Week 2 (Aug. 26 - 29): Welcome and Introductions
Lecture:
- What is BGS?
- What is a Scholar-Citizen
- Introductions: The faculty team and PFs
- Syllabus and Assignment Review
Seminar:
- Meeting Your BGS Peers
- Preparing for the Semester
Preparatory Work:
- Not applicable
Individual Consultation 1:
- During weeks 2 – 3, you will meet individually with your PF; the goal of this informal meeting is simply for you to get to know your PF better and vice versa. Come prepared with any questions or concerns you might have about the class, or about your transition into college more generally.
Week 3 (Sept. 2 - 5): Justice and Democracy
Lecture: Engaged Community Advocacy Workshop – An Introduction to Service, Social Justice, and the Honors Engaged Project
- Defining Justice and Applying Democracy
- Sustainable Development Goals for the United Nations
- Spectrum of Civic Engagement
- Direct Service and Deliberative Democracy via Honors Engaged
Seminar:
- Information on Honors Engaged applications and placements
- Social Justice in an Open World
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
- Completing the United Nations Sulitest – An Assessment Tool for Sustainable Literacy
- Instruction Sheet for UN Sustainability Test-1xslds3
- Access Code provided in your PF’s weekly email
Assignments Due:
- Honors Engaged Partner Fair Scavenger Hunt
- Download a QR reader onto your smart phone if you don’t already have one. We recommend “Free QR Code Reader and Barcode Scanner” available via the app store.
- Use the QR Challenge provided at the partner fair to get to know our community partners.
- Honors Engaged Application due Sunday, Sept. 8 at noon.
Week 4 (Sept. 9 - 12): Professional Communication
Lecture: Presenting Yourself as a Professional
Seminar: Critical Communication Skills
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
Week 5 (Sept. 16 - 19): Academic Integrity
Lecture:
Seminar:
- Campus Resources to Consider
Resources:
- Follow this link to a comprehensive list of resources available to College of Charleston students.
- Center for Student Learning:
- About the CSL
- WATCH this video about Supplemental Instruction
- Counseling and Substance Abuse Services:
- About the Department
- WATCH the introductory video by Dr. Budd
- Check out the Cougar Counseling team
- Also, find them on Facebook
- Mindfulness
- WATCH this video on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
- Sexual Misconduct and Consent:
- Check out this presentation on sexual misconduct and consent.
- Office of Sustainability
- The ECOllective Student Project Committee (ESPC) at the Office of Sustainability is currently taking applications for committee members. The committee consists of 5-9 students from various backgrounds and majors and meets once or twice a month to review proposals for grants up to $5,000 to fund sustainability-driven, CofC student-run initiatives, such as research, implementation of new sustainable equipment, or event expenses. For more information, visit their website: http://sustainability.cofc.edu/espc-student-projects/index.php or email Trevor Leach at cofc.ecollective@gmail.com. The application to become a committee member is live at: http://sustainability.cofc.edu/espc-student-projects/serving-on-the-committee.php (under the ‘serving on the committee’ tab on the website).
- Transportation
- Need a ride? SGA’s got you covered. Check it our here: https://blogs.cofc.edu/honorshub/2018/09/06/charleston-green-taxi/
- Visit the College of Charleston’s QEP and Sustainable Literacy Institute websites
- Come out to the Honors Engaged Match Party to find out who you will be working with this year: Friday, 9/14, from 3-5 PM in the Lightsey Courtyard
Preparatory Work:
Individual Consultation 2:
During Weeks 5-7, you will meet individually with your PF to discuss how your first semester is going, learn about resources specific to your needs and interests, and begin mapping out some academic and professional goals for your time at the College.
Week 6 (Sept. 23 - 26): Engaging Diverse Communities
Lecture: Engaging Diverse Communities with the Office of Institutional Diversity
Seminar: Rising Out of Hatred with The College Reads!
