Fourth-Year
Program
Fourth-Year Students must complete a year-long
team project.
Fourth-Year
Purpose Statement
The Davis Honors Challenge
Fourth-Year Program hopes to broaden the talents and to
increase the knowledge of the professional and academic
leaders of the future. Such a program seeks to enrich the
intellectual lives of highly motivated fourth-year students
and to improve the quality of undergraduate education and
success. In addition, it provides participants with a unique
and challenging educational experience.
Fourth-year students are presented with the
opportunity to take what they have learned through classroom
education and apply their skills to the surrounding community.
Through the program, students format their own independent
research projects and form teams based upon common interests
and goals. The primary goal of the yearlong project is to
research an issue within the surrounding community and through
careful analysis, develop a solution. At the end of the
year, students are then asked to give a formal presentation
of their projects and findings before DHC faculty and a
group of individuals who are interested in the results.
Fourth-Year
Format
Fall Quarter:
*Students register for an HNR 198 (2 units on a pass/no
pass basis)
*Class meets 2 hours per week
*Students identify their teams, projects/problems
*Teams set up contact with their outside interested party/project
mentor
*Teams complete Project Proposals
Winter Quarter:
*Students register for an HNR 195 (3 units-letter graded)
*Class meets 2 hours per week
*Teams research their problem/projects
*Teams meet individually with the instructor and staff coordinator
for feedback
*Teams participate in a presentation of their progress before
DHC staff and other teams in order to give an update on
progress (occurs at the end of the quarter)
*Peer Evaluations
Spring Quarter:
*Students register for an HNR 195 (3 units-letter graded)
*Class meets 2 hours per week
*Teams present the results of their research to the outside
interested party/project mentor at the end of the quarter
in a formal presentation
*Teams submit Executive Summary
*Peer Evaluations
*Students attend "end of the year" celebration
and receive certificates of DHC completion.
Fourth-Year
Projects
2006-2007
Project Title: Nutrition
Education
Mission Statement
To help promote the education of preventative medicine.
Core Purpose
Help raise awareness about health services among the
community and health professionals. To be able to understand
the deficiencies in health care in order to help underserved
communities.
Executive Summary
Sponsor
Dr. Amerish Bera
Asst. Dean for Admissions & Outreach
UCD Med School
Project Title: General
Education and Student Opinion
Mission Statement
To establish a student forum which ensures that students
opinions are included in university policies.
Core Purpose
Ensure students graduate with a breadth of knowledge
beyond their majory, including cultural competency and encourage
students to provide input about academic issues which affect
them.
Executive
Summary
Sponsor
Gail Martinez
Asst. Vice Provost
Undergraduate Studies
Project Title: Examining
UC Davis Transportation Needs
Mission Statement
Investigate ways to satisfy the campus's transportation
needs in a creative and environmentally friendly manner.
Core Purpose
To create a detailed action plan that addresses the
campus community's future transportation needs.
Executive
Summary
Sponsor
Clifford Contreras
Director
Transportation and Parking Services
Project Title: Math
and Physical Sciences Career Education Seminar
Mission Statement
To increase enrollment and retention rates of undergraduate
students in the Math and Physical Sciences.
Core Purpose
Prepare and educate students for career opportunities for
Math and Physical Science majors.
Executive
Summary
Sponsor
Dave Osleger
Professor
Geology
Project Title: American
Cancer Society Diversity Coalition Educational Forum
Mission Statement
To work with the American Cancer Society to facilitate
a diversity coalition educational forum, designed to increase
access to health care and decrease disease incidence in
medically underserved populations.
Core Purpose
Facilitate the organization and development of a first annual
educational forum. This forum will focus on increasing access
to care and reducing disease incidence among the medically
underserved populations (Asian, African, Islami American,
and Latino/Chicano).
Executive
Summary
Sponsor
Beverly Saldivar
Health Program Manager
American Cancer Society
Project Title: Burrowing
Owl Conservation Project
Mission Statement
To improve conservation, further education, and build
a network promoting burrowing Owl awareness.
Core Purpose
Improve the conservation project by creating a self-sustaining
network of concerned individuals interested in finding homeless
or sick burrowing owls a home until re-release. Investigate
the community's needs for education on the subject of burrowing
owl conservation and possibly fulfill these needs by creating
a curriculm based on our knowledge of these animals with
some collaboration with the Sacramento Zoo.
