September 15, 2006

The Banquet on Tuesday was an enjoyable occasion, and we are glad that so many of our new students were able to come.  It was a good opportunity for honors students at all class levels to get to know each other and many of the professors who teach honors courses.  We hope that you will attend next year if you were unable to come this time!

Would you like to meet some other Honors students?  The Honors Student Advisory Council (HSAC) is seeking active and enthusiastic honors students to help create a more fulfilling, fun and friendly honors atmosphere.  Duties include: using your creativity to plan honors student events (such as the midnight breakfast), collecting and addressing honors students' concerns, and interacting with faculty to make stronger student-faculty bonds.  If you are interested in HSAC or have questions, please contact either Elissa Winarski (winarsem@jmu.edu) or Alex Byland (bylandan@jmu.edu) by September 22.

Please update your local address on e-campus!

Status letters:  Letters have been mailed to home addresses for seniors and sophomores but were sent out later than usual.  If you have not received yours, please pick it up in the Honors Office.  A response may be required from you by October 9.  Juniors will receive their status letters in January.  If you have questions about your status, let us know!

To be sure that you are meeting Honors Program curriculum requirements, check pages 22-24 in the Honors Program Handbook at http://www.jmu.edu/honorsprog/

You should take at least one honors course each semester until all requirements are met.

Have a night out at the theater!  A block of seats have been reserved for the Honors Program for the opening night performance of The Laramie Project on 11-7-06 in Latimer-Shaeffer Theatre in Duke Hall.  To purchase a ticket, please call the Masterpiece Season Box Office Mon-Fri from noon-4 p.m. and tell the Box Office Manager, Marilyn Heishman, that you are part of the Honors Program block requesting a ticket.  That way, you can all be seated together.  If you plan to purchase your ticket the evening of the performance, you may do so by going to the Box Office at Latimer-Shaeffer Theatre in Duke Hall after 7 p.m. and tell them you are part of the Honors Program block.  Plan to stay for about 30 minutes after the performance.  The director and the actors will talk to us.

Information and applications for the Virginia Capital Semester are available at http://www.vcu.edu/capitalsemester/   Application deadline: October 1.  This program allows students to perform a spring semester internship in Richmond during the VA General Assembly without losing time in completing their studies.  The program includes the internship and an accompanying policy seminar that features presentations by key government and political leaders.  Students take additional courses at VCU in areas that match their academic needs to achieve a full-time load.  A $1,000 stipend is provided to participants who are registered for 12 credits or more.

Brown Bag:  September 20, 12:20-1:10, Hillcrest reception area, Dr. Andrew Connell from the JMU School of Music will present "Ethnomusicology."

Honors Symposium:  September 20, 4:45-6:00, ISAT/CS 159, Dr. Mark Warner, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Planning, will present "Vision:  No Crystal Ball Needed."

Freshman News

Class meeting for all freshmen honors students:  October 18, 5:00-6:00, ISAT/CS 159.

Sophomore News

Class meeting for all sophomore honors students:  October 11, 5:00-6:00, ISAT/CS 159.

Junior News

Class meeting for all junior honors students:  September 17, 5:00-6:00, ISAT/CS 159.

Have a great weekend!

Mary Kay Adams, Interim Associate Director of the Honors Program