April 7, 2006 In this Issue: - UNL Spring Calendar - Honors Program Calendar - Peer Mentors - Study Abroad - Fellowship Opportunity - New Geology Class - Lecture Opportunity - Public Policy Summer Jobs - Honors Classes and H Designations. - Honors Travel Opportunities - Letters of Recommendation - Computer Lab - GPA and Honors Status -- -- UNL Spring Calendar: Mar. 27-Apr. 11: Priority registration for Fall 2006 Fri. Apr. 7: Last day to withdraw from a class Sun. Apr. 23: UNL Honors Convocation Apr. 24-29: Last week of classes May 1-5: Final exams Sat. May 6: Commencement -- Honors Program 2005-2006 Calendar/Deadlines: Fri. Apr. 14: Statement of Academic Interest due (4th semester participants) Memorandum of Study due (6th semester participants) Fri. Apr. 21: Theses for May graduation due Sat. May 6: Commencement -- -- New Announcements: -- Peer Mentors: We still need peer mentors for fall 2006. Contact Dr. Lyons if you’re interested. -- Study Abroad: The Office of International Affairs will be holding a one hour informational/recruitment meeting for the spring semester Deutsch in Deutschland program on April 12 at 4 PM in the basement of International Affairs located at 420 University Terrace. Students will live in Berlin with a host family for a semester and study German at any language knowledge level. Following the completion of their course work, students may extend their stay for an internship or attend classes at a German university. This is an excellent program for students seeking international experience or who may be considering a career in international business. -- Fellowship Opportunity: Applications for the 06-07 Undergraduate Fellowship for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (a non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in Washington D.C. promoting democracy and advocating against terrorism) are due April 14th and can be downloaded at http://www.defenddemocracy.org/programs/programs_list.htm?attrib_id=7401. The fellowship includes a graduate level seminar during August in Israel studying terrorism. Students hear from top terrorism experts, diplomats, and security officials from throughout the Middle East and the world. A seminar over winter break in Washington D.C. includes a more in-depth look into America's role and includes a vist to the CIA Headquarters and the FBI Academy. Throughout the year fellows then stage events promoting democracy and educating peers on terrorism issues. All expense are paid for by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Questions may be directed to Sarah Demmel: sarahdemmel@hotmail.com or Josh Roos: joshroos@hotmail.com -- -- Reminders: -- Fall 2006: New Geology class available. GEOL 115: Earth’s Energy Resources with R.M. Kettler (Call # 8742) – 3 credit hours and satisfies ES Area D. -- Lecture opportunity: On Monday, April 10th Attorney General Jon Bruning is coming to UNL. The event is at 4:00 p.m in the Union Ballroom. Event is FREE and open to everyone. -- Summer job positions with the Public Policy Center: OPPORTUNITY 1: Paid Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant with Website/Multimedia skills (URA) – The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) is a link between University of Nebraska researchers and elected and appointed officials, state and local agency staff, the public at large, and others who represent the diverse policy interests of Nebraska. The PPC provides assistance to policymakers and researchers on a wide range of public policy issues, working with policymakers in all three branches of government at local, state, and federal levels. As a system-wide Policy Center, staff work with University researchers from all campuses of the University of Nebraska system. We are looking for 1 URA to work approximately 10 hours at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, located in downtown Lincoln at 121 South 13th Street (the SW corner of 13th and O Streets), Suite 303. The position begins in May of 2006 and may continue into the fall of 2006 depending on evaluation of summer performance and class schedule availability. Both work study and non-work study students are encouraged to apply. We are looking specifically for a student with website design and interactive media skills to design and maintain websites, interactive CDs and similar responsibilities. Racial and ethnic minorities are highly encouraged to apply. We are not concerned whether you have a policy background, but we interested in hiring someone who is reliable, is willing to work hard, and has an interest in working with issues affecting public policy. For information about the Public Policy Center, please visit our Web site at www.ppc.nebraska.edu. Send a short letter of interest, a resume, a writing sample, a transcript, and the names of two references (academic references, not personal references) by April 17, 2006, to tabdelmonem@nebraska.edu or via postal mail to: URA Position Tarik Abdel-Monem University of Nebraska Public Policy Center 121 S. 13th Street, Suite 303 Lincoln, NE 68588-0228 UNL is committed to AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require an accommodation, please call (402) 472-5678. OPPORTUNITY 2: Paid Position: Undergraduate Research Assistants (URA) – The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) is a link between University of Nebraska researchers and elected and appointed officials, state and local agency staff, the public at large, and others who represent the diverse policy interests of Nebraska. The PPC provides assistance to policymakers and researchers on a wide range of public policy issues, working with policymakers in all three branches of government at local, state, and federal levels. As a system-wide Policy Center, staff work with University researchers from all campuses of the University of Nebraska system. We are looking for 2-3 URAs to work approximately 10-15 hours/week at both the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, located in downtown Lincoln at 121 South 13th Street (the SW corner of 13th and O Streets), Suite 303, and the Nebraska Bar Association, located near the Unicameral at 635 S.14th Street. The