Messages from the Dean
Dear Students,
Welcome back for Spring 2022. As has become a frustrating trend, we’re once again starting a semester with challenges that need navigating. Thankfully, we’re all now veterans at adaptation and perseverance. Keep an eye on your inbox and Back on the Bricks for updates throughout the semester. I was extremely proud of the way the entire Honors community, students in particular, navigated last semester’s ups and downs. Your strength and resilience gives me confidence that this semester, whatever it holds, will also be a success.
The Honors Hub remains the place to go for everything from summer opportunities to registration forms to self-care resources. For those graduating in May, The Hub’s For Seniors page is also the place for all things graduation-related (including submission of your bachelor’s essay). Be sure to keep an eye on the senior checklist to ensure you’re on track with everything.
I’ll close by highlighting a few things to look forward to this semester:
- A new wellness series featuring student-run events designed to encourage community-building and well-being. We were originally planning the first event—a Spring Semester Fun Day—for late January, but that will be pushed back until later in the semester when we’re able to gather in larger numbers again. Stay tuned.
- Palentines Art Night, an event of the Honors College’s DEI initiative celebrating community with a collaborative mural project in the Berry Gallery Space on February 10.
- A new student group, the Honors Arts Collective, aimed at encouraging and celebrating artistic creativity among Honors students.
- The return of the Honors Summer Enrichment Program, which provides funding, resources, and collaboration in support of impactful summer experiences like research, internships, and study abroad. Details about the application process will be published on the Hub by the end of January.
- A new College-wide research/creative activities EXPO coming in early April, highlighting student work across disciplines. Details are still being finalized, but this will be a wonderful opportunity for Honors students to share with the campus community all the incredible efforts they’ve put forth on things like their Bachelor’s Essays, Honors Immersed projects, and more.
Be sure to monitor The Hub and subscribe to the Honors College Google calendar to ensure you stay up-to-date with everything that’s going on.
Here’s wishing you all the best with the semester ahead. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. Together, we’ve got this.
Kindest regards,
Dr. MB
Elizabeth L. Meyer-Bernstein, PhD
Dean, Honors College
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843-953-2298
Office: 10 Green Way, Room 101
September 2020
Honors Students,
I hope you’re all adjusting to life back on campus. It’s been so wonderful to see some of you in person once again!
Now that the semester is taking shape, I’m writing to highlight some upcoming programming and opportunities within the Honors College:
–First, the Honors College is hosting a discussion series for students called Elections 101, designed to provide foundational knowledge about the upcoming election on November 3rd. As scholar-citizens, CofC Honors students pride themselves on being informed and engaged with the world around them. A presidential election is always a consequential moment in our country’s history, and this year will be particularly unique, given the circu
mstances. For many of you, this will be your very first opportunity to exercise what is your foundational right and responsibility to vote in a Presidential election, and I strongly encourage you to take part. This series is a great way to help you do so. Each discussion will be moderated by Professor John Culhane, who previously worked for many years as the senior legal counsel for Coca Cola Enterprises and now serves as the Honors College Scholar-in-Residence. He has taught Honors courses on topics including the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the American electoral process. He is eager to engage in conversation with you on this very important topic. There are six discussions in total, but you can sign up for as many as your schedule allows. The first in the series is scheduled for this upcoming Tues, September 22, so sign up TODAY!! More details and registration info on Elections 101 can be found here.
–Second, I’m excited to announce that nominations for the Jill Conway Annual Scholarship are now open. The scholarship was established by Jill Conway to recognize a current Honors College student who has demonstrated engagement, personal growth, curiosity, and leadership. All Honors College sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to be nominated by a faculty member, staff member, or student. I encourage you to nominate a peer by completing the Conway Award Nomination Form by Monday, October 12th at 12pm. All eligible nominees will be asked to complete the second part of the selection procedure that is fully outlined here.
