PSU Honors College Student Handbook 2023-2024

UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2023 - 2024

HONORS FACULTY AND STAFF

BRENDA GLASCOTT College Director glascott@pdx.edu

CORNELIA COLEMAN College Administrator & Honors Thesis Coordinator colemanc@pdx.edu

BRIANNA AVERY College Advisor bavery@pdx.edu

JILL TAYLOR Admissions & Engagement Coordinator jitaylor@pdx.edu

PELIN BASCI Faculty - Humanities bnpb@pdx.edu

AMY BORDEN Faculty - Humanities aebordon@pdx.edu

TINA BURDSALL Faculty - Social Sciences tdb@pdx.edu

TODD HARWELL Faculty - Natural Sciences tharwell@pdx.edu

JENNIFER HOSKINS Faculty - Internships jhoskins@pdx.edu

PAUL MCCUTCHEON Faculty - Humanities pmccu2@pdx.edu

FEDERICO PEREZ Faculty - Social Sciences fedperez@pdx.edu

ERIC RODRIGUEZ Faculty - Humanities emr7@pdx.edu

OLYSSA STARRY Faculty - Natural Sciences ostarry@pdx.edu

REBECCA SUMMER Faculty - Social Sciences rebeccasummer@pdx.edu

WILLIAM "HARRY" YORK Faculty - Humanities why@pdx.edu

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS HONORS?

Welcome! This handbook is a guide to the Honors College at Portland State University. In the following pages, you will find information about the curriculum and courses we offer, our community, scholarship and research opportunities, our in-house faculty, and tips and advice for the program.

In the Honors College, you can dig deep into the urban issues that matter most, join a tight-knit community of highly motivated students, and experience an exceptional education unlike any other. Honors is both a curriculum and a community offered to students at PSU, and our goal is to outfit students with reading, writing, and research skills that will help you throughout college and beyond. Our program emphasizes critical thinking,

deconstructing arguments, and understanding how knowledge is created—and how you, as a scholar, can and will contribute to these discussions.

As an Honors student at PSU, you have all the benefits of a small liberal arts college embedded in Oregon’s only public urban research university. Our unique focus on the city of Portland opens unmatched opportunities for research, creativity, and academic exploration. You can work closely with world-class researchers, study abroad with Honors faculty in London or Borneo, and intern with top employers. It all culminates in your senior year, when you not only research, create, and write, but also publish your Honors thesis.

There are many benefits to being an Honors student at PSU. You’ll receive personalized advising, priority registration for classes, and support from trained tutors in the Honors Writing Center. Honors has an interdisciplinary resident faculty; these are professors who only teach in the Honors College and who will get to know you. We also offer internships for credit, access to leadership opportunities, and enrichment workshops focused on graduate school and careers. Your time in the University Honors College will be both challenging and rewarding.

ADVISING

Honors students have a dedicated academic adviser, Brianna Avery. Brianna supports and advises students throughout their academic journey at PSU, from new student orientation to graduation, no matter what their major or degree path. She can answer questions about registration, creating an academic plan, understanding requirements, studying abroad, finding internships, applying to graduate schools, and more. She is also a resource for students who are facing challenging situations in terms of academic difficulties, financial stress, mental health struggles, interpersonal conflicts; she connects students with helpful people and departments at PSU. If you have a question, and you don’t know who to ask, you can always reach out to Brianna!

BRIANNA AVERY

bavery@pdx.edu

Make an Appointment: brianna-avery.youcanbook.me/

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

HONORS WRITING CENTER

Make an Appointment: pdx.mywconline.net/

The Honors Writing Center is the writing center specifically for Honors students, where we come as a community to talk about writing. Our peer-to-peer model takes some of the pressure off that process by creating a space that makes it easier to develop your own particular style and prose. Writing tutors are happy to work with you at any stage of the writing process—whether you have a complete draft or you're still in the brainstorming phase.

ACADEMIC COACHING

pdx.edu/learning-center/academic-coaching

Academic coaching is a free support service available to all PSU students. Students work with coaches to create measurable plans to meet their academic goals. Goals may address school/life balance, active learning and studying strategies, organization, communication skills, how to access resources, and more.