Executive
Summary
Sponsor
Susan Healy
Lead Keeper, Thick-billed Parrot Species Plan (SSP) Coordinator
Sacramento Zoo
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Fourth-Year
Projects
2005-2006
Project Title: University
101-Understanding the Research University
Mission Statement
To help UCD students realize their academic potential, access
unique opportunities and maximize their collegiate success-otherwise
known as living the research university.
Core Purpose
Educate students about the unique opportunities available
at a research university, and to help students access resources
which will aid them in their academic endeavors.
Summary
First-year students are often unfamiliar with the complexities
and intricacies of a large research university. Recognizing
an opportunity to address this problem, this team attempted
to develop a unique course that satisfies the needs of these
students. The group introduced a quarter-long, informative
course aimed at easing the transition of attending a research
university, enhancing the first year experience, educating
students about the unique opportunities available at a research
university, and encouraging students to access resources
that will aid them in their academic career. In order to
develop the best possible course, the team pilot tested
four freshman seminars in the fall of 2005 and two transfer-student
seminars in winter 2006. A final freshman seminar was offered
in the spring of 2006. The variety of the courses allowed
the team to discover which approaches were most successful.
At the end of two quarters, the team analyzed the feedback
from student evaluations and compiled their observations.
From this data, they reconstructed the curriculum to include
only the most pertinent topics. In the final test of the
curriculum, they acted as the primary facilitators of the
spring seminar, now entitled “Navigating the Research
University. The course now has the capacity to become sustainable
with the help of a future DHC team.
Sponsor
Fred E. Wood
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
College of Letters and Science
Davis Campus
Project Title: Magic
of Music
Mission Statement
Helping others bring the magic of music to all young minds.
Core Purpose
Develop a framework in which learning is made fun and accessible
through innovative teaching styles, while increasing awareness
and interest in music education for children and educators.
Summary
The ‘Magic of Music’ team believes children
should have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate
music in schools. The team saw a direct correlation between
music education and later academic success, so they set
out with the goal of implementing a music program for students
whose schools do not provide music education. To reach this
goal they decided to develop low cost lessons plans and
establish a long-term internship to ensure that the program
can continue after the year-long project concluded. The
group also hoped to their proposed music education program
would dovetail with Sacramento Start’s forty five
minute enrichment component. The team’s lesson plans
addressed a variety of broad topics including cultural diversity
in music, gender and music, musical instruments from various
cultures, creation of musical instruments, music in the
movies, emotional and artistic expression through music
and basic music theory.
Sponsor
Professor Paul Heckman
Professor/Education Senate Faculty
School of Education
Davis Campus
Project Title: Creating X-Press: Founding
a New Creative Writing Magazine
Mission Statement
Provide a creative outlet for UCD students to show case
their literary talents
Core Purpose
-Provide UC Davis students with a long-term creative outlet
-Get students interested and involved in creative writing
-Showcase students literary beyond the classroom
Summary
This group’s mission was to encourage the undergraduate
population at UC Davis to tap into their creative side and
share it with the rest of the campus. To facilitate this
goal, the group decided to produce a literary and artistic
magazine in which they could showcase the creative talent
of their peers. The students researched the demand for such
a magazine, met with other writing and art groups on campus,
secured funding, called for submissions and decided on the
best work that was submitted. Ultimately the team launched
X-Press, an online literary magazine which is still available
to visit at http://www.xpressdhc.org
Sponsor
Professor Joe Wenderoth
Associate Professor of English
English Department
Davis Campus
Project Title: An Inquiry into Scientific Communication
Mission Statement
Encouraging a scientifically aware public.
Core Purpose
To enhance the flow of scientific information to the public.
Summary
This project began with the assumption that researchers
and the public are isolated from one another, often holding
very different ideas and interpretations of scientific topics.
Ultimately, the team’s intention became to encourage
a more scientifically aware public. The specific objectives
were to identify current deficiencies in communication amongst
researchers, the media, and the public and, secondly, develop
practical recommendation to improve the flow of scientific
information between researchers and the public via the media.