- Group discussions of Rising Out of Hatred
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
- Diversity EDU Modules
- Peruse the reading guide for Rising Out of Hatred to prepare for discussion: Reading Guide
Assignments Due:
- Submit Diversity EDU Completion Certificate to your Peer Facilitator
- Complete reading or review Rising Out of Hatred
- Peruse the reading guide for The Hate U Give to prepare for discussion: Reading Guide
- Read this article on intersectionality: What is intersectionality-2odrvap
- Make sure to watch the video embedded in the article!
Week 7 (Sept. 30 - Oct. 3): Undergraduate Research and Creative Affairs (URCA) Forum: An Introduction to Undergraduate Research with Dr. Beth Meyer-Bernstein
Lecture:
- Introduction to Research in the Disciplines
- Undergraduate Research Roundtable
Seminar:
- Library Resources
- How to Talk to Faculty
- Honors Engaged as Field Work for Academic Pursuits
Resources:
- URCA Presentation
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities
- NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (nationally competitive research experience beyond CofC)
- Mark your calendars for the BGS Faculty Fair on Tuesday, 10/3, from 4-5:30 PM in the Stern Center Ballroom. This is a great way to meet professors and make connections in a casual settinng!
Preparatory Work:
Week 8 (Oct. 7 - 10): Academic and Extracurricular Planning
Lecture: 4-Year Planning in Honors
- Review of General Education Curriculum and Requirements
- Review of Honors Curriculum and Requirements
- Introduction to the PACE Navigator
Seminar: PACE Navigating
- PACE Navigator – Workshop
- Bring a laptop to the workshop so that you may begin future planning and working on your PACE Navigator.
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
- Watch and Listen to Dr. Ganaway’s Advising Presentations:
- To access these presentations, log into OAKS.
- Once you are in OAKS, go to the “Honors Advising Class of 2023” course home.
- On the right side of the page, under the “Multimedia Resources” resources channel, follow the “Access VoiceThread for this Course” link.
- You should now have access to Dr. Ganaway’s presentations.
- Watch and listen to all three of these presentations. Your PF and a member of the Honors Team will be available in class to answer any questions you may have.
- To access these presentations, log into OAKS.
- Resource Exploration:
- Check out the Major Roadmap for your potential or current major.
- Access Degree Works through MyCofC and explore the interface and tools available (e.g. the “what-if” audit).
- Explore the website for your major or potential major. Come to class with one thing that you learned or found interesting. This could be a faculty member’s research, a piece of student news, an item from the Department newsletter, or the way the Department tries to “sell” its major.
Assignments Due:
- Begin Working on the PACE Navigator
- Before class, you should look over and begin completing your PACE Navigator.
- Write down any questions that arise while completing your PACE Navigator. You will have time in class to direct these questions to your PF and/or an Honors advisor.
- The PACE Navigator is a working document. It doesn’t have to be completed entirely before class. Don’t let it intimidate you! It is simply a tool to assist you in your planning for the future. There will be plenty of opportunities in class and in your upcoming consultations to address any anxieties or confusion you encounter.
Week 10 (Oct. 21 - 24): Freshman Advising Week
Lecture: Ways of Achieving Global Fluency with Dr. Ganaway
Seminar: No Meetings this Week
- Instead you will be expected to attend an advising appointment with your assigned Honors advisor in preparation for Spring 2019 registration, which begins next week.
Resources:
- Center for International Education
- School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs
- Visit the College of Charleston’s QEP and Sustainable Literacy Institute websites
Preparatory Work:
- Continue working on your PACE Navigator
Assignments Due:
- You must complete the Honors College Advising Form (in pencil) and bring it to your advising appointment.
- You should go to your Advising Appointment with a complete working draft of your PACE Navigator for your advisor to review.
- Upload a complete draft of your PACE Navigator, with any adaptations recommended by your advisor, to the OAKS dropbox.
- You must print the completed PACE Navigator and include it in your binder.