Kind regards,
Dr. MB
Elizabeth L. Meyer-Bernstein, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Charleston Honors College
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
College of Charleston
honors@cofc.edu
August 2020
Honors Students,
I hope that you have had a chance to read this afternoon’s email from President Hsu. To summarize, the College still plans to return to campus and begin in-person/hybrid classes on Monday, September 14th. As President Hsu mentioned, we will continue to monitor conditions and adjust our plans as needed. Back on the Bricks continues to be the official information resource for our campus community.
While I imagine that a return to campus is positive news for most students, I recognize that many of you will have questions and concerns as we make this transition. Therefore, I would like to outline some ways in which the Honors College will support you.
In the next week, you should expect to hear from your Honors College advisor who will reach out to see if they can provide any support. I encourage you to be candid about your needs and to advocate for yourself. If your advisor is not able to address your questions and concerns, we will make our best effort to direct you to someone who is.
Don’t forget that the Honors Center (10 Green Way) is officially open from 10am-2pm Monday through Friday, although someone is typically here from 9am-5pm. Feel free to stop by or call (843-953-5710) if you need assistance. If you need to speak with me directly and would prefer to set up a virtual appointment, please do so through the following Calendly link: Click HERE to schedule a meeting with Dr. MB
Normally, first-year students do not have an assigned Honors advisor at this point in the semester. However, due to these unique circumstances, we have expedited our advisor assignments. Therefore, next week’s email from your Honors College advisor may also be a welcome and introduction! First-year students will also receive an email from Jim Allison, Executive Director of the Career Center, who will share important information about your Career Success Coach.
Also be reminded that you can continue to count on support from campus offices such as the Center for Disability Services (SNAP), the Counseling Center, Residence Life, and many others during the next two weeks of online instruction and once we return to campus.
It is imperative that you do your part in controlling the spread of the virus by wearing a mask or face covering, socially distancing, and practicing good hygiene both on- and off-campus. I hope that you’ll join me in taking the Cougar Pledge! In order to ensure a safe return to campus, student leaders wrote the Cougar Pledge for the College of Charleston campus community. The Cougar Pledge is for students, faculty and staff and serves as a guide for practices that will help keep everyone safe.
Thanks to all of you who joined Honors Plenary on Monday. If you have not watched the presentation yet or want to revisit any of the information, here is a link to the recording.
Please don’t hesitate in reaching out to honors@cofc.edu with any questions or concerns. I look forward to seeing you all back on campus in a few weeks!
Kind regards,
Dr. MB
Elizabeth L. Meyer-Bernstein, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Charleston Honors College
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
College of Charleston
honors@cofc.edu
July 2020
Honors Students,
I expect that many of you were disappointed to hear the news that we would be starting our semester fully online. As President Hsu emphasized, this is not a decision that was made lightly but centers the health and safety of our campus community and the greater Charleston community. The academic year will still begin on Tuesday, August 25th with hopes that in-person classes will begin on Monday, September 14th and remain in-person until Thanksgiving Break as previously planned. That said, the Honors College team is still fully available and ready to support you in transitioning into a new school year, even though the first few weeks will be virtual.
For students living on campus this fall, move-in has been delayed, and we are working closely with the Housing Office to communicate updated information to you as soon as possible. Because of this change, the College will refund a portion of housing, dining, and parking costs. Students who feel that they need to live on campus during online instruction will have an opportunity to apply for an exemption to the delayed move-in. Please stay tuned for more information from Campus Housing regarding the exemption application process.
For students who live off campus and will be in the Charleston area during the three-week online instruction period, we are working with campus leadership to determine what resources and facilities (e.g. Addlestone Library and the Honors Center) may be available to you prior to September 14th. As soon as we have those details, we will share them with you.
For all our students – both incoming and returning – we are committed to providing the same level of faculty mentoring, rigorous coursework, and experiential learning that is at the heart of CofC Honors. It will look different, but please rest assured that we are still here to support and advocate for you fully. All faculty members have spent the summer transforming their courses into a format that will be engaging and effective online and in-person. This new semester should feel notably different from the crisis mode we all found ourselves in as we moved education online in March. Many of the courses you will take this fall, including honors courses, have a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, and we are confident that professors will be able to pivot those activities into a virtual format to the best of their abilities. You can also continue to count on support from campus offices such as the Career Center, the Center for Disability Services (SNAP), the Counseling Center, Residence Life, and many others during the period of online instruction.