In order to evaluate the current state of knowledge and
communication between the public and scientists, the team
chose one specific area on which to base their research,
Avian Flu, which they used to analyze three critical populations:
researchers, the media, and the public. The team conducted
a large amount of research, in both the general public arena
and the scientific community, in order to first understand
what each group attempted to communicate to each other.
The results made it quite clear that communication between
researchers and the public could be better facilitated,
as the team found that the public had very little accurate
information about the avian flu. To ensure that scientific
information is communicated better to the public, the team
developed two sets of recommendations and a detailed report.
They created one set of guidelines to help researchers communicate
with the media, and one to help the media communicate with
both researchers and the public. As a result of their research,
the team produced a 26-page Science in the News report.
This comprehensive report provides researchers and the media
descriptions, justifications (with some examples), and possible
methods of applying each recommendation to Avian Influenza.
Sponsor
Nicole Baumgarth
Associate Professor
UC Davis’ Center for Comparative Medicine
Project Title: Student Homeless Outreach
Club
Mission Statement
To aid the homeless population of Davis and surrounding
cities to improve their quality of life and help them become
self sufficient.
Core Purpose
Form a connection between UC Davis students and the Yolo
community in order to have a lasting positive impact on
the quality of life of the homeless population by providing
opportunities for a more self sufficient life.
Summary
The team’s mission was to form a connection between
UC Davis students and the community in order to have a lasting
positive impact on the quality of life of the homeless population
and to ultimately provide opportunities for a more self
sufficient life. The team’s two major goals before
the year began were to research the current homeless problem
and create a club on campus which deals specifically with
the homeless population in Davis and surrounding cities.
The Student Homeless Outreach Club (SHOC) was founded on
the UC Davis campus during winter quarter 2006. Every two
weeks the group conducted a general meeting on campus, notifying
the members of upcoming events and activities. The team
also worked with Davis Community Meals, Grace in Action,
Loaves and Fishes, Campus MOSAIC, and the Sacramento Salvation
Army throughout the year to conduct research and do extensive
volunteer work. The work included preparing and delivering
food, holding nutrition classes, making and decorating blankets,
and helping prepare the homeless population for the winter
season. The team’s hope for the future is that SHOC
will continue to grow and provide an outlet for students
to become involved in their community and provide necessary
services to the homeless in Davis and surrounding cities.
Sponsor
Jocelyn Plass
Volunteer Coordinator
Davis Community Meals
Project Title: Finish in Four
Mission Statement
Provide resources to help students graduate in four years.
Core Purpose
Increase the four year graduation rate at UC Davis by fostering
a greater sense of integrity, dedication to open mindedness
and resilience to hardships.
Summary
The ‘Finish in Four’ project aimed to assess
student culture to ascertain the reasons why students were
not graduating within four years. Throughout the year the
group researched the causes of the low four-year graduation
rate, and what could be done to change it. Using a student
survey, a focus group, and an advisor survey, the group
found that students took more than four years to graduate
as a result of difficulty in choosing a major, as well as
a lack of pressure from the advisors. After reaching these
conclusions, the group focused on three specific areas that
could change this low graduation rate: centralizing advising
services, providing students with resources to choose a
major and changing student culture itself. Looking at these
areas, the group developed many innovative ideas, including
a new MyUCDavis channel called MyAdvisor, which helps students
connect with Advising Services, a new freshman event aimed
at getting new students familiar with the myriad of majors
offered at UC Davis and, lastly, a new campaign entitled
“From College to Career.”
Sponsor
Fred E. Wood
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
College of Letters and Science
Davis Campus
Project Title: What Makes an Ideal Pre-Medical
Student?
Mission Statement
For every UC Davis pre-med undergraduate student to feel
their pathway is suitable to their abilities and will successfully
lead to medical school.
Core Purpose
Provide UC Davis pre-med undergraduates with the information
about the best possible pathways to becoming a successful
medical student applicant.
Summary
The team was originally formed under the charge of determining
“What Makes an Ideal Pre-Medical Student?” but
after a significant amount of research, the team decided
to narrow the focus of their study to “A Relative
Comparison between UCD School of Medicine Medical Students
and UCD Pre-Meds.” The team did extensive research,
as well as sending out surveys to the UCD pre-medical undergraduate
and UCDSOM medical student populations. The team received
3,506 UCD undergraduate student responses as well as 256
UCDSOM medical student responses. After compiling the results
of the survey, the team was able to see certain characteristics
of students who successfully went on to medical school.
