SOME QUESTIONS
YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT DHC AND THE
HONORS
CHALLENGE SECTIONS
What is the Davis Honors Challenge (DHC)?
The Davis Honors Challenge (DHC) is an open-application, campus-wide honors
program for highly motivated students.
What is the mission of the Davis Honors Challenge?
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?
Each spring, DHC invites all incoming students and all on-campus first-year
students to apply for the lower-division DHC 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 self-motivation, leadership, commitment, and a desire to be an active participant
in their own education. Students must achieve a 3.25 UCD Cumulative GPA by
the end of the academic year in order to continue into the next program year.
Last year, there were approximately 527 students participating in DHC.
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. This does not apply to the honors courses (e.g., ENL, COM,
PHY, CHE), which are funded by their department. 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.
DHC Staff Contact Information:
Ann Orel, Director
584 Kerr Hall
752-6496/jmutts@ucdavis.edu
Lolita Nelson-Adkins, Program Manager/Honors Counselor
582 Kerr Hall
752-9797/lrnelson@ucdavis.edu
Carrie Devine, Prestigious Scholarships Coordinator/ Honors Counselor
585 Kerr Hall
752-3223/cldevine@ucdavis.edu
Alana Penn, Program Assistant
580 Kerr Hall
752-3225/dhc@ucdavis.edu