It is imperative that you do your part in controlling the spread of the virus by wearing a mask or face covering, socially distancing, and practicing good hygiene both on- and off-campus. Also, make sure to check your CofC email account and the Back on the Bricks plan regularly for updated information.
Be safe and please don’t hesitate to reach out to honors@cofc.edu with any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Dr. MB
Elizabeth L. Meyer-Bernstein, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Charleston Honors College
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
College of Charleston
honors@cofc.edu
Message from Dean Folds-Bennett: Statement on Black Lives Matter
Like so many in our community, I am deeply distressed over the recent deaths of Black citizens at the hands of police. Every account I have read about the murders of Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor is so upsetting I can barely think about anything else. How can a country that stands on the principles of freedom and justice for all perpetuate the systemic racism that criminalizes, dehumanizes, and marginalizes members of our own society?
In recent conversations with students, colleagues, alums, and friends of the Honors College, I have been reminded again and again of the values that ground us and inspire us. These values – critical examination and analysis of facts, knowledge that is broad and deep, diversity of perspective and experience, equity and inclusion, self-awareness and humility, empathy and concern for others and the common good – are meaningless without action, though. What have we done as an Honors community to bring these values to life? What are we doing that contradicts these values? As I wrap up my time as dean and reflect on who we are as an Honors College, I believe that we have made progress in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and engaged community, but I also believe there’s much work left to do.
In the past few years, we have reformed our curriculum, broadened and strengthened Honors Engaged, our year-long service learning program, built a more intentional leadership development program, and restructured our admissions process, all toward the goal of integrating more diverse perspectives, experiences, and engagement. Our curriculum reform aimed to encourage a broader understanding of the development of human culture and society by removing the Western Civilization interdisciplinary seminar requirement and replacing it with an Exploring Complexity and Diversity colloquium series. Although the Western Civilization course was beloved by many for its challenging readings and rigorous discussion, it focused primarily on the Western canon and Western values. Students are still able to explore the roots of Western Civilization in the new curriculum, but they also have the opportunity to take a greater variety of courses that ask probing questions about the foundations of society and the sociopolitical dynamics that undergird and sustain societal norms. They critically examine the systems of power that have allowed white people to dominate over non-white people through colonization, subjugation, and empire building. Might we do more, though, to challenge students to develop habits of discovery and discourse that lead them to seek the truth in a way that incorporates diverse perspectives and dissenting voices? Could we do more to introduce them to a wider range of scholars and writers who have captured the narratives of culture and lived experiences of peoples in every corner of the earth and throughout all the ages? Are we encouraging them to push the boundaries of their knowledge and assumptions to arrive at new insights about their own beliefs and values? Are we preparing our students to understand how systemic racism is sustained and what they, as citizens and leaders, might do to break down the structures that perpetuate inequity?
The Honors College is more than a set of courses, though. It’s a community, and we feel called repeatedly to reflect on the ways in which we are modeling the values and actions that promote equity and inclusion. We have come to the conclusion, for example, that diversity among our students, faculty, and staff will not happen organically. There are too many systems and habits in place that act as barriers to that goal. In other words, we will only achieve diversity through intention. For example, we critically analyzed our admissions process and realized that our narrowly focused review privileged students from wealthy, predominately white schools. We now take a deeper dive into each applicant’s record to understand their achievement, leadership, motivation, and aspirations. This process has resulted in a more diverse mix of voices and perspectives in the Honors College, and the opportunity to create more inclusive programming that brings those voices to the forefront. This is progress that gives me hope. But, while we have moved forward in diversifying our student population, we have not made the same progress with our faculty and staff. As with our admissions process, I believe a more diverse faculty and staff will only be achieved through an intentional effort to make it happen, and I implore campus leadership to make this a priority.
