Why Get Involved?
The University Honors and Scholars Center offers many different opportunities for involvement through the Center’s events, activities and organizations. It is very important for you to get involved as an Honors and Scholars student as it enables you to connect with your peers, faculty, and staff around campus; gives you an opportunity to be exposed to new cultures and new experiences; and assists you in making the most of your honors and scholars experience at the university.
We do our best to keep you informed about what’s going on at the Center and on campus through Honors & Scholars Net. Look for an email from us every Monday with tons of information about activities and special opportunities that are available to you as Honors & Scholars students.
Events
The Honors and Scholars Move – In Day Reception is hosted by the Honors and Scholars Center each year on Move-In Day. Honors and Scholars students and their parents are invited to stop by to enjoy some refreshments and interact with the Honors and Scholars Staff.
The Honors and Scholars Open House and Activities Fair is open to all Honors and Scholars students. It is an opportunity to learn about the Center’s various organizations, service initiatives, and events. Yummy refreshments are always provided.
The Honors Scheduling Bonanza is hosted by the Honors Student Advisory Board each autumn and spring semester. This is an opportunity for students to talk with faculty about the upcoming semester’s courses that will fulfill Honors requirements. The spring semester event also features research, study abroad, and scholarship information.
The Hunger Banquet is a service program held each year that exposes students to the unequal distribution of hunger in the world through an interactive experience. This event coincides with a food drive that is held each autumn semester.
The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is a research competition that provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the OSU community; to recognize the significant contributions to research by OSU undergraduates; and to facilitate exchange between students, faculty, and the public. Cash prizes are awarded each year.
For specific event dates please visit our calendar.
Programs
Fireside Chats provide an informal opportunity for Honors & Scholars students to interact with faculty in the cozy surroundings of the Kuhn Honors & Scholars House. Fireside Chats are focused on hot topics and current issues.
Alumni Fireside Chat Series offer interaction with Honors & Scholars alumni: topics are generally career-related which allows current students to learn from real-world experiences.
The Lunch & Learn Series brings students, faculty and staff together for lunch in the Kuhn Honors & Scholars House to discuss career and graduate/professional school options.
Coordinated by Unity, Dinner & Dialogue Programs invite faculty to facilitate conversations about issues relating to multiculturalism and diversity over ethnic cuisine.
The Honors and Scholars Research Series features discussions, lectures and workshops where students can learn about getting started in research, enhancing research skills and the cutting edge research occurring at Ohio State.
For specific event dates please visit our calendar.
Organizations
Diversity/Art-Related Organizations
Mosaic is a student organization that promotes undergraduate art and literature at Ohio State by sponsoring poetry readings, art exhibits, and other cultural events. The publication of a student-produced literary magazine occurs annually in the spring.
Leadership Organizations
Association of Ohio State Class Honoraries (AOSCH) is the governing board for the general class honoraries and honor societies. AOSCH comprises eight student organizations (2 per rank) which are all dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service.
Leadership Ohio State is a first year leadership development program which offers cultural and volunteer opportunities, as well as faculty and social interaction.
The Honors Student Advisory Board provides the Associate Provost a critical student perspective on issues related to the Honors experience.
Recruitment Organizations
Honors Ambassadors are a select group of volunteers who assist the University Honors & Scholars Center in its efforts to recruit and transition outstanding students to the university. They conduct residence hall tours, co-facilitate overview sessions and help organize campus recruitment events.
Service Organizations
Adopt-a-school is a student organization which provides Ohio State students with tutoring opportunities at nearby schools. As tutors, our OSU students work in a structured environment to help the children by aiding in their studies and serving as a mentor.
Serving with Honor provides students with opportunities to serve the community in a variety of ways. The program features assistance with locating sites at which to serve and opportunities to participate in service events, projects and discussions that are grounded in social justice issues.
Social Issue Immersion Projects enable students to focus on one social justice issue throughout a semester by immersing themselves in the issue through a chosen book, community site experiences, and presentations by professors, community partners and authors. Past Social Issue Immersion Projects include: Housing and Homelessness; Child Maltreatment and Prevention; HIV and AIDS; and Prisoner Reentry.
For specific event dates please visit our calendar.
Serving with Honor
What Is It?
Serving with Honor is the Honors & Scholars service organization that provides students with opportunities to serve the community in a variety of ways. The program features assistance with locating sites at which to serve and opportunities to participate in service events, projects and discussions that are grounded in social justice issues.
Our Goals:
- Provide our Honors and Scholars students with exposure to the social justice
issues and -isms that exist in the University district and Columbus area through
service projects
- Educate students on becoming advocates for service
- Strengthen healthy relationships between students, the University and the Columbus Community
What We Do
- Represent the Serving with Honor Program at activity fairs or other University functions
- Coordinate “big group” service projects
- Sponsor fireside chats or lunch and learns
- Sponsor various service projects and events (2 per semester)
How To Get Involved:
- Sign up for the Serving with Honor (SWH) listserv by contacting Vicki Pitstick
at pitstick.10@osu.edu and ask her to
include you.
- Sign up to be on a committee (see list below) – contact Vicki Pitstick at
pitstick.10@osu.edu to let her know of
your specific committee interest – your committee chair will then contact you
within the coming weeks.
Note: You do not have to be on a committee to participate in our projects throughout the year.
- Watch H&S Net (sent every Monday) and the SWH listserv for specifics on volunteering for projects listed.
Social Issue Immersion Projects
What Is It?
Social Issue Immersion Projects are unique programs offered each semester that enable students to focus on one social justice issue throughout a semester. Students don’t just do service, they immerse themselves in the projects in the following ways:
- Reading a book and/or articles focused on the issue
- Serving 25 – 30 hours at a community service site that focuses on the issue
- Hearing presentations by guest speakers – including professors, community
partners, and authors – to educate students more about the issue
- Other discussions and unique experiences related to the social justice issue
2012-2013 Social Issue Immersion Projects
Fall Semester – Women's Health
Spring Semester – The Working Poor
2011-2012 Social Issue Immersion Projects
Winter Quarter – Immigration
Spring Quarter – HIV & AIDS
2010-2011 Social Issue Immersion Projects
Winter Quarter – Economic Access & Education
Spring Quarter – Housing & Homelessness