A select group of students, 5-8% of the incoming freshman class, has been invited to participate in the University Honors Program. You should be proud of your academic and co-curricular achievements!

We hope that you will take full advantage of this exciting opportunity to enhance your learning and your college experience. To learn more about University Honors, read through this newsletter and explore our website (www.uc.edu/honors).

By the time you approach graduation from UC, we anticipate that you and other honors students will have become leaders on campus and in the community and will have developed a strong respect for others in the community and the world. In the University Honors Program, you will interact with engaged learners, each with a sense of intellectual curiosity and interest in lifelong learning.

Congratulations! We look forward to meeting you at orientation this summer and to seeing you at future honors events. Our doors are always open to you.

Sincerely,Raj, Debbie, Jen, Jessica, Leah, Tricia, and Rich

The University Honors Program Staff

Welcome to the University of Cincinnati &

the University Honors Program!

Visit Our Open House at Bearcat Bound Orientation!You and your parents/guests have an opportunity to meet University Honors Program staff members during Day One of Bearcat Bound Orientation. Our open house will take place during the Taking Care of Business portion of the orientation schedule, between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m*.

This is a good opportunity for you to learn about:• Expectations & requirements of honors

students at UC• Honors seminars & experiences• Events especially for first-year honors students

If you are unable to attend the open house, you can also visit our office during other times that you are free during orientation. Our office in 700 Swift Hall is open until 5:00 p.m.

* For the June 30 -July 1 session for the College- Conservatory of Music, the open house session will be between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

University of Cincinnati 705 Swift Hall / PO Box 210007

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0007 Phone: (513) 556-6254 | Fax: (513) 556-2890

E-mail: honors@uc.edu | http://www.uc.edu/honors

In this Newsletter

Welcome Retreat ................................................................2Academic Registration Information ...........................4-5Completing Requirements ...............................................7The LeaderShape Institute ................................................8

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Each year, the University Honors Program hosts an overnight re-treat for our incoming freshmen. This year’s retreat will take place September 15 and 16 at Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center in West Harrison, IN (about 30 minutes from campus).

You are strongly encouraged to participate in the Honors Retreat. This is the perfect opportunity for you to connect with other incoming students and current UC student leaders in a comfort-able, interactive, and fun setting. Students who attend the retreat make connections with one another that last throughout their time at UC. In addition, you’ll participate in large and small-group activities focused on the themes of the University Honors Program - community engage-ment, global studies, leadership, and research and creative arts.

We are confident that you will gain valuable information to enhance your first year at UC, both academically and socially. We guarantee that you will meet fellow honors students and have a lot of fun!

To register for the retreat, submit the enclosed registration form and payment of $50. Space is limited to the first 200 students. Be sure to register as soon as pos-sible! The deadline to register is August 19, but keep in mind that spaces could fill prior to that date.

Social Gathering Before the Retreat

Since a significant number of stu-dents will already be on campus, the Retreat Team Leaders will have an informal social gathering on Wednesday, September 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Sigma Sigma Commons. This is an op-portunity for you to meet your Team Leader before the retreat and the other participants. This optional event will begin at the Sigma Sigma monument (the

structure that looks like a torch) and we’ll go from there. Retreat Team Leaders will be prepared with activities to help you meet your new honors peers.

Move Into Your Room Before the Retreat

Students who have registered for the retreat and have an on-cam-pus residence hall assignment can move into their room beginning on September 14. Students will be required to pay an early move-in fee, payable to Housing and Food Services. To sign up for early move-in authorization, visit https://hfs.uc.edu/early after re-ceiving your housing assignment. Please list Rich Robles at (513) 556-6255 in the Honors office as the sponsor. Payment must be re-ceived by the Housing and Food Services office prior to arrival. Students moving into University Park Apartments should contact the management office for per-sonal arrangements.

Other Commitments?

Students participating in orienta-tion (i.e., make-up and interna-tional) on September 15 and/or 16 are not able to participate in the retreat. Additionally, students partcipating in the UC Bearcat Band’s week-long camp (also at Higher Ground) are not able to participate in the Welcome Retreat. Don’t worry. There will be opportunities to connect with other University Honors students during the year and through the Gateway to University Honors course (HNRS110H).

Register for the Annual Honors Welcome Retreat on September 15-16

1. Fill out the enclosed registration form. You will need to know your UC M-number and UConnect e-mail address (username@mail.uc.edu).

