The Dorothy & Bill Cohen Honors College Weekly Update

Weekly header for October 15


Events & Deadlines


Bill's Trip Applications Close Today

The Cohen Honors College is very excited to unveil a new academic service-learning experience, Bill's Trip! It is named in honor of Bill Cohen and stands for Building Investment in Lifelong Leadership & Service. Students will travel to Grand Canyon National Park in January to spend the week serving and learning about the National Parks. Prior to travel, students will explore resources focused on the National Park Service, Grand Canyon, stewardship, and servant leadership. Students have the option of taking the course as 1 credit hour or 3 credit hours. All student travel is funded through a generous gift in honor of Bill Cohen. Students will only be responsible for course tuition.

Bill's Trip sounds incredible, right? Read more and apply at wichita.edu/honorsnationalparks. The application deadline is TODAY at 5 p.m.


Final Day to Apply for the Cohen Enhancement Scholarship 

Cohen Enhancement Scholarships of up to $4,000 support current Honors students in activities such as study abroad, National Student Exchange, unpaid internships, national conferences, undergraduate research, and service-learning.

Please visit the Honors Scholarships webpage for more information and the application. The Fall 2021 application deadline is TODAY.


Students & Faculty Invited to Kansas Honors Connections Conference

The annual Kansas Honors Connections Conference hosted by the Honors College at Emporia State University is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on the ESU campus. This is a great opportunity to meet students and faculty from Honors programs and colleges across Kansas. The program will include student oral and poster presentations, exhibits and performances, a keynote address, a student panel, and lunch.

Students who have never presented at a conference are particularly welcome to this friendly exchange of ideas! Students are invited to submit proposals consisting of a title for the presentation, the type of presentation, and a 250-word abstract by Monday, October 18, at 5 p.m. Submit your proposal at https://www.esukhcc.com/ A separate link for registration and the payment of the $20.00 per person fee will be given later.

Email honors@wichita.edu if you have any questions or if you want to attend but don’t want to make a presentation. The Honors College will reimburse all WSU attendees the cost of registration and coordinate travel.


Honors Hour Graphic

Don't Miss Honors Hour on Tuesday!

Dr. Kevin Harrison, Honors Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will present the next Honors Hour on Tuesday, October 19, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in RSC 264. Slave trader turned abolitionist John Newton is credited for writing lyrics of Amazing Grace, but legend suggests that its melody comes from the painful hums of kidnapped Africans, chained to the bowel of Newton's ship as it was being destroyed by raging storms and waters. If the legend that these voices of different language and origin truly calmed the winds and rains is true, then imagine the power of intentional inclusion with regard to building communities of inclusive excellence.


Final Friday: Diversity in Song

On the last Friday of each month, Dr. Harrison hosts an activity that sparks conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion. You're invited to Diversity in Song on Friday, October 29, from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in RSC 261. Sharing and expressing through song and lyricism are as diverse as it gets. Dr. Harrison will bring his saxophone and share a song or two, along with a short story on the significance of the songs played. He is encouraging you to do the same. Play an instrument, sing a song, recite a poem (original or not), or simply play a popular song on your phone, then explain its significance to you!


Participate in the Lead For Tomorrow Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy strives to be a curricular program that engages students in contemporary research and scholarship based on an annual theme, question, or issue. This year's theme is Building Better Relationships: Communication, Comprehension, Collaboration, and Connection. Students will participate as a cohort in an 8 week course, as well as, a Place as Text travel experience and design thinking process (1 credit hour travel seminar) culminating in pitches to the faculty thought leaders. Students will travel to Seattle, WA, in May. Students should look forward to neighborhood explorations, industry tours and panels, and communication observations in settings such as Pike Place Market, sporting events, coffee shops, and more. All student travel is funded through a generous gift from Dorothy and Bill Cohen. Students will only be responsible for course tuition.

Visit wichita.edu/honorslead for more details about this amazing experience and make sure to apply by November 1 at 5 p.m.


News & Information


Registration, Advising, Tutoring, and Important Reminders

Information about Registration:

  • The Schedule of Courses for Spring 2022 is now viewable.
  • Registration begins on Monday, November 8th at 7:00 a.m.
  • If you haven’t already scheduled your advising appointment with your major’s academic advisor – do it now.

Honors Advising: You are encouraged to email Jessica.Raburn@wichita.edu to arrange an advising appointment or use this scheduling link. We can review your progress towards completing your Honors Track and how Honors requirements can work with your degree.

College Advising: Your primary College is determined by your major. As an Honors student, you have two Colleges; however, your major’s College is responsible for knowing the most accurate and up-to-date information about your major while Honors Advising specializes in the Honors piece. If you are unsure about what your College is, feel free to ask me. There is a list of all the College Advising Centers with their main office contact, as well as, many of the individual advisors on-campus.

Tutoring – Where to get Help: Tutoring services such as GEEKS for Engineering students, Writing Center, Math Lab, etc. are all available in a remote format.

Important Points to Remember:

  • Read the Honors Weekly Update. We will communicate resources and updates to you there.
  • Registration begins on Monday, November 8th at 7:00 a.m.
  • Counseling and Prevention Services is available via telephone or Zoom.
  • Email the Honors Academic Advisor at Jessica.Raburn@wichita.edu any time! Feel free to ask her questions. If she doesn't know the answer, she can get you to the right area.
  • Engineering and Fine Arts majors must meet with an academic advisor before being able to register when it opens.
  • All first-year students, those who this is their first semester in college after high school, must meet with their First-Year Advisor.

Know Friends or Classmates Interested in Joining the Honors College?

Please let them know that the Honors College is hosting two events on Friday, November 5, for current WSU students wanting to experience what it's like being an Honors student. The first event will be at 9:30 a.m. and the second will be at 11:00 a.m. Each event will include an overview of the Honors College, a mock class taught by an Honors faculty member, and a Q&A panel with current Honors students. Send them the link below to RSVP: https://wichitastate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9YTGgv9vBVb4DlQ


Student Spotlight Raven Garrison

Student Spotlight - Raven Garrison

Submit Information for the Student Spotlight

The Cohen Honors College wants to give a shoutout to AMAZING students like you! To be featured on social media and in weekly update, click here to complete the form.


General Information about Honors

Email honors@wichita.edu at any time with questions or concerns.

The Honors student lounge, kitchen, and printing areas in Shocker Hall are open 24/7 by keycard access for all Honors students. Talk to the Honors Student Assistant at the desk or email honorsassistant@wichita.edu if you have any trouble.

We want to hear from you! Submit your news to the weekly update.