Dear Honors Students,

How are you doing?
I’m not sure if anyone has asked you that today, but I wanted to make sure someone did.
I hope you are adjusting to this weird world of video chats, snap chats, phone chats, and TikTok in any and all ways. I hope you’re doing well, you and your family are safe, and that you have found some semblance of a routine that keeps you gettin’ up and gettin’ on with whatever it is you have on your to-do list.
I also hope that you know it’s ok to not be ok.
This spring has taken such a wild right turn that has been rapid and disruptive in so many ways. With that in mind, the Honors staff want you to know that we are here for you. We know so so many things have been cancelled: spring break trips, graduation ceremonies, end of year get-togethers, study abroad trips, summer plans, internships, co-ops, etc. All of that is absolutely not ok, and you do not have to be fine with it. But, if you ever want to talk about any of those not ok things, the Honors staff are here (virtually - see below for office hour information) and we really want to talk to you about them too. You, our Honors students, are what drive this office. You’re the reason we get up each morning, put on a pair of stretchy pants, a nice top, and maybe do our hair :). You’re the reason we continue to respond to emails, have video meetings, and continue planning for the rest of the spring, summer, and next fall. You are brave, wildly creative, intellectual adventurers who tackle massively challenging things EVERY year inside and outside of the classroom. No global pandemic can change that. We believe in you, we love you, and we want nothing but the best for each and everyone one of you.
So if you’re sad, reach out. If you’re stressed, reach out. If you’re happy, reach out! We’re here, Honors has not been cancelled, and we miss you too.
All the best,
Katie Flannery and the Honors Staff

Do you use journaling (recording activities, writing lists, bullet journaling, sketchnoting, doodling, dedicated daily posts) to make sense of things? If you aren't already, consider keeping a record of these historic, tumultuous times. Take some time to process everything that is going on. We've listed some journaling prompts on the Honors blog and will be posting prompts occasionally on social media.

Fall '20 Honors Seminar Registration on April 22

Registration for Fall 2020 Honors seminars opens on April 22nd at 12:00pm (and not a moment sooner). Check out seminar descriptions here or by clicking on the links below

HON 321A: Know Her Name: A Critical Read of Chanel Miller's Memoir
HON 321B: Art and Science of PEACE (ASOP)
HON 321C: Are You What You Eat?
HON 321D: Modern-Day Pilgrimage of the Road to Santiago de Compostela
HON 321E: Take Action! Strategies for Personal Food Waste Reduction
HON 321F: Is Psychology Junk Science?: Current Issues in Psychological Research
HON 321G: Orchid Mania
HON 321J: Documenting the Past: An Introduction to Oral History
HON 321K: Psychology of Social Media
HON 321L: How and Why We Count
HON 321M: Comedy College
HON 321N: Entrepreneurship
HON 321P: Ethics and Controversy in Medical Research
HON 321Q: Archives Investigation
HON 321R: Exploring Environmental Issues through Documentaries
HON 321T: Performance Live
HON 321U: The History of Reproductive Rights
HON 321V: Human Trafficking 101
HON 321W: Conflicts in the Middle East
HON 321Y: That's Me in the Corner
HON 321Z: Understanding War
HON 323A: Self-Promotion is not a Dirty Word!
HON 323B: Yes We Catan!: Teaching and Learning with Settlers of Catan

Have questions about the seminar registration process? Here are some seminar things you should know:
-All seminars will open at 12:00pm for registration on April 22.
-All registration reference numbers, along with course descriptions, times, locations, etc. will be found on the Fall 2020 Seminars page, check it regularly for updates.
-Generally seminars are capped at 17 students to keep the classes small and discussion based.
-If you try to register for a seminar and it is full, your name is automatically added to a waitlist by trying to register.
-If a spot in a course that had been full opens up, Katie Flannery will email the students on the waitlist in order until the seat is filled.
-If a course is full, the only way to add the course is to attempt to register yourself so that you get added to the waitlist and then wait to see if Katie Flannery emails you to offer you an opening.
-Do not wait until your last semester at Iowa State to take your required seminars – some seminars may be cancelled prior to Fall 2020 as a result of low enrollment, or instructor conflict. Do NOT count on fulfilling requirements your last semester if at all possible.

Questions? Contact Katie Flannery!

Questions about an Honors contracted-course you're currently taking? Send us an email

Have a Quick Question? Stop in to Honors Staff "Office Hours"

Honors staff are working from home and are happy to help you via phone, email, or webex appointments. Feel free to set webex appointments with us using ISU Appointments on AccessPlus, or stop in to our webex rooms during our office hours:

Wanted: Applications for Honors Peer Advisers

Honors is looking for Peer Advisers in Human Sciences, Engineering, Design, and Ag and Life Sciences for Fall 2020. More information and the application are located here. For even more information, email Katie Flannery.

Congratulations to Iowa State's Goldwater Scholarship Winners!

Congratulations to Madeline Farringer (Biochemistry), Divyesh Kumar (Chemical Engineering), and Behnia Shirazi (Biology/Biophysics/Biochemistry) - all three are 2020 Goldwater Scholars, and all three are Honors students. Read about their award here.

Around Jischke: even though we're not there, spring marches on

Vote for the 2020-21 Honors Student Board

Check your email for a survey link (sent on April 7), or click here to submit your votes by Tuesday, April 14 at 5:00pm