TUTORING

pdx.edu/learning-center/tutoring

Available for math and statistics, sciences, World Languages. All Learning Center tutors are PSU students. Tutors offer both drop-in hours and 30 minute sessions by appointment. Both require that you sign up with Penji to find tutors. Book appointments at least one day in advance.

Brianna Avery and her dog, Jasper

CURRICULUM

Honors is a four-year curriculum. Each year is designed to teach valuable reading, writing, and research skills, while building a strong cohort of peers and connecting you to Honors faculty. The curriculum will prepare you to carry out your thesis project: a year-long independent study project of your choice. Transfer students are supported in starting at either the sophomore or junior level.

Honors courses fulfill PSU’s general education requirements (you’ll take Honors classes instead of FRINQ, SINQ, junior clusters, and capstone), both writing requirements, and part of the BA/BS degree requirements. You can even double-count credits for Honors and your major. Students from all majors are welcome to join Honors. Honors is part of your degree, not in addition to it.

FIRST YEAR THE GLOBAL CITY

The first year of Honors is a foundation for the rest of the program. This year long sequence is taken with the same professor and class of peers, allowing you to create lasting connections while studying the urban environment. You will also learn writing, reading, and research skills that will assist you in the next years of Honors and your time at Portland State. All first years begin with these courses, including those with AP/IB credit earned in high school.

15 CREDITS: HON 101, 102, 103

Each section of the course will study different material, but the writing tools learned throughout the year are the same. You can read detailed Global City section descriptions at: pdx.edu/honors/firstyear-global-city

SECOND YEAR EXPLORE NEW PERSPECTIVES

In the second year, you will learn and practice different types of research skills in HON 201, 202, and 203. All three courses are required, they can be taken in any order and are each 4 credits, for a total of 12 credits. Sophomore transfers will begin with HON 260, which replaces HON 202.

12 CREDITS: HON 201, 202 OR 260, AND 203

HON 201: URBAN

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Learn how social scientists collect data and create your own ethnographic research project. Consider techniques such as participant observation, surveys, experiments, and analyzing human data, as well as the ethics of human subjects research.

HON 202: URBAN HUMANITIES

Study texts, artifacts, and other forms of evidence by approaching them through cultural and historical context. Understand how writing is used as a subjective tool to organize thought, and learn strategies for reading efficiently and comprehensively.

HON 203:

URBAN ECOLOGY

Learn how cities interact with other environments as humans continue urban expansion, and study how the architecture of cities changes wildlife populations and behaviors. Design a research project.

HON 260: HONORS WRITING FOR SOPHOMORE TRANSFERS

This course is the expected entry point for transfer students starting Honors at the sophomore level. You will learn the writing and research tools necessary for upper-level seminars and for the senior thesis within the context of the urban experience. Students who take HON 260 do not take HON 202; students who took HON 101-103 do not take HON 260.

THIRD YEAR EXPLORE NEW PERSPECTIVES

The third year of the Honors curriculum is where you begin to personalize your path. Students must take at least one HON 407 seminar, and then earn 8 more junior Honors credits through any combination of HON 360 (transfers), additional HON 407 seminars, internships or research opportunities for credit, or study abroad experiences. Honors junior year requirements do not need to be completed before the senior thesis.

12 CREDITS: HON 407 + HON 401, 404, 407, OR 360 (TRANSFERS)

HON 407: JUNIOR SEMINARS

Seminars are 4 credit interdisciplinary courses taught by faculty from across the university. Seminars are small, discussion-based, reading- and writing-intensive courses that require students to actively engage with artifacts and texts, introduce advanced methods, and write researched papers. The Honors College offers several seminars every quarter, on a variety of topics. View course descriptions: pdx.edu/honors/hon-407-seminars

