP Club Room (Foggy Bottom, 714 21st St NW)
Prof. Houston Miller’s Capital Climate Initiative students show off their work on bringing climate change awareness to the GW campus.
Friday 12/6, 3:45pm-4:45pm in the UHP Club Room (Foggy Bottom, 714 21st St NW)
Prof. Bethany Cobb Kung’s Science: The Process in Practice presents a poster session: Are you curious about how stress affects performance, if your cell phone usage is linked to your personality, if paper towel strength depends on cost, or if green tea extract can boost your endurance? The results of this research, conducted by Honors students, will be presented at this poster session. Come vote for your favorite poster!

Study Hours in the UHP

December 3, 2013Events, Featured

It’s a magical time of year. As soon as classes end, study hours open up in the UHP office in Foggy Bottom!
No fighting for space in Gelman or dealing with crazy roommates for you. You’ve got the UHP townhouse. And the UHP townhouse has candy. And fruit. And hot chocolate. And coffee. Oh my! That’s all the brain food you’ll need to power you through this finals season.
ALL Honors students are welcome to use the townhouse for studying and snacking.
Check out the extended hours below:
Friday, 12/6 — 5-10pm
Saturday, 12/7 — 12-10pm
Sunday, 12/8 — 12-10 pm
Monday, 12/9 — 9am-10pm
Tuesday, 12/10 — 9am-5pm; 7-10pm (Closed for Student-Faculty Dinner)
Wednesday, 12/11– 9am-10pm
Thursday, 12/12 9am-1pm; 5pm-10pm (Closed for Gingerbread Decorating Party)
Friday, 12/13 11:00am-10:00pm
Saturday, 12/14; Sunday 12/15 12pm-10pm (TENTATIVE!)
Dates for the rest of finals are tentative, and will be based on demand!

Second Semester Freshmen: Join the UHP

December 2, 2013Featured, General News

Freshmen in their second semester can apply to join the Honors Program. The deadline is February 14th, 2014.
Students accepted will start in the UHP the beginning of their sophomore year, and are required to take a special class during the fall 2014 semester.
If you’re not in the UHP and you want to be, please apply! If you’re already in the UHP — we know you’ve got friends that would be perfect for the UHP, so encourage them to apply!
More details below; find the application here.
When/where/how to apply?
Applications are available online. Complete it and return it to the UHP Office at 714 21st Street NW by 5pm on February 14th, 2014.
What are the requirements to apply?
The specific application materials are described in the application. Second-semester freshmen with strong GPAs should apply — the UHP requires its students to maintain GPAs high enough so that it’s mathematically possible to graduate with a 3.4. Please note that student schedules must allow for the student to take HONR 2016 Enlightenment East & West in fall 2014.
When are decisions announced?
We’ll notify applicants this semester, before registration.

Welcome UHP Program Officer Mark Nakamoto

December 2, 2013Featured, General News1 Comment

A Note from Mark Nakamoto, the Newest UHP Program Officer!

I am excited to have this opportunity to work with you and the UHP faculty and staff in your time here at GWU. We’ll get my formal reservable appointments online at some point, but feel free to pop in to introduce yourself if you’re by the townhouse or Ames in the meantime.
Some of my PG* highlights include the following: grew up in the 50th state, completed a B.S. in Microbiology, worked in publishing, earned a Master’s in education administration, and served as an academic advisor at NYU in both the College of Arts and Science and the Stern School of Business. I’ve advised students of many different academic interests, but especially business majors, political economy majors, and pre-health and pre-law students.
Here are just a few things we can geek out about when not discussing your classes, four-year plan, four-year plan version X.0, midterms, summer plans, clubs, internship, first-world problems, research project, thesis, and post-grad goals. Or just, like, life.