2. Send your registration form and $50 payment (checks payable to “University of Cincinnati”) to University Honors Program ATTN: Fall Retreat PO Box 210007 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0007

3. Upon receipt of your registration, we will send you (to your UC e-mail address) a confirmation and additional information on what to bring and where to meet on September 15.

4. Sign up to move into the residence halls early (optional, look to the left)

How to Sign up for the Welcome Retreat

Take me to the retreat page on the University

Honors websitehttp://www.uc.edu/honors/

academics/honorsFYE/retreat.html

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University Honors academic advisors are here to support your success as a University Honors student.

Your college advisor will help you with course planning and answer questions about your major, while your honors advisor will assist you with University Honors Program opportunities, such as:

• Identifying experiences and classes that fulfill University Honors requirements and contribute to your personal, academic, and career goals.

• Completing proposals for honors experiences and applications for other programs. We’re happy to write recommendation letters for students we work with!

• Connecting you to additional campus offices and resources to enhance your college experience.

You’ll meet with your honors advisor at least once each year, but we encourage you to contact us at any time with questions. If we don’t have the answers, we’ll help you find them!

Leah Joos (leah.joos@uc.edu, 556-6288) advises honors students in the College Conservatory of Music, the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services and the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

Jessica King (jessica.king@uc.edu, 556-6274) advises honors students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Jen Lile (jen.lile@uc.edu, 556-1003) advises honors students in the College of Allied Health Sciences, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Raymond Walters College.

University Honors Academic Advising

Incoming students, especially those pursuing structured or multiple majors, often express concern about completing honors requirements. The great news is that nearly every class you will take to complete University Honors requirements will also fulfill general education requirements for your major. Also, you can meet honors requirements with activities you’re already planning to participate in, such as co-op, internships, research with faculty members, leadership positions in student organizations, community engagement projects, and more.

No matter what major you’re in, you can make University Honors a meaningful part of your college experience. Before and after you arrive on campus this fall, please contact your honors advisor whenever you have questions about completing requirements.

An e-portfolio is a purposeful collection of student work that exhibits the student’s effort, progress, achievements, and competencies gained during a course throughout one’s time in college. It provides a richer picture of one’s performance in a more efficient, dynamic and integrated process.University Honors students are required to maintain an e- portfolio using Nuventive’s iWebfolio. This platform provides a secure and efficient means for students to build portfolios.

E-portfolios have emerged at UC as a key tool in supporting Integrated Core Learning (ICL), which is the University’s approach to integrating students’ General Education, major/minor coursework and/or other curricular and co-curricular activities. The University Honors Program is among the first university-wide programs using e-portfolios.

The cost for an e-portfolio account is $100 for five years. E-Portfolio accounts are purchased and built in the Gateway to University Honors course and are maintained throughout students’ time in the University Honors Program.

What’s an E-Portfolio?

Gateway to University Honors (38HNRS110H)Gateway to University Honors (38HNRS110H) is an engaging one-credit hour course that all honors students are required to take during their first year (in fall or winter quarter).

The focus of this course is your success in college and beyond. You will learn about opportunities to become engaged in leadership, community service, research and creative arts, and global studies activities on campus and in the community through the creation of a self-designed honors experience. You will also begin an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio), which will help you chart your progress and accomplishments throughout your college experience.

Registration Information:• You should register for the course in the fall quarter if your

schedule allows and spaces are available

• Sections will ONLY be offered in the fall and winter quarters

• IMPORTANT: Gateway to University Honors (38HNRS110H) does NOT carry a fee. If you are taking the maximum number of credit hours (18) as a full- time student, you can still register for the course without being charged additional tuition fees. Your college can give you special permission to take 19 credit hours in this situation.

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Please refer to this sheet when registering for autumn quarter classes with your college advisor.

You are required to take Gateway to University Honors (38HNRS110H) in your first year. • You should register for the course in autumn

quarter if your schedule allows and spaces are available.

• Sections will be offered in autumn and winter quarters.• Gateway to University Honors does NOT carry a

fee. If you are taking the maximum number of credit hours (18) as a full-time student, you can still add the course without being charged additional tuition fees. Your college can give you special permission to take 19 credit hours in this situation.