HON 404: INTERNSHIPS

Earn up to 8 credits for approved internships related to your major or intended career field. This is a chance for you to explore and define your professional goals, gain experience for your resume, earn money and/or academic credits, develop professional connections, hone your skills, and develop ideas to use in your Honors thesis. Internships Information: pdx.edu/honors/hon-404-internships

HON 401:

RESEARCH

Earn up to 8 credits by participating in research opportunities: join a research lab and understand how research works, gain critical experience and technical skills, build your resume, and connect with professors. Research can be performed at PSU or other institutions. Research Information: pdx. edu/honors/hon-401-research

FOURTH YEAR SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS

The final year of the Honors program is spent planning, researching, writing, presenting, and publishing a thesis paper. You decide what to study, how to go about obtaining information, what your argument is, and how you'll present your findings. All the skills you've built during your time in Honors are utilized here; see how far you've come as a scholar and participate in academic discourse at PSU and beyond.

8 CREDITS: HON 403

HON 403: THESIS PROSPECTUS

Join a group of your peers who are also beginning their thesis projects; think about the questions you want to research, how you will perform your work, which faculty member you'd like to work with, and create a timeline for your project. (Can be taken fall, winter, or spring term.)

HON 403: THESIS CONTINUATION

Join a peer group who is completing their thesis projects; finish writing your paper, practice presenting your research, and create a presentation for the Thesis Symposium. Then submit your thesis for publication and share your work with your peers. (Can be taken fall, winter, spring, or summer terms.)

Most students will spend three terms working on their thesis. Students typically begin the thesis in the fall term of their final year; however, you can start earlier than that if you expect your project to take additional time. All students are expected to attend an Honors Thesis Orientation in junior year to learn more about thesis expectations, timelines, and finding an adviser.

The Honors Thesis Handbook is a terrific source of information: pdx.edu/honors/fourth-year-honorsthesis . Honors Theses are published on PDX Scholar and are available to browse and download: pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/honorstheses/

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Honors welcomes students who are transferring to PSU with college credits (or who started at PSU in UNST). About 50% of our students start as transfers. Students beginning in the Honors College with college credits should register according to the guidelines below.

30-89 CREDITS

Begin with HON 260, our transfer bridge course. This class is reading and writing intensive, designed to teach the writing skills and expectations from the first year of Honors, and also to connect you to a cohort of peers.

After HON 260, continue with second year coursework (HON 201, 203). You are not required to take HON 202.

All three sophomore courses are required, in any order, or concurrently.

90+ CREDITS

Begin with HON 360, our transfer bridge course. This class is designed to teach the skills from the first two years of Honors, so you will be prepared to take junior seminars and complete your thesis. This class is reading and writing intensive, learning how to think critically about how scholars perform research, establish their arguments, and enter into academic discourse.

After HON 360, complete one HON 407 seminar and 4 more credits from third year Honors requirements.

PORTLAND STATE WELCOMES MORE TRANSFER STUDENTS

THAN ANY OTHER COLLEGE IN OREGON

STUDENT RESOURCES

PSU has a wide variety of resources to support students’ mental and physical health, basic needs, and to support community building and connections. A full catalog can be found on the website of the Dean of Student Life: pdx.edu/ dean-student-life/student-resources

BASIC NEEDS HUB

pdx.edu/dean-student-life/basic-needs-hub

This is the central place for all questions and needs relating to basic needs: food assistance, housing services, and emergency funds.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

pdx.edu/dean-student-life/care-program

The C.A.R.E. Team is available to support students in distress; faculty and staff can submit CARE reports on behalf of students.

The Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Program addresses sexual violence at PSU by providing students connections to resources, information, and trauma-informed support. To speak with a Confidential Advocate, students can book online at psuwrc. youcanbook.me or call (503) 894-7982.