Anglophiles! I didn’t “get” Shakespeare until I saw an awesome production at the Cottesloe. Wear your “Free Bates!” or “Colin Firth=Mr. Darcy” shirts to our meetings with pride.
Artists, Musicians, Performers! I’m a YoungArts alum (and former RA). Where do you karaoke like you’re trying out for Team Adam? Or what’s your favorite gallery or museum?
Foodies! I like to bake and am new to the area, so share your go-to spots/trucks, hidden gems, and places to buy organic fair-trade bittersweet baking chocolate.
Sci-fi/fantasy fans! Wax poetic about Rory and Pond (no spoilers!), or feel free to speculate about your probable patronus animal (wand optional). But don’t plan on speaking of the coming of winter (1. It comes every year, and 2. I haven’t read the books yet) or the relative merits of werewolves vs. sparkly vampires as spouses/life partners (discussing a vampire, werewolf, and ghost as housemates is acceptable, though).
Sports fan(atic)s! Nadal vs. Federer, college football, college basketball, volleyball, or swimming. Or explain curling to me. Seriously, I have to know.
Theater (both kinds) buffs! Tell me about your favorite play/musical, and I’ll relate random stories about actors I’ve seen/run into. Sell me on that great movie you just saw at the E Street Cinema** and why I shouldn’t wait to see it on DVD/streaming video.
Travelers! I studied abroad several times and have been to various parts of 5 continents. Show off your best travel tips or must-see sites.
Honors students (if I still haven’t hit your niche yet)! I was an Honors College student myself (not here at GW, though).

All the best as you look ahead to finals, holidays, “Catching Fire,” family time, or hobbitses. I look forward to meeting you.
*Pre-GWU
**Mark has no financial interests in Landmark Theatres Corp.

Be the Student Speaker at Graduation

November 20, 2013Competitions, Featured

Here is Alex Zafran meeting Kerry Washington. That's a secret PBK handshake (so please close your eyes when you look at this image.) — Here is Alex Zafran meeting Kerry Washington. That’s a secret PBK handshake (so please close your eyes when you look at this image.)

Last year, UHPer Alex Zafran made us all proud by winning the competition to become the student speaker at commencement!
(Related: Adam Bethke and Paul Seltzer spoke at the CCAS Celebrations as well — one of them using it as a platform to stir up some controversy.)

This year, it’s your turn to be the speaker!
Commencement Student Speaker Competition 2014
Prospective graduates can audition to be the student speaker at Commencement on the National Mall, scheduled on Sunday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. Additional information about the competition can be found on the Commencement website. The deadline to submit entries is Saturday, March 1^st.
Commencement Weekend Schedule 2014
View the schedule on the Commencement website.
Need some inspiration? Here is Mr. Zafran’s speech last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNm1ZyJ17Ms

Student-Faculty Dinner [So Much Chinese Food]

November 19, 2013Events, Featured

You may want to take a seat for this news….
Now stand up and start clapping because the student-faculty dinner is December 10th, from 5pm-7pm at Chalin’s Restaurant!
This is the annual wintertime celebration where Honors students, faculty, and staff come together to eat, talk, and have fun before wrapping up the semester.
If you plan to attend this all-you-care-to-eat event, make sure to pick up a $5 student ticket at the UHP offices starting Wednesday, 11/20/13. You can RSVP on Facebook right now, but you’ll still need a ticket to get in.
This year, we have a special request — it gets pretty crowded right at 5pm, so try staggering your arrival time over the full two hours (though we don’t recommend coming past 6:30pm)

5 Reasons the Vern Spelling Bee Will Blow Your Mind

November 9, 2013Events, Featured

The MVC’s epic spelling bee is in a matter of days (Wednesday, 11/13 at 8pm in Post Hall) and it’s crazy. Here are five reasons why you’ll actually want to go to this spelling bee.

1) The competitors are called “Tributes,” and there are 2 from each “District.”

This definitely isn’t going to be a regular spelling bee.

2) Tricks, traps, subterfuge, and sabotage are required to win. It’s not just spelling.

Wait, what?

3) There’s a thing called a “Cornucopia” and tributes use items in it against each other.

Some items let tributes force competitors to spell their word, some items can be used for protection. Some give immunity, and one item makes a tribute spell their word backward.

4) Just by showing up, you could help a tribute win the game.

Did we forget to mention sponsor gifts? There are sponsor gifts. Districts with the biggest audience get sponsor gifts that let their tributes re-do a question.

5) There are 2 Honors districts. These Honors tributes need you to be there.

From District Dor: Emily Long and Katie Formosi. From District Jacob: Shelly Sharma and Allen Allen.

Find out if your friend is a tribute, and then go get (free) tickets to support them. They’re actually going to need your help.

Breakfast with the Director!

November 7, 2013Events, Featured

Honors students are invited to have breakfast with the Director of the UHP, Maria Frawley! All your ideas are welcome, but seats are limited.

Register Now

Breakfast with the Director
Tuesday, November 19th at 10am in the Foggy Bottom Townhouse.