Sponsor
Amerish Bera
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Outreach
UC Davis School of Medicine
Fourth-Year
Projects
2004-2005
Project Title: Improving the Learning
Skills Center Website
Mission Statement
Our Dream: Help UCD students strive for academic excellence
Core Purpose
Create a more effective informational Learning Skills
Center website for the UCD community.
Sponsor
Carol Hunter
Tutor Supervisor
Learning Skills Center
Davis Campus
Project Title: Asian American Students
Mental Health Awareness on the UC Davis Campus
Mission Statement
To promote mental health awareness & encourage
the utilization of available resources within the Asian
American student population
Core Purpose
Promote mental health awareness within the Asian American
Student population and the UC Davis Faculty/Staff/Administrators.
Sponsor
Anita Poon
Student Affairs Coordinator
Asian American Studies
Davis Campus
Project Title: Arts
Living and Learning Community at the Colleges at La Rue
Mission Statement
To build a community that will allow its members to
express their creative ability and learn from each other
Core Purpose
We are creating a community for the Arts at the Collegs
of LaRue in order to allow its participants an outlet to
express their creativity, expanding their artistic knowledge
and allow them to share their previous talents and knowledge
with other community members.
Sponsor
Cheryl Singh
Program Manager
The Colleges at LaRue
Project Title: Promoting
Animal Welfare through Education and Service
Mission Statement
Helping people help animals
Core Purpose
By educating people and fostering proper care practices
and a general respect for life within our community, we
can combat the issues of animal overpopulation and neglect.
Sponsors
Kim Kinnee, Executive Director
Ashley Dunleavy, Assistant Canine Coordinator
Cheri Williams, Volunteer Coordinator
Yolo County SPCA
Project Title: Laboratory Safety
Mission Statement
To create an environment that fosters safety, learning,
and integrity which will build lifetime skills
Core Purpose
To promote laboratory safety and technique to improve
environmental conditions.
Sponsor
Carl Foreman, Director
Environmental Health & Safety
Davis Campus
Project Title: UC Davis Students Tutoring
in the Davis Community
Mission Statement
To reinvent the community's commitment to scholastic
achievement
Core Purpose
To provide a means by which children can acquire tutoring
services to
improve their academic performance utilizing the resources
of the community and UC Davis students to pursue future
excellence.
Sponsor
Pamela Major, Lecturer
University Writing Program
Davis Campus
Project Title: Make
A Wish
Mission Statement
Grant a wish, share a life, capture a smile
Core Purpose
To increase the awareness of "Make a Wish"
opportunities for children with life threatening illnessess
while giving support and care.
Sponsor
Karen Hoffman, Program Director
Make A Wish Foundation
Project Title: Designing and Implementing
a University 101 Course
Mission
Building a foundation optimizing undergraduate education
Core Purpose
To ease the difficult transition into college for 1st
year and transfer students as well as enhance the undergraduate
experience by promoting and employing under-utilized resources
throughout the University of California system.
Sponsor
Fred Wood
Interim Vice Provost
Undergraduate Studies
Davis Campus
Davis Campus
Fourth-Year
Projects
2003-2004
Title: Advancing Hospice
Awareness
Mission
To enhance hospice awareness on the Davis Campus
Project Goals
*To create a permanent relationship between UC Davis
and Yolo Hospice.
*To find out the views of students concerning death,
and the best methods to faciliate their learning.
*To educate students about the services offered by Hospice
Care and inform them of Advanced Directives.
Sponsor
Sandra Wright-Barak, RN, BA, CHP
Community Liaison/Educator
Yolo County Hospice
Title: Alternative Breaks
Mission
To implement an alternative break program at
UC Davis
Project Goals
*To actively engage students in particiating in service
and social learning.
*To recruit an organization for these students to do service
with during Spring 2004.
Sponsor
Janice Morand, PhD
Coordinator, Internship and Career Center
UC Davis
Title: A Two-Fold Approach
to Facilitating Interactions between the Genome Center and
Central campus: Integrating Resources of the Genome Center
with the Needs of Research Staff in Multiple Disciplines
and Developing an Internship Program for Undergraduates
in Genome Center Laboratories
Mission
Plan an internship program for students in the new
Genomics building and organize reciprocal professor interaction
between this building and the general UCD Campus
Project Goals
*Investigate what resources current faculty need/use/want
that the Genome Center could provide.