CRISIS SITUATIONS

The C.A.R.E. Team is available to support students in distress and provide follow up support and consultation to the staff and faculty that are worried about them. To submit a C.A.R.E. report for a student in distress fill out this form or email your questions and concerns to askdos@pdx.edu

The Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Program addresses sexual violence at PSU by providing students connections to resources, information, and trauma-informed support. SRVRP advocates for best practices in campus coordinated response efforts at all levels of the institution. To speak with a Confidential Advocate, students can book online at psuwrc.youcanbook.me or call (503) 894-7982.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS CENTER

pdx.edu/student-finance/financial-wellness-center

Financial Wellness Coaches can help with questions about PSU student accounts, re-enrolling, resolving debts owed to PSU,

understanding the cost of college, creating a sustainable budget, repairing credit, and repaying student loans. These services are available by phone or virtual appointment.

EMERGENCY FUNDS

The General Student Emergency Fund (GSEF) offers short-term financial assistance to PSU students during times of crisis by providing financial support where a clear need exists. This fund is available to all students, regardless of major or demographics. These funds keep students in school, preventing them from dropping out due to a short-term financial crisis.

FOOD INSECURITY

If you are experiencing food insecurity, there are PSU resources including a Food Pantry, Free Food Market, assistance with applying for SNAP, and emergency meal vouchers.

◉ PSU Food Pantry: Smith Memorial Student Union (1825 SW Broadway), room 47A. Schedule an appointment for in-person shopping: calendly.com/psupantry

◉ PSU Free Food Market: Open on the 2nd Monday of each month on the South Park blocks, near Shattuck Hall, from 9am11am. All volunteers and patrons must wear a protective face covering.

HOUSING INSECURITY

pdx.edu/homelessness/find-help

PSU maintains a temporary emergency shelter that is available to all students experiencing a housing crisis. If you are experiencing houselessness, facing eviction, or feel that you are being treated unfairly by your landlord, there are resources on campus and in the community. This is a comprehensive listing of resources for houselessness and other economic challenges.

STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES

pdx.edu/student-legal-services/

PSU students have access to free legal advice and representation through Student Legal Services (SLS). Attorneys at SLS assist students in a variety of legal matters including landlord/tenant issues, family law, criminal cases, name/gender changes, consumer issues, employment disputes, discrimination claims and more.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS

pdx.edu/honors/scholarships-fellowships

The scholarships and fellowships listed are only offered to Honors College students at Portland State University.

HONORS LAURELS SCHOLARSHIP

This is a four-year tuition remission scholarship awarded to outstanding applicants to the Honors College. The award is based primarily on the applicant’s application essays, although GPA and other factors may be taken into account. Awarded once a year to new applicants to the college who apply by January 1. There is no separate application for this scholarship.

PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR HONORS RESEARCH AND INTERNSHIPS

Up to $500 is available per student to help cover specific costs related to research, internship, or thesis activities. Students may be awarded research funding once during their tenure in Honors. Students must be enrolled in Honors research, internship, or thesis credits to receive this funding. The Honors College generally funds transportation costs associated with conferences or thesis research; supplies associated with thesis research; and fees for conferences associated with your research or internship. Awards are made every quarter through an application process.

HONORS EDITORIAL FELLOWSHIP AT PACIFIC HISTORICAL REVIEW

The John and LaRee Caughey Honors College Editorial Fellowship with Tuition Grant is a 12-month fellowship beginning in mid-September. As a cooperative effort between the PSU University Honors College, The John and LaRee Caughey Foundation, and the Pacific Historical Review, the PHR is happy to offer an undergraduate fellow position to a student currently enrolled in the University Honors College as either a rising junior or rising senior. Students in history (or any major or field of study) are encouraged to apply. Fellows receive a $5,000 tuition remission scholarship and an hourly wage for 12 hours a week. Fellows are selected in winter term for the following academic year through a competitive application process.

HONORS ROSENBAUM SERVICE LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS

Rosenbaum Scholars will be matched with a local non-profit board for which they will serve as an intern. Students will develop leadership skills by engaging with and receiving mentorship from the chair, members of the board, and the executive director of the non-profit organization. Internships will run for the 9-month academic year from September to June. Rosenbaum Scholars will receive a $2,000 scholarship over the academic year they are in the program, earn 8 Honors internship credits, and receive remission scholarships covering this internship credit. Scholars are selected in spring term for the following academic year through a competitive application process.

