September 23, 2004 In this issue: -Dates & Deadlines -Attn: Freshmen -Attn: Graduating Seniors -Study Room Information -Honors Summer Reading Course 2005 Information -Textbook Information -Peter Kiewit Student Entrepreneurial Award Nominations -Undergraduate Studies Essay Contest -National Honors Collegiate Council Semester in Seattle -Honors Program Social -Omicron Delta Kappa Applications & Nominations -Student Volunteer Opportunity for By the People -- Dates and Deadlines: Fri. Sept.24: Final day to apply for a degree in December ($25.00 fee due with application) Tues. Sept. 28: Midsemester Checkpoint for First Year Students, 7:00-8:30 pm. City Campus Union: see item below Wed. Sept. 29: Midsemester Checkpoint for First Year Students, 7:00-8:30 pm. City Campus Union: see item below Wed. Oct.13: Tuition and fee payment deadline Fri. Oct.15: Last day to change a course registration to or from "Pass/No Pass" Last day to submit Honors contract forms for first semester Mon. Oct.18 - Tues. Oct.19: Fall Semester Break Oct.25 - Nov. 9: Priority Registration for Second Semester, 2004-2005 Nov.10 - Jan.9, 2005: Open Registration for Second Semester Fri. Nov. 12: Last day to withdraw from one or more courses for the term Last day to submit thesis completion form for Dec. graduation Wed. Nov. 24 - Sun. Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Vacation Dec. 6 - 11: Last week of classes Mon. Dec. 6: Thesis due for Dec. graduates Fri. Dec. 10: Statement of Academic Interest due for students completing the 4th semester Memorandum of Study due for students completing the 6th semester Sat. Dec.11 (Sat.) : Last day of classes Dec. 13 - 17: First Semester Final Exams Sat. Dec.18: First Semester Commencement Dec. 24 - Jan. 2, 2005: Holiday Closedown -- Freshmen: Attend those Peer Mentor group meetings! They're extremely important and you'll receive a good deal of valuable information in them. If you don't know who your mentor is or you have a scheduling conflict, contact Dr. Lyons at klyons2@unl.edu. Midsemester checkpoint: this is an event designed to review a number of pointers which will help you succeed and to improve your academic experience. It is NOT a remedial program, but rather one which will show you ways in which to strive for the top. Plan to attend on one of the evenings, if not with your Peer Mentor group, then with others on your floor or in your 189H classes. -- Seniors: If you plan to graduate from the Honors Program in December, please contact Dr. Berger at as soon as possible. -- Study Rooms: To clarify the policy for reserving rooms in Neihardt: To reserve rooms such as the Gray or Courtyard Parlor, the Birch or Pine Room, etc., you need to be a resident of Cather, Pound or Neihardt, or on the Honors Board or Honors Ambassadors. You must reserve these rooms through the Neihardt Front Desk. To reserve a study room (on the first floor of Heppner), you must enter your name and time in the appropriate section of the Reservations book in the Resource/Reading Room. You must be a member of the University Honors Program. If you are having difficulties with the computers in the computer lab, please complete a problem form and submit it to the main Honors office. If you're having difficulty establishing your account, you can still log on to Blackboard on computers in other locations on campus. -- Note: We will NOT be supporting an Honors summer reading course in the summer of 2005, so you must complete your Honors credits during the August-May academic year by enrolling in Honors classes or by contracting. -- Book scholarship: a reminder that ALL textbooks MUST be purchased through the UNL Bookstore. If a required text is not available in the UNL Bookstore, you must request them to order it. You will not be reimbursed for text purchased elsewhere. In addition, all texts must be returned at the end of the semester. You will be charged the UNL Bookstore's buyback price should you elect to retain any texts. -- The Peter Kiewit Student Entrepreneurial Award nominations are due by October 25. For more information, see the bulletin board outside Dr. Lyons' office. -- Need $1000? Undergraduate Studies Announces Essay Contest The Office of Undergraduate Studies has announced an essay contest for UNL undergraduates. The 'Engage. Connect. Balance.' contest, sponsored by Subway, will award $1,000 each to authors of the top five essays, as judged by members of the Chancellor's Leadership Class. To enter, explain in 250 words or fewer how you have been helped by a UNL professor to engage, connect and balance in order to better succeed in school. The deadline for essay entries is Saturday, Oct. 2. For more information, including an online entry form, go to engage.unl.edu. -- Information on he National Collegiate Honors Council Semester in Seattle, running from May 23-August 12, 2005, is now available. This experience involves studying with Honors students from around the country in an exciting and stimulating environment. You will take three courses revolving around Seattle and its environs, an independent study, then choose one other course in theatre or literature. You will earn 16 hours of Honors credit during this summer study opportunity. See Dr. Lyons for more information. -- Honors Program Social Join us for an evening of fun filled with bowling, food, and socializing! All Honor Students are welcome. The event will be held at the East Campus Union on Friday, October 1 from 6-10pm. There will be free bowling for the first 100 students. Games thereafter will be $2 per person, shoes included. Pizza and Pepsi products will be provided. There will also be tables set up for pitch and poker, and we hope to get a mafia game going as well! Stop by anytime! We hope to see you there! The event is sponsored by the Honors Program Student Advisory Board. -- Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Applications and Nominations Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honors society currently accepting new members. Members include undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students and faculty. ODK also recognizes outstanding sophomore leaders. Application and nomination forms for membership or leadership awards are available at Student Involvement (city and east campus) and in 106 Canfield. Applications are due by 4 p.m. October 1. Please contact ODK President Emily Chen (emaline7@aol.com) if you have questions or visit our website: -- Student volunteer opportunity for By the People event on Oct. 9th Undergraduates needed to volunteer for an opportunity to be a part of a remarkable event that is occurring only in 20 cities throughout the U.S. The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, NETV, along with PBS MacNeil/Lehrer Productions would like to invite UNL undergraduate students to assist with events throughout the day such as registration, moderating small group discussions about national topics such as national security and the economy, assisting moderators and escorting participants around campus. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt and lunch is provided, and that there is a good chance that they could appear on T.V. The event is on Sat., Oct. 9, from 8:30a-4:30p. at the UNL City Campus Union and CBA. If interested, contact Lisa Darveau at 472-5678 or ldarveau@nebraska.edu .