Week 11 (Oct. 28 - 31): Professional Development Workshop: Understanding Your Resume as a Living Document with the Career Center
Lecture: Presenting Your Professional Self with the College of Charleston Career Center
- Resume and Cover Letter Presentation
Seminar: Being “Desktop Ready”
- Resume building
- LinkedIn profiles
- Bring a laptop and a hard-copy of your resume to the workshop
Resources:
- Career Center
- Resume Advice from the Career Center at CofC
- Cover Letter advice from the Career Center at CofC
- Early Career Resume Guide
- LinkedIn Checklist for College Students
- Resume
Preparatory Work:
- Spend at least 10 minutes exploring the Career Center Website. Explore some of the available resources. Be ready to discuss these in class!
- Explore the What Can I Do With This Major? resource. Think about what majors you may be interested and what career fields this major might lead you toward.
- Go to the Career Planning and Exploration section of the CofC Career Center website and complete the FOCUS career and educational planning system. Instructions for creating a FOCUS account are also available here.
Assignments Due:
- Resume draft
- The final draft should be submitted to the Honors Advising Dropbox before Thanksgiving Break.
Week 12 (Nov. 4 - 7): Life This Far - Academic, Professional and Personal Narrative Writing with Mr. Robby Maynor
Lecture: Self-Reflection as an Ongoing Process
Seminar: Narrative Writing Workshop
- Pre-writing
- Outlining assignment for self-reflection
- Be sure to bring your charged laptop to class!
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
Assignments Due:
- The final draft should be submitted to the Honors Advising Dropbox before Thanksgiving Break.
Week 13 (Nov. 11 - 14): Reflecting on Civic Engagement
Lecture: Volunteerism, Advocacy and Activism – The Spectrum of Civic Engagement
Seminar:
- Honors Engaged Final Reflection Workshop
- Linking Social Justice to Honors Engaged via the Writing Process
Resources:
Preparatory Work:
- Read this chapter on Volunteerism and Activism
- Begin working on the Honors Engaged Proposal. Your project liaison should reach out to setup a group workshop.
Assignments Due:
- Honors Engaged Proposals are due in the OAKS Class of 2023 Advising Folder prior to class meetings next week. Print out a copy and include it in your BGS binder as well.
Week 14 (Nov. 18 - 21): Study Abroad and Nationally Competitive Awards Forum with Dr. Jesslyn Collins-Frohlich
Lecture: An Introduction to Travel and Funding for Undergraduates
- Study Abroad, Internships, and National Awards Student Panel
Seminar: Final Portfolio Workshop
- Bring in your Final Portfolio in a finalized state. You will have time in class to ask last minute questions and fine-tune your portfolio, but it should be more or less complete by the the time you arrive at the workshop.
- Portfolios will be turned in for assessment at the end of class.
- A Word on Evaluations: Students as Partners in Teaching Innovation
- Please bring your charged laptop to class!
Resources:
- Explore the section of the Center for International Education website dedicated to study abroad. Look through the many different study abroad options and think about which locations and programs may work best for you in the future. How will these experience help you to achieve your future goals?
- Alternative Break
- Also, take some time to delve into the site of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: check out the “Top Ten Awards for Honors Students from the First Year through Graduation, read about recent successes, and check out some of the specific awards available and think about which awards you may want to apply for in the future.
Preparatory Work:
- Bring in your Final Portfolio in a finalized state. You will have time in class to ask last minute questions and fine-tune your portfolio, but it should be more or less complete by the the time you arrive at the workshop.
Assignments Due:
- Portfolios should be turned in for assessment at the end of class.
- Final Portfolios will be due at the end of class on November 27 and 29. Your PF will review your portfolio with BGS faculty and schedule a final consultation with you between Wednesday, December 4th and Wednesday, December 11th, at which point your portfolio will be returned to you along with some feedback on your first semester in Honors.
- Evaluations: time will be given to complete official Course/Instructor evaluations as well as a survey created specifically for BGS.
Week 15 (Nov. 25 - 28): Thanksgiving Break
Class Activities:
- BGS classes will not meet this week.