*Provide information to faculty/staff in multiple disciplines
on campus regarding Genome facility resources and how to
access them.
*Create an internship program akin to the UCDMD program
to allow simple sign-ups year round for undergraduates to
work in Genome Center laboratories.
Sponsor
Craig Benham
Associate Director of Informatics
Acting Director
Genome Center
UC Davis
Title: A Tribute to Marlon Riggs
Mission
Help the documentary film company, SignifyIn Works
to implement a way to honor the filmmaker, Marlon Riggs
Project Goals
*Create a website honoring Marlon Riggs
*Set up a movie night on campus to get student response
to Riggs' work
Sponsor
Pat Turner
Vice Provost, Undergraduate Studies
Davis Campus
Title: The Alcohol Alternatives Club
Mission
To curb alcohol use among teens in Davis by creating
alternative activities
Project Goals
*Identify group of high school students and teacher
advisor to start club.
*Plan 2 events with club by June 04.
*Serve as liaison between club and the City of Davis.
Sponsors
Michelle Famula, Director
Cowell Health Center
Davis Campus
Stephanie Lake
ADAPT Coordinatory
Cowell Health Center
Title: What's up Doc? Doctor Dilemmas at Shifa Clinic
Mission
Increase the Preceptor/Physician for the Shifa Clinic
through an improved recruitment process and database system.
Project Goals
*Research student run clinics associated with the UCD
School of Medicine to determine an effective method of recruiting
physicians and publicizing the need of volunteers at the
clinics.
*Create a physician database for Shifa Clinic including
specialized physicians.
*Schedule physicians to volunteer at Shifa Clinic for the
first three to six months after completion of the project.
Sponsor
Shagufta Yasmeen, MD
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
UCD Medical Center
Title: Assessing school climate: are schools safe
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual youth?
Mission
Conduct an analysis of the the extent of bullying in
junior high and high schools and make recommendations for
improving emotional climates in these schools.
Project Goals
*Assess data collected by the Gay Straight Alliance.
*Using newly found statistical correlations, present the
findings to the Gay Straight Alliance and other parties.
*Write a report that shows these findings and identifies
actions necessary to make school a more positive enfironment
for LGBT youth.
Sponsor
Stephen Russell, Director
4-H Center for Youth Development
Davis Campus
Title: Fostering Campus Unity
Mission
Promote unity between on-campus organizations
Project Goals
*Certain on-campus organizations have differences that
lead to conflict outside the realm of healthy diagogue.
We will provide suggestions to the administration aimed
at work increasing unity.
Sponsors
Janet Gong, Associate Vice Chancellor
Student Affairs
Davis Campus
Margaret Ortega, Director
Student Programs and Activities
Davis Campus
Title: Reverse Culture Shock
Mission
Investigate causes and effects of reverse culture shock
on UCD students returning from study abroad programs and
make recommendations of solutions for this problem
Project Goals
*Develop a survey to gather information from EAP students.
*Analyze Data.
*Create Video tape, flyers, and program for educating students
and staff on mediating the effects of reverse culture shock.
Sponsor
Beverly Wells, Counselor
Education Abroad Center
Davis Campus
Fourth-Year
Project Proposals
2002-2003
Clinic Funding Project
*Mission: To provide Clinica Tepati, a nonprofit, student-run
clinic, with recommendations for potential resources and
methods in order to secure permanent funding.
Leadership Conference
*Mission: Bring together campus student leaders with the
establishment of an annual one-day leadership conference
that will teach communication and conflict management, encourage
networking and information exchange, and educate all parties
involved on the importance of collaboration.
Organ Donation Awareness
*Mission: To increase student awareness of the issues
surrounding organ donation, through the establishment of
yearly programs which include dorm informational presentations
and an organ awareness week on campus.
UC Counselor's Conference
Video
*Mission: To create a video highlighting the environment
and culture of the UC Davis Campus. This video will be shown
to 300+ participants of the UC Counselors Conference, being
hosted by Davis in Napa Valley.
Orchard Park Community Garden
*