EAGLES SCHOLARSHIP

The EAGLES Scholarship awards $10,000 towards the total cost of tuition for students earning a STEM degree. This is a need and merit-based scholarship for undergraduate students, who will also receive mentorship from faculty and members of the scientific community, and opportunities to participate in environmental pollution research and paid internships. This program is co-directed by Honors faculty Dr. Starry; some scholarships are awarded outside the Honors program as well.

ANNE E. SIVERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP

This is a $5,000 award, renewable for two years, for two students per year. Students must be majoring in a STEM field, with preference given to students studying engineering or physics. Students should have demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic merit. The application opens in April for the following year.

HOME ECOLOGY LAB SCHOLARSHIP

Home Ecology Lab scholars receive $4000 per year plus up to $1000 to use for research materials or conference attendance. This financial support enables students to prioritize a research experience that will help them acquire valuable project management skills while also learning different lab techniques. Projects are all related to the focus of Professor Starry's home ecology lab, which is the application of ecological theory to urban systems, especially at the household scale. Green roofs are often the main study system investigated. Students are encouraged to participate in an annual team project, such as group literature review, while also pursuing their own independent research projects. Scholars are selected in spring term for the following academic year.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Honors College offers several unique opportunities for Honors students to take on leadership positions in the Honors community; student leaders are compensated with tuition scholarships. Most applications open in spring term for the following academic year.

COMMUNITY FELLOWS

Organize social, academic, and community service events for the Honors student community. Collaborate with your peers and Honors faculty, gain experience in facilitating community engagement, and demonstrate leadership skills.

COMMUNICATIONS INTERNS

Design creative materials like logos and advertisements for upcoming events, and write copy for the Honors alumni newsletter and maintain social media accounts.

STUDENT AMBASSADOR

Represent the Honors College! Give tours to prospective students and guests at bimonthly Honors Visit Days, and serve as a panelist at PSU admissions and recruiting events.

WRITING FELLOWS

Receive training to tutor Honors students in writing! Help students with assignments and writing advice.

ANTHOS

Anthos is the student-edited undergraduate academic journal published by the Honors College, featuring the writing of Honors students. You can serve as editor-in- chief, managing editor, or a junior editor.

LAB MANAGER INTERNSHIP

Gain lab management experience and a “behind the scenes” understanding of how science is taught. You will be responsible for updating the equipment and supply inventory, assisting with equipment repair orders, and helping keep the lab space clean and well-organized.

"I FELT EXTREMELY PREPARED BY MY HONORS EDUCATION AS I APPLIED TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AND WENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION CYCLE."

- Sophia Kogan, biology and pre-health studies major, 2023 graduate.

HOUSING: STEPHEN EPLER

pdx.edu/housing/urban-honors

Stephen Epler Hall is our living learning community for Honors students. It is not required to live on campus (or in Epler) during your time at PSU, but it is a great way to build community, stay connected with Honors students, and learn about downtown Portland. The fifth and sixth floors of Epler are for first year Honors students: this can help you to create networks that can last during your time at PSU and beyond.

The Honors Community provides students admitted to the Honors College with the opportunity to participate in a close-knit community with other high achieving and highly motivated students. This community integrates classroom and experiential learning into the residential experience to form a dynamic learning community.

Built in 2003, Stephen Epler Hall has modern studio apartments with large windows, private bathrooms, and kitchenettes with a stove top, oven, and mini fridge. We've put a modern, state-of-the-art focus on sustainability.

There are many advantages to living in the Honors Living Learning Community:

◉ Students develop a sense of community by residing with others who share similar interests, goals, and classroom experiences

◉ Honors faculty and staff are easily accessible for advising

◉ The Honors floors are supervised by Honors Resident Assistants, who act as peer advisors to new students

◉ Student leadership development opportunities

◉ Open to all students in the Honors College

STEPHEN EPLER HALL

The Honors Community is housed in Stephen Epler Hall. Epler’s studios have private bathrooms and kitchenettes with a stove top, oven, and mini fridge.