On another front, we have worked to incorporate leadership opportunities that equip students to be bold leaders guided by strong ethical principles. Recent evidence of this type of leadership is the Series on Race that our student leaders have put together. Ironically, these students are part of the William Aiken Fellows Society, a group that bears the name of one of the largest owners of enslaved people in the history of South Carolina. When John Newell and I formed the Aiken Fellows Society more than 10 years ago, we used that name for the simple reason that the Honors College is housed in a building that was owned by Governor William Aiken, Jr. We should have given more thought to his legacy, though. Members of the Aiken Fellows Society have urged us to change the name of the group, and we agree that should happen. Therefore, as one of my final actions before I leave the Honors College, we will remove the name, William Aiken, from the Society and call it instead the Honors Leadership Fellows Society. Along with several alumni of the Society, I have established a leadership program endowment that will help to support the continued work of the Honors Leadership Fellows Society. In the original gift agreement crafted earlier this year, I was fairly broad in my description of how the money could be used. However, I intend to work with staff in Institutional Advancement to change the gift agreement to ensure that the funds are directed toward activities that serve the greater good of the Charleston community and that the Honors Leadership Fellows Society grows in diversity, inclusion, and equity.
We value every member of our community, but especially today as we reflect on the significance of Juneteenth, we stand particularly with our Black students and alumni. All lives will not matter until Black Lives Matter. We will ensure that the voices of Black and Brown members of our community are heard, respected, and put into action. We will encourage dialogue, we will stand in solidarity during protest, and we will commit to the change that is necessary to ensure the removal of all barriers to the goals and aspirations of our Black students.
Trisha Folds-Bennett, Ph.D.
Dean
March 29th, 2020
Hello to the Honors Community,
I know this has been a tough few weeks as we have all adjusted to a new reality and grieve over the loss of many gatherings, events, milestones and celebrations that we had looked forward to this spring. I hope that you are all doing well in your transition to learning at a distance. Please know that the faculty and staff in the Honors College miss you terribly and want to encourage you to reach out to us with any concerns that you have or support that you need.
On the eve of Honors priority registration, I would like to call your attention to two new classes that we have added to the fall schedule. I would also like to give you some details about one of the colloquia and one of the Advanced Topics that have some prerequisites. Descriptions of these classes can be found on the Honors Hub under the Student Resources Honors Courses tab.
NEWLY ADDED COURSES
HONS 225-03 Identity, Conflict, and Cultural Exchange in the Early Modern Atlantic World (Professor Jennifer Cavalli)
MWF 12:00-12:50
HONS 230-01 Banned Books that Shape(d) the World (Professor Marjory Wentworth)
TR 1:40-2:55
Please note the change in time for the following course:
HONS 225-01 Designing Women: Perceptions, Reflections, and Self-Representation of the Western Female (Professor Jennifer Cavalli)
MW 2:00-3:15
COURSES WITH PREREQUISITES: Contact ganawayb@cofc.edu or plasmatinc@cofc.edu to request enrollment
HONS 260-02 Algorithmic Music and Interaction (Professor Bill Manaris)
MWF 12:30-1:20
Prerequisite(s): CSCI 220, or permission of instructor.
HONS 390-02 Honors Molecular Biology (Professor Renaud Geslain)
MWF 9:00-9:50
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 111/BIOL 111L or HONS 151/HONS 151L, BIOL 112/BIOL 112L or HONS 152/HONS 152L, BIOL 211/BIOL 211D and BIOL 305; one year of chemistry. CHEM 232 or HONS 293 can be substituted for BIOL 211 and BIOL 305.
Co-requisite(s) or Prerequisite(s): MATH 250 or equivalent course in statistics or permission of instructor. You can register for a non-honors lab to take concurrently. In that case, email Ms. Damaris Jones (hilld@cofc.edu) and let her know your student ID# and preferred lab section.
The Colloquia and Advanced Topics have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each – Dr. Ganaway will release seats gradually across the day.
If you have your eye on a 100-level Foundations class, you need to know that seats in these classes are reserved for our incoming students since they are not eligible for colloquia or advanced topics. If you have a strong case for needing to take one of them, contact Dr. Ganaway and he will let you know your chances.
Good luck with registration!
