September 6, 2011 HP NEWS Welcome to the 2011-2012 Academic year! We trust you’re settled into your new routine and are excited about your classes and your Honors program participation. We look forward to working with you this year! Dates and Deadlines First Semester 2011-12: • Monday, September 26: December graduating seniors please e-mail your thesis title and thesis advisor's name to Dr. Berger at pberger1@unl.edu • Friday, September 30: Last day to submit Honors Contracts for First Semester • Friday, November 11: Last day to submit Thesis Completion Form for December Graduation • Friday, December 2: Statement of Academic Interest due for students completing the fourth semester of study in the Honors Program • Friday, December 2: Memorandum of Study due for students completing the sixth semester of study in the Honors Program • Monday, December 5: Completed thesis due for December Graduation Second Semester 2011-12: • Monday, February 6: May graduating seniors please e-mail your thesis title and thesis advisor's name to Dr. Berger at pberger1@unl.edu • Friday, February 17: Last day to submit Honors Contracts for Second Semester • Friday, March 30: Last day to submit Thesis Completion Form for May Graduation • Thursday, April 5: Undergraduate Research Conference • Friday, April 6: Statement of Academic Interest due for students completing the fourth semester of study in the Honors Program • Friday, April 6: Memorandum of Study due for students completing the sixth semester of study in the Honors Program • Monday, April 23: Completed thesis due for May Graduation A Few Changes: Dr. Damuth is now full time in the Honors Program as an Associate Director. She is still Director of UCARE and Major Fellowships Advisor. Her office is now 104-105 Neihardt, in the Raymond wing. Enter through the Honors Program lobby. Katie Cervantes, who administers the E.N. Thompson Forum, is now in 1102 Neihardt, the Love Wing. Ann Koopmann and Dr. Lyons have switched offices, so Ann is now in 2100 Neihardt (in the Heppner wing, just off the Blue TV Lounge), while Dr. Lyons is in 118I, behind the main Honors office, next to the Thesis Library. Student Advisors are now in 2100 Neihardt. Marlene Auman retired this summer. Renae Oestmann is now full time office staff. Updates to the Honors Program website are forthcoming. Nebraska Colloquium: Dear students, I am writing to invite you to join the campus-wide conversation guided by the Nebraska Colloquium lecture series. The Colloquium is composed of the E.N.Thompson Forum on World Issues lectures presented at the Lied Center and the Honors Forum lectures given at the Union Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Water and Global Security,” providing important perspectives on an issue that is constantly in the news and one that has already and will continue to affect our lives. We need to be well informed of our changing world. You will find the full schedule of the Colloquium lectures on our web site: honors.unl.edu at the “Academic Partners” listing. You will notice how varied the presentations, exploring the topic from a variety of perspectives, from politics to environmental concerns, from natural resource aspects to hydrologic observations, to human rights and security concerns. I am also offering students the opportunity to earn academic credit, 1 honors credit for UHON 198H. Student responsibility will be to attend at least 4 lectures in the course of the semester selected from the Colloquium list and submit a 1 to 2 page reflection on each of the lectures you choose to attend. Many students enjoyed the experience last year and I hope that many of you will join our conversation on Water and Global Security. I hope you decide to attend the lectures. If you wish to earn the 1 honors credit, please send me an email at pberger1@unl.edu with your name and student number and I will register you in UHON 198H for credit. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to communicate with me. Best, Patrice Berger Director, University Honors Program Professor of History E. N. Thompson Forum: In 2011-2012, the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues will examine the relationship between water and international security. An increasingly precious natural resource, water is essential to improving global health, ensuring social welfare and political stability, and promoting economic development and environmental sustainability. Water can be a source of national and regional conflict and for centuries civilizations have risen and fallen based on their ability to harness its power. The Thompson Forum will bring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus experts on global water issues to explore the challenges of scarcity, security and sustainability. The schedule for the AY 2011-12 is attached. The first E. N. Thompson lecture is by Wangari Maathai Wednesday, September 28, 2011 7:00 pm, Lied Center for Performing Arts “Environment, Democracy & Peace - A Critical Link” With a historic and visionary message, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Maathai challenges audiences to rethink the concepts of peace and security. Recognizing the strong implications of sustainable management of the environment, she presents an argument for democracy rooted in respect for human rights, equity and justice. New course: Conversation Partners A new course offering for fall 2011 is UHON 198H, entitled “Conversation Partners.” This one credit seminar is designed to give students the opportunity to work in small groups consisting of two-three honors students and two-three new international students. The groups will meet 4-5 times per semester with conversation topics provided by the instructor. Each individual student will write seven, one-two page reflection papers based on the provided topics. Topics include general introductions, recreational interests, majors, government structures, holidays, traditions and academic discussions. Those interested should contact Ann Koopmann at akoopmann1@unl.edu for a detailed syllabus and permission code. Registration is limited to just 25 lucky students, so sign up now! Reminder about computer lab policies: -The Honors Program computer lab is for the use of Honors Program students only. Students who are not members of the Honors Program should use other computer labs on campus, regardless of where they live. Please cooperate with this policy. -Remember you must provide your own paper for the lab. -Please be considerate of the other students working on computers hooked to the printer you’re using in order to work out the printing jobs successfully. -It is wise to put contact information on flash drives; in the event you leave one in the computer lab, someone will be able to return it to you. -To open PDFs and other documents from Blackboard, you may need to use Internet Explorer, not Firefox. -Please take precautions to prevent the spread of germs: use hand sanitizer before and after using the lab computers. -If the toner is out in one of the printers or if another problem with the printers or the lab arises, please inform the main Honors office.