HONORS COMMONS

HONORS HOMEBASE

The ground floor of Epler Hall houses the Honors classrooms and the Honors Commons.

The Honors Commons is a student lounge reserved for Honors students where we host events, tutoring, the Honors writing center, and hang out.

Head to the Commons if you need a workspace: there are computers, printers, whiteboards, projectors, couches, and study buddies.

The Commons is keycard accessible 24/7, only available to Honors students (all Honors students, including those living off-campus).

Copies and prints made in the Commons do not count toward your PSU print credits, but you do need to supply your own paper.

STUDY ABROAD

pdx.edu/education-abroad/education-abroad-honors-students

Honors students are strongly encouraged to study abroad through any of the many programs offered by PSU. Seminar classes and internships taken abroad can fulfill Honors junior requirements - just talk to Brianna. If you are interested in studying abroad, be sure to register for an Ed Abroad 101 session. These workshops provide important information about how to apply for, fund, and earn credits for study abroad trips.

The Honors College also hosts two faculty-led study abroad programs just for Honors students, one in London and one in Borneo. You can earn up to 8 seminar credits (HON 407) for these experiences.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY

Spend a week in Borneo over spring break with Honors urban ecology professor Dr. Olyssa Starry. Work closely with a local non-profit organization in order to learn first-hand about the tensions that exist between conservation goals and economic growth. Earn 4 credits of HON 407 seminar.

LONDON

GATEWAY TO MARVELS AND MYSTERIES: MEDIEVAL SCIENCE AND MODERN STAGE

Spend a month in London with Honors Director Dr. Brenda Glascott, a rhetoric scholar, and Professor Harry York, a medieval historian. Read and study texts about theater and London’s history, explore locations discussed in class, and earn 8 credits of HON 407 Junior Seminars. Find more information and apply on the Education Abroad website.

HON 407: LONDON AS STAGE

The heart of Dr. Glascott’s course will be four theater performances, ranging from the West End to fringe theater, that will root our inquiry into intersectional matrices (gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, etc) for experiencing and understanding identity in particular contexts. Dr. Glascott's course will explore how identity is shaped by and shapes the "stage" of the global city of London through the plays and supplemental readings.

HON 407: URBAN LIFE IN MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN LONDON

Dr. York’s class will view London and England from a medieval “scientific” perspective. Readings and discussions will focus on medieval science and technology and how they reflect understandings of the “marvels” of the natural world, geography, cosmography, health and disease, and alchemy.

INSIDER TIPS

ATTEND YOUR PROFESSOR’S OFFICE HOURS. Honors professors love to meet with students, and this can give you a chance to discuss the course, topics, questions, concerns, and other material you find interesting. Even if you don't have anything specific to talk about, you can always stop by and say hi.

READ THE HONORS COLLEGE NEWSLETTER. Every Monday you will receive the newsletter by email. You can learn about current scholarship opportunities, upcoming Honors events, and advising tips.

WHEN ADDRESSING YOUR INSTRUCTOR OR FACULTY MEMBERS, USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL TITLE: EITHER “PROFESSOR” OR “DOCTOR.” If they invite you to use their first name, then you can use that as well!

IF YOUR DEPARTMENT HOSTS EVENTS, ATTEND THEM! You can meet guest speakers, ask questions, or even volunteer to help. This can give you invaluable connections, or just new knowledge.

PRACTICE YOUR PITCH. Who are you? What do you want to do? What have you done? What are you capable of doing? This can be helpful when speaking to potential employers, professors, and colleagues. Even if you never use the pitch, it can help you align your goals and interests with your background and courses.

ADD YOUR FULL NAME AND PSU ID NUMBER TO YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE , so professors and advisors know who you are and can find your information.

SPEAK WITH YOUR ADVISOR CONSISTENTLY. It is always a good idea to check in and make sure you are taking the right courses, completing your required credits, and graduating with the degree and opportunities you desire.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR THESIS. Spend some time thinking about what topic you’d like to focus on, and who would be the best advisor for your work.