Dr. FB
November 11th, 2019
Dear Honors Students,
I’m writing to share some bittersweet news with you. After a great deal of soul searching, I have accepted an offer to become the next provost and vice-chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Virginia’s campus in Wise, Virginia. The thought of leaving the work that I love so dearly at CofC Honors is difficult to bear. However, as I often counsel honors students, sometimes you have to take tremendous risks to reach higher plains. I have experienced what many of you are in the midst of – intentional reflection to gain a deeper sense of self-awareness, attention to practical matters such as building a powerful resume and cover letter, and preparing for the interview process. Just as I have taught and guided so many of you, you have taught and guided me!
My appointment at UVa-Wise is effective July 1, 2020, which means that I will be with you as the Honors College Dean through June 2020. I’m grateful for this time to complete several important projects and to work on a plan for a smooth transition. In particular, I know that those of you have me as an advisor or mentor may be concerned about who will fill those roles when I am gone. Please be assured that I will be highly attentive to those details. For those of you who were hoping to seek my support in the form of letters of recommendation or advice about post-graduate plans, I will be available, even after I depart CofC, to support you toward those purposes.
It’s hard to believe that I came to the College of Charleston in 1990 as a member of the Psychology Department and that I started my work in the Honors College thirteen years ago. – that’s a long time in one spot! I have loved every minute of my time as your dean. You inspire me with your passion for learning, your creativity, your work ethic, and your concern for others. In my new role, I will have the opportunity to work with many first-generation college students from rural areas, particularly in the Appalachian region. Here, at CofC Honors, I have experienced the power of a diverse and engaged learning community. Our model of interdisciplinary, integrative and experiential learning is relevant in any context, and I will be proud to share our best practices with my colleagues and students at UVa-Wise.
I am grateful for eight more months at CofC, during which I look forward to spending quality time with students and faculty. We still have a lot of great work to do together! I’m proud of all of you and the impact you have on campus and in the community. Even after my departure, I will continue to celebrate your remarkable impact and impressive achievements.
I love the College of Charleston as if it were my alma mater and will always be a Cougar at heart!
Dr. Folds-Bennett
November 1st, 2019
Dear Honors College Students,
As we enter a new month and approach the final part of the fall semester, I have some important information to share with you.
PF Recruitment
Today (Friday) at noon is the deadline to apply to become a Beyond George Street Peer Facilitator for Fall 2020. Each year, the Honors College employs approximately 20 Honors students to serve as BGS PFs. I hope you’ll consider applying if you would like to contribute meaningfully to shaping the BGS curriculum and to making an impact on the experience of our first-year students. More details on the role and application process are available here.
Content and Community Manager Intern
We are currently seeking a CofC Honors student for our Content and Community manager internship for Spring 2020. The Content and Community Manager plays an essential role in maintaining the Honors Hub, sustaining engagement across all Honors College social platforms, and supporting various Honors College events and strategic initiatives. A complete job description can be found here. Interested students must fill out the application digitally and submit it to Chris Bailey via email at honors@cofc.edu no later than noon on Monday, November 11th.
Cougar Scholarship Award System (CSAS)
Earlier this week you should have received an email introducing you to the Cougar Scholarship Award System (CSAS). I have pasted the email text below in case you missed it. Please read this information carefully to ensure that you are considered for donor-funded scholarships and/or to ensure that any donor-funded scholarships you may already have are renewed.
I encourage every CofC Honors student to log in to the system, ensure that their information is listed correctly, and to start applying for scholarship opportunities starting today.
If you are currently the recipient of a renewable Honors College named merit scholarship, you must have a current CSAS profile for your scholarship to renew for the next term or academic year.
The Honors College, like all other departments and schools, will start to use CSAS to collect scholarship applications and award scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year. If the Honors College has new scholarship funds to award to returning students (i.e. not incoming freshmen) for the 2020-2021 academic year, we will use CSAS in lieu of collecting the applications via email and OAKS dropbox submission as we have done in the past.
If you have general questions about CSAS, please contact foundationscholarships@cofc.edu. If you have specific questions about Honors College named merit scholarships, please contact Chris Bailey at crbailey@cofc.edu.