Gateway to University Honors

Honors English, English Placement & APYou are required to take Honors sections of first-year English omposition courses. Honors English sections = 15ENGL112 or 15ENGL101H and 102H

Please visit the English Department’s website—www.artsci.uc.edu/englishplacement—to learn more about the English placement process. Your ACT (or equivalent SAT) writing score determines the level of English in which you’ll begin.• If your ACT writing score is equal to or greater than

28 (or an SAT writing score of 630)... then take 15 ENGL 112

• If your ACT writing score is less than 28 (630 SAT writing)...then you can take 15 ENGL 101H

If you have AP / IB / post-secondary / transfer credit for any or all first-year composition courses, you do not need to retake honors sections at UC. • If you have credit for English 101...

Then take 15ENGL102H • If you have credit for English 101 and 102...

Then Honors English requirement is completed

Sections of 15ENGL101H will be offered in autumn quarter only; sections of 15ENGL102H will be offered in autumn, winter and spring quarters.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT AP ENGLISH CREDIT: If you don’t have your AP English score at orientation, please register for the English course you placed into. Once you receive your score, please note what, if any, English courses you will receive credit for and adjust your schedule immediately.

You may register for any learning community that includes classes you’re eligible to take. If you are required to register for a learning community that includes a non-honors English section, then you can work with your college and the learning communities office to change your course registration to an honors section of English.

Learning Communities

Taking Honors SeminarsYou may begin to take honors seminars in autumn quarter—please review the online list (http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/Seminars/

autumn2011.html) for options. Most honors seminars can fulfill a breadth of knowledge (BoK) requirement, and all honors seminars will fulfill an honors experience.

Questions?Please contact your honors advisor (refer to page 3) with any questions about University Honors Program requirements during or after registration.

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How do I find honors classes on OneStop?

• Log onto OneStop (www.onestop.uc.edu)

• From drop-down menus:

• Select “Autumn 2011-2012” for Term Select “Interdisciplinary Programs” for College or Program

• Select “University Honors Program” for Discipline

What if I don’t have room in my schedule to take Gateway to University Honors(38HNRS110H) in autumn quarter? What if all sections are closed when I registerat orientation?

You are required to take Gateway to University Honors (38HNRS110H) during your first year. If you are not able to take it in autumn quarter, then you’ll need to register for the class in winter quarter of your first year. No sections will be offered in the spring quarter.

May I register for an honors seminar in autumn quarter?

Absolutely! Please talk with your college advisor to learn if/how an honors seminar will fulfill a breadth of knowledge (BoK) requirement. View the list of honors seminars at http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/Seminars/autumn2011.html. Honors seminars assist you in fulfilling University Honors graduation requirements: 1 honors seminar = 1 honors experience.

What if the only sections of 15ENGL101H, 15ENGL102H, or 15ENGL112 that fit into my schedule are closed?

Contact your honors advisor to discuss possible solutions.

I know that I’m required to take honors sections of first-year English composition courses ... but what about honors sections of other general courses?

• You are welcome to choose honors sections of classes whenever you have the option. Honors sections typically involve more peer and faculty interaction, more discussion, and more challenging coursework.

• With the exception of 15ENGL101H, 15ENGL102H, and 38HNRS110H, some honors sections of 100- and 200-level courses do not count toward your University Honors graduation requirements. Visit http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/Seminars/expcourses.html to see a list of courses approved as honors experiences.

• Please note that some honors courses are open by invitation and/or college program only. For example, most honors business courses are available only to Kolodzik Business Scholars and/or Lindner Honors-PLUS students.

I’ve registered for autumn quarter classes and I’m finished with orientation ... what’s next for me as a University Honors student?

• Make sure that you’ve registered for the Honors Freshman Retreat, held at Camp Higher Ground on September 15 and 16, 2011. For more information about the retreat or to access registration forms, please review the newsletter or visit our website (http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/honorsFYE/retreat.html). We hope to see you there!

• Start making connections with current and incoming University Honors students by becoming involved in the University Honors Facebook group and the University Honors Linkedin group. Links are available on the University Honors Program home page (www.uc.edu/honors).