positions begin in May of 2006 with continuation in the fall of 2006 based on evaluation of summer performance as well as school schedule availability. A background and interest in the social sciences, or law is helpful, but not necessary. Racial and ethnic minorities are highly encouraged to apply. URA duties include conducting research on the justice system, assisting with meeting and event coordination, general administrative support for various projects and the PPC office. We are not concerned whether you have a policy background, but we interested in hiring someone who is self-motivated, reliable, is willing to work hard, and who wants to learn more about public policy and the justice system. For information about the Public Policy Center, please visit our Web site at www.ppc.nebraska.edu. Send a short letter of interest, a resume, a writing sample, a transcript (unofficial is fine), and the names of two references (academic references, not personal references) by April 17, 2006, to tabdelmonem@nebraska.edu or via postal mail to: URA Position Tarik Abdel-Monem University of Nebraska Public Policy Center 121 S. 13th Street, Suite 303 Lincoln, NE 68588-0228 UNL is committed to AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require an accommodation, please call (402) 472-5678. Honors classes: -- You may NOT change the H status of classes after April 14th. If you are going to drop the "H' designation, you MUST do so before this date. If you do not, your facutly member will decide the consequences. -- Contracted classes and Blackboard: If you have contracted a class, you may be removed from the Blackboard listing for that class. If this occurs, once the contract has been processed, provide your instructor with the following instructions: 1. Go to your course (or organization) and click Control Panel. 2. Click on Enroll User. 3. Perform a search for the person by last name (or user name if you know it). 4. Locate the person in the results. You'll see the names, usernames and email addresses in the list of results. Use this to verify you have the proper person. Student/TA usernames start with "s-" and faculty/staff accounts are a first initial, last name and number. 5. Check the box next to the proper name and click Submit at the bottom of the screen. -- Plan ahead: Fall (yes, Fall) break: Join the Honors Board in Chicago. See museums, enjoy ethnic food, do a little shopping on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, take an architecture tour, wade in Lake Michigan, or maybe . . . with a lot of luck . . . catch sight of some World Series players. OR: Break on Broadway: Mark your calendars now and start saving! Join Dr. Damuth and Dr. Lyons for Fall Break in New York City. We’ll leave early on the Friday of break and return Tuesday evening. While in the City that Never Sleeps, we’ll attend shows, see museums, tour the United Nations, Ellis Island, and the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, where we’ll see a performance. We’ll also have time to sample food and to walk and see some high points of Manhattan: Rockerfeller Center, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, perhaps a stop in Greenwich Village. Whether you’re a scientist, an artist, an engineer or an architect, there’ll be something for everyone. Cost will run between $700 and $900, depending on the shows we decide to see and the museums we visit. We’ll hold an informational meeting later in the semester, and we’ll require a commitment before May 1. Watch for future announcements. Ethnic Studies 498: Course Description: The 19-teens, twenties and thirties were a particularly dynamic period for African Americans. Millions of black migrants made the journey from the rural South to the urban North, transforming American race relations in the process. Two world wars opened up new opportunities to challenge white supremacy at home and abroad. A radical political impulse thrived in African American communities across the country. And a dynamic urban black culture produced a creative burst in music, poetry, photography, painting, fiction, journalism and drama. This class explores black experience during this era with a particular eye on the intersections of culture and politics. In addition to traditional historical texts, students will utilize an array of sources in the creative arts – fiction, poetry, painting, music, photography, film, drama, etc. - during their exploration of the “Jazz Age.” Arts and Sciences will substitute Ethnic Studies 498 Special Topics "African Americans in the Jazz Age" for Area H. The course will be offered in fall 2006. -- New classrooms: Classes scheduled in NRC 118H or NRC 118I are located behind the main Honors Office. Please do not use the office itself as a corridor--use the west corridor to access them Classes scheduled in NRC 1105 are across from the Honors computer lab. This classroom will remain locked until the faculty member has the key, as it is a “smart” classroom. When carrying on conversations in that hallway before class, please remember those who are working in the computer lab. -- Letters of Recommendation: Please approach faculty members for letters of recommendation at least 2 weeks in advance--3 is better. Remember to include any forms, signed if necessary, a current resume and any personal statements or letters you must write. -- Computer lab: PLEASE: Avoid removing paper jams in the computer lab. A part of the printer has been damaged twice. If a paper jam occurs, please use the other printer and contact the main Honors office. If no one is there, please use extreme care in removing the paper. Problems in the computer lab? The more you have stored in your account, the longer the login time. Try transferring some of your documents to a flash or jump drive. Be sure to empty your trash can as well. -- Clarification: If your GPA has dropped below a 3.5 as of May, you are not automatically removed from the UHP, though you lose your scholarship. We encourage you to continue to take Honors classes, to complete all requirements including submitting forms, and to work on bringing that GPA up so you can graduate from the Honors Program.