Email sent on 10/29/19 from Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs:
We are excited to announce that the College of Charleston has improved the process by which you can apply for departmental scholarships!!
The College of Charleston has switched to an online scholarship awarding system called the Cougar Scholarship Awarding System (CSAS). CSAS will serve as the platform that you will use to apply for all privately funded scholarships. CSAS gives you access to all scholarships that are available to you through one easy application! To submit an application for scholarships from your particular department, you will need to log on to https://cofc.academicworks.com.
Below, we have listed a few important tips for you to remember:
- CSAS is how all departmental scholarships will be awarded for the 2020/2021 academic year.
- Applications will open on November 1, 2019.
- The CSAS portal can be accessed here: https://cofc.academicworks.com
- You will need to make sure your student information is updated and that you have submitted your FAFSA (if applicable) for the 2020-2021 academic year. Student information can be accessed via MyCharleston under the Academic Services Tab and the Banner Self Service link.
- This application is only for departmental and foundation-awarded scholarships.
- If you are a current recipient of a renewable scholarship through your department, you will need to submit an application through the CSAS portal in order to renew that scholarship.
All best,
Dr. Folds-Bennett
October 11th, 2019
Dear Honors College Students,
It feels as if Fall has finally arrived. Academic advising is in full swing, and registration for spring courses is just around the corner. By now you should have met with your Honors Advisor, or at least made plans to do so. If you have not yet scheduled an advising appointment, please make arrangements as soon as possible. Remember that you cannot register for classes without having first met with your Honors Advisor and turned in your signed Honors advising form to the Honors Center main office.
Registration entry dates for Honors students can be found on the HUB.
Also on the HUB you’ll find descriptions of all of the Honors courses we plan to offer in the spring, broken down by category. I have heard from many of you that you are excited about the diversity of courses we are offering in the spring and that you want to take them ALL. That’s great, but please be aware that we have enough seats in courses for everyone to take at least one honors course. If you would like to take more than one, please wait until after Oct 31st to register for the second one. I’d like to make sure that everyone has a chance to enroll in an honors course of their choosing before we open the door to students taking multiple honors classes.
For freshmen, please note that you must have completed both HONS 110 and at least one Foundations course to register for an Exploring Complexity and Diversity course.
For students in the “old” curriculum, please note that the interdisciplinary courses are in the Colloquia category – any HONS 380, 381, or 382 will fulfill your interdisciplinary requirement.
We have several honors courses that have special feature, such as travel components or a unique structure. I have included a brief description of these courses below so you have all the information you need to prepare for registration in them.
HONS 301-01 Principles of Leadership (Professor Lee Higdon)
Professor Higdon is the former President of the College of Charleston, and has decades of leadership experience in both academia and the finance industry. This 2-credit course focuses on developing and applying effective leadership skills—students will complete guided personal reflections that integrate theory into an analysis of their own potential as effective leaders.
What to know: The course is categorized as a professional enrichment course, and the 2-credits count towards the 25 HONS credit hour requirement. Students must be sophomores or above and must be enrolled by the Honors College—anyone interested should contact Honors@cofc.edu for additional information.
HONS 380-01 Genetics and the Good Society (Professor Christopher Korey)
While the ability to store large amounts of genetic information in databases presents an opportunity for significant human health research discoveries, it should also make us pause to consider the implications of this technology in the context of how the information is used. This course will take an interdisciplinary look at all these issues, through the combined disciplinary lenses of Human Genetic Research and Disability Studies, to help us envision the place of genetic information and technology in a “good” society.
What to know: Students enrolled in this course will be eligible to participate in an optional sping break trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. For additional travel information, including cost, email Professor Korey at koreyc@cofc.edu. Please note: signing up for the travel component is not required to enroll in the course.
HONS 380-04/08 Philosophy Without Borders (Professors Sheridan Hough and Christian Coseru)
This course will focus on the metaphysical, moral, and social questions of what it means to be a person in our globalized world. What is the nature of reality? Is there a persistent soul or self at the heart of human nature? What is right or good, and what is the best way to live? By exploring questions like these and the philosophers who have addressed them (as well as their methods of inquiry and proposed solutions), the course will provide students with a variety of perspectives on the human situation.
