This is the FINAL VERSION of the Kardas Honors Seminar Course

Dr. Antoinette Odendaal will take over the course in Fall 2025. Most likely, her course will reside on SAU's BlackBoard Page

Honors Seminar Outline
SAU Honors College
Edward P. Kardas
Fall 2024: Our 21st Year!

Modified: 2025-03-10 7:51 PM CDST
epkardas@saumag.edu

Our BLOG

• HC 1013. Honors Seminar. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College. Required of all students entering the Honors College within the first two semesters of enrollment. The Honors Seminar is an introduction to the academic experience, the Honors College, critical thinking, diversity issues, and other aspects of the academic life and the academic community. Fall semester.
  • Your mentors are: Kailyn Shepherd (9 am), Jaqoune Brown(10 am), Annagia Mondragon (12:40 pm)
  • I will cover the topics below with my name next to them.
  • You will select two topics and e-mail them to me BUT NOT BEFORE 7 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024.
    • ONLY TWO PEOPLE PER GROUP. FIRST COME/FIRST SERVE.
    • Then you will create a teaching presentation for the topic.
    • Be creative in how you present the topics.
    • You may use Voice Thread (part of BlackBoard), PowerPoint, Prezi, Word, html, or other media (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, html, etc.).
    • You must consult with me prior to making your presentation.
    • We will present topics in the order shown below. I'll add dates later.

YOU MAY USE ANY MEANS NECESSARY TO FIND INFORMATION FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING ChatGPT OR SIMILAR LLMs

• General Knowledge Quiz: Take the quiz (not for a grade or anything). Just do this for fun. I don't want to know your results. If you score high, you are probably good at trivia.
• Doonesbury makes fun of college seminars
• ZITS discusses volunteering
• Arkansas 6-year graduation rates
• US 6-year graduation rates
• SAU’s 6 year graduation rate is 41% based on the 2019 cohort.
  • Graphs of 4 and 6 year graduation data
    • Look at: Freshman Cohort Graduation Rates (4 and 6-year)
  • FYI: only three honors students have taken 5 years to graduate. Many graduate in 3 years, the rest in 4.
• Student Support Services form (All students must complete, even if done before)
  • YOU NEED NOT COMPLETE THE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION PORTION
    • Program information:
      • Student Support Services is a federally funded program designed to assist qualified students in completing their post-secondary educational goals. Each year Southern Arkansas University receives over $350,000.00, which helps fund the tutoring and Supplemental Instruction programs.  The Student Support Services program provides assistance and support tailored to the individual needs of each participant.
      • Participant selections are based on income and first-generation status (first-generation means neither custodial parent has a baccalaureate degree).  The program provides academic assistance as well as life skills and information workshops, and informal social experiences.
      • For more information, students may contact the Student Support Services Office at 235-5113.

• Counseling Services

  • Positive and negative experiences can cause stress, and it is normal for a college student to experience stress.
  • It is also normal to seek out someone to talk to about your stress or other issues hindering your progress in college (or other areas of your life).
  • SAU offers free and confidential* counseling services to its students.
  • If you have questions or feel uncomfortable scheduling an appointment on your own, please feel free to reach out to me so I can help you connect to services.
    • SAU Counseling Center
    • Reynolds 218
    • (870) 235-4911
    • *Information on the limits of confidentiality: https://web.saumag.edu/counseling/counseling-center/forms-and-email-policy/

• News and Announcements

  • No class on Monday, November 11, 2025
  • Resumes: See link above
  • Registration
    • Have you registered for Spring 2025 yet?
    • If not, do so soon.
    • Remember, you must initiate honors contract courses
  • Library Make Ups:
    • Freshmen Seminar Workshop 1: https://use.vg/Pfozn1
    • Freshmen Seminar Workshop 2: https://use.vg/3wczQO
  • Travel: November 16, 2024: Bus trip to Shreveport
    • We will visit SciPort
    • We will eat at Louisiana Boardwalk
    • You will have $15 to spend on food
    • Watch your email to sign up
    • There are 30 seats available
    • First come, first serve
  • NCHC 2025 is in San Diego
    • Do you want to go? You will need to be on the Program!
    • Deadline will be in May 2025
    • Think about making poster about your honors project
    • Odendaal and I will submit session on successfully re-implementing full honors courses following Covid.
      • It will feature faculty who taught some of those new courses

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  College students often experience issues that may interfere with academic success such as academic stress, sleep problems, juggling responsibilities, feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, or depression. If you or a friend is struggling, services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the confidential mental health services available on campus at the SAU Counseling Center. Visit https://web.saumag.edu/counseling/ for additional information and resources.

  The link to Creating a Culture of Caring Resource:

https://acue.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Faculty-Resource_Creating-a-Culture-of-Caring.pdf

• All face-to-face class meetings will use assigned seats and attendance will be taken each time. 
• Southern Arkansas University affirms its commitment to academic integrity and expects all members of the University community to accept shared responsibility for maintaining academic integrity. Students in this course are subject to the provisions of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy, approved by the president and published in the Student Handbook. Penalties for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, or any other course-related sanction the instructor determines to be appropriate. Continued enrollment in this course affirms a student’s acceptance of this University policy. https://web.saumag.edu/academics/dishonesty-and-integrity/

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