SOME QUESTIONS
YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT DHC AND THE
HONORS
CHALLENGE SECTIONS
What is the
The Davis Honors Challenge (DHC) is an open-application,
campus-wide honors program for highly motivated students.
What is the
mission of the
The mission of the Davis Honors Challenge is to enhance the
undergraduate experience of highly motivated students and to prepare them for
the challenges they will face in their business, professional, or academic
careers.
How does DHC
accomplish its mission?
DHC offers an academic program that encourages students to think
critically, learn collaboratively, solve real-world problems by working in
teams, improve oral and written communication skills, and develop new research skills.
How are students
selected for the program?
Unlike honors programs elsewhere, DHC does not select for high
school GPA or SAT scores. Instead,
students must complete an essay application. Selection is based on evidence of
motivation, leadership, commitment, enthusiasm and excitement. Each spring, DHC invites all incoming
students and all on-campus first-year students to apply for the lower-division
DHC program. There are approximately 500 students participating in DHC during
the 2005-2006 academic year.
What is an
honors challenge section?
An honors challenge section is a section usually offered in
conjunction with a General Education course that is led by the instructor
teaching the course. DHC offers the
section as a (HNR 90X) one-unit, graded course, and enrollment is generally
limited to fifteen students.
Where do honors
challenge sections fit into the DHC academic program?
As part of the requirements, DHC First-Year students must take two
honors challenge sections or honors courses, and one honors seminar. Second-Year
students may replace one honors challenge section or honors course with an
upper division honors contract.
What is the goal
of an honors challenge section?
The goal of an honors challenge section is to provide students
with a more challenging encounter with the material in the course. Depending on
the course, this could mean that one or more aspects of the course are explored
with more depth or greater breadth; or from a more abstract or more analytical
perspective; or with greater use of information technology; or with greater
emphasis on real world problems; or with more exposure to scholarly research
methods and current research issues.
What approaches
are used in an honors challenge section?
The specific approach taken by an instructor depends on the nature
of the material, the instructor's own tastes and preferences. In the past, many
instructors have taken advantage of the small class size (15 or less) to employ
teaching techniques that they would not otherwise have been able to try. Field trips, special projects, in-class
presentations and websites are some of the approaches that instructors have
used to challenge students to take a more active role in their own learning.
What is the time
commitment for the instructor?
An honors challenge section meets for one hour, once a week. The time of the honors challenge section is
coordinated to fit with the instructor's schedule.
How much work
can be expected of the students?
The amount of work should be commensurate with one unit of
credit. Under the Carnegie Rule this
translates into two hours of work outside of class per week.
What assistance
or feedback is available to an instructor teaching an honors challenge section?
The DHC honors counselors can provide information about what has
been done in previous honors challenge sections. We would be happy to offer
ideas and suggestions to any instructor teaching an honors challenge
section.
What about
compensation for teaching an honors challenge section?
DHC provides a $1500 unrestricted research allocation for teaching
an honors challenge section. The allocation
may be used for travel, equipment, supplies, or books. The funds will be deposited with the instructor's
department in a special account that the department budget/financial coordinator
will set up for the instructor. The
funds are then administered by the instructor’s home department.