What to know: The course is unique in that it consists of two sections of 15-students each. Both sections will meet together with both instructors on Monday and Wednesday. On Friday, the sections will meet separately for a more intimate group discussion. Because the sections will meet at separate times on Friday, pay attention to which section you enroll in. HONS 380-04 will meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m., while HONS 380-08 will meet Monday/Wednesday from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. and Friday from 10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
HONS 390-01 Honors Impact-X: Entrepreneurship (Professor David Wyman)
HONS 390-03 Honors Impact-X: Technology (Professor Christopher Starr)
These two courses are taught together as part of our first-ever Honors Impact-X coursework, designed to incubate technological, entrepreneurial, and creative activities. Professor Wyman’s Entrepreneurship course focuses on opportunity recognition, business model generation and lean startup, with students researching and developing a repeatable, scalable business model. In Professor Starr’s Technology course, students learn fundamental information technology concepts, processes, and tools that drive business innovations for startup and growth companies. Together, the courses expose students to experiential learning opportunities and provide foundational knowledge in technological entrepreneurship.
What to know: The courses are co-requisites, meaning students must enroll in both courses concurrently. You will not be able to enroll in one course without the other. Students who are interested should contact professor Lancie Affonso at AffonsoL@cofc.edu for more information.
HONS 392-01 Voice and Memory: Exploring the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement (Professors Marjory Wentworth and Trisha Folds-Bennett)
Individual and collective memory for specific events is the foundation for the telling and re-telling of those events. Why do some people remember events in one way and others in a completely different way? This class will explore the ways in which perspective, bias, beliefs, and values have shaped our nation’s understanding and memory of the civil rights movement and its impact on individual lives and society as a whole. Studying the theory and scope of social justice, students will learn through the voices of both historical and contemporary authors who have told the story of the civil rights movement. The class will also journey to Atlanta, Selma, Birmingham, and Montgomery in order to gain a new perspective on the experiences of the individuals who were at the epicenter of the movement.
What to know: All students enrolled in the course will participate in a spring break trip to several important civil rights landmarks in the southeast. Interested students are asked to contact Dr. Folds-Bennett (foldsbennettt@cofc.edu) for additional details, including travel information and projected costs.
All best,
Dr. FB
July 17th, 2019
Greetings from the Honors College!
We are excited that all of you will be in Charleston in just a few short weeks and especially look forward to welcoming 268 new students to the Honors community. We wish you a safe journey back to campus.
I want to make you aware now as you plan your schedules that the mandatory Honors Plenary will occur on Monday, August 19th. A plenary, by definition, is a “meeting of the whole.” The word derives from the Latin root plenarius,” which means “full” or “absolute”. Often at academic or professional conferences, the opening session is called a plenary session.
At the Honors Plenary, we celebrate the beginning of the new year. More importantly, I will provide all essential information about our plans for the year, about Honors policies and requirements, and about a range of opportunities and activities that have been designed with your interests and needs in mind.
Freshmen and Sophomores (i.e., 1st and 2nd year honors students) will attend from 4-5pm
Juniors and Seniors (i.e., 3rd, 4th, 5th year honors students) will attend from 5-6pm
Both sessions will take place in the Silcox Gym (Corner of George and Meeting; entrance off George Street). The sessions are tailored to the needs of Freshmen-Sophomores and Juniors-Seniors, accordingly. Therefore, you must attend the session designated for your class.
This is a mandatory event for all Honors Students to stay in good standing and retain priority registration status and access to opportunities set aside exclusively for honors students. Furthermore, we will expect all honors students to be fully aware of the information we provide in the sessions, information essential to your navigation through the honors requirements and opportunities.
Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your assigned time so that you may sign in and find a seat. With nearly 500 students in each session, we will have a packed house! Each session will last no longer than an hour.
I look forward to seeing you on campus and to working with you throughout this upcoming academic year.
Dr. Folds-Bennett