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Honors students will complete six honors experiences during their academic career at UC. Students have the flexibility to select experiences that meet their unique learning goals and interests. An honors experience could be any of the following:

An Honors Seminar

Honors seminars are engaging interdisciplinary courses that align with one or more of the thematic areas of University Honors and engage students in active and experiential learning. Experiential components may include service-learning, domestic or international study tours, visits to sites in local communities, integration of lab work, or other activities in which students are actively engaged in learning outside of the typical classroom setting. Honors seminars are upper-level courses (300-level or above) and most can apply toward general education requirements. View a list of honors seminars, by quarter, on our website: http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/Seminars.html

A Course Approved as an Honors Experience

These specially identified honors courses are typically 100- and 200- level courses, but could also include higher-level courses that do not fall into the definition of an honors seminar. They challenge students in ways beyond what a typical introductory course does and normally include active and experiential learning. Examples include Honors Art History and Honors Physics. View a list of courses on our website: http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/Seminars/expcourses.html

An Experiential Learning Project Experiential learning projects allow students to expand and apply their knowledge beyond the boundaries of academic courses. Through established or self-designed projects, students can explore the world, conduct research with faculty, contribute their masterpiece in a creative arts field, or provide significant leadership to campus or community organizations. View a list of projects on our website: http://www.uc.edu/honors/academics/experiences.html

What’s an Honors Experience?

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Requirements for Students Entering in the 2011-2012 Academic Year

Requirements 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th / 5th Year

Courses

Experiences(explained in the previous page)

E-Portfolio

GPAMinimum 3.2 cumulative university GPA at end of

summer quarter

Minimum 3.3 cumulative university GPA at end of

summer quarter

Minimum 3.4 cumulative university GPA at end of

summer quarter

Minimum 3.4 cumulative university

GPA at graduation

Create e-portfolio in Honors 110H and

document experience in e-portfolio by end of

summer quarter

Document experiences in e-portfolio by end of

summer quarter

Document experiences in e-portfolio by end of

summer quarter

Document experiences in e-portfolio by

graduation

E-portfolio must include 6 experiences and be approved by University

Honors Program to graduate with Honors

Must have 1 experience completed by end of

summer quarter

Must have a total of 2 experiences completed by

end of summer quarter

Must have a total of 4 experiences completed by

end of summer quarter

Must have a total of 6 experiences completed

by graduation

Honors 110H

English 112 -OR-English 101H & 102H

(AP, IB or PSEOP credit for those courses is accepted)

English 289H* strongly recommended

(fulfills 1 honors experience)

Interdisciplinary capstone strongly

recommended

Advising MeetingMeet with your honors

advisor at least once each year.

Meet with your honors advisor at least once

each year.

Meet with your honors advisor at least once

each year.

Meet with your honors advisor at least once

each year.

* Engineering students who take English 112 may take English 289H to satisfy the English composition requirement. In that case, English 289H will NOT count as a BoK. Engineering students who take English 101H and English 102H to satisfy the English composition requirement may take English 289H as an SE BoK.

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Raj Mehta, PhDDirector

Debbie BrawnDirector of Programs &

Administration

Leah Joos Assistant Director & Academic Advisor

Jessica KingAssistatnt Director &

Academic Advisor

Jen LileAssistant Director & Academic Advisor

Richard RoblesAssistant Director for First-Year

Experience & Leadership

Tricia YeeExecutive Staff Assistant

University Honors Program Staff

Are you ready to create a personal vision and learn to lead with integrity? Make plans to attend the LeaderShape Institute at the end of the fall quarter, December 10-15, 2011!

At the LeaderShape Institute, you’ll spend six days creating a comprehensive and powerful vision for the future that defines a bold change for your community, group, cause, or organization. As you work through this vision, you’ll have an opportunity to engage in reflection, planning, one-on-one interactions, small group feedback, and large group learning. The LeaderShape Institute environment resembles a laboratory more than a formal classroom. You’re encouraged to practice new skills, give and receive feedback from peers and faculty, and risk new behaviors in a safe, supportive atmosphere. You’ll leave with a healthy disregard for the impossible and the ability to produce

extraordinary results within your community!

The University Honors Program is pleased to present this leadership opportunity for 60 Honors students. Students wishing to enhance their leadership skills are expected to participate in the LeaderShape Institute as that first opportunity build on future endeavors. Additionally, as students are expected to take advantage of the time between academic quarters to continue their learning, this is a good opportunity to fulfill one of the required honors experiences.

To learn more and to register, go to http://www.uc.edu/honors/activities/leadershape.html in September. The cost to attend is $200 (payment is not required with your online registration; you will be billed after registering). For more information, contact Rich Robles at (513) 556-6255.

Sign Up for the LeaderShape Institute, Fulfill an Honors Experience

Take me to the LeaderShape Slide Show

http://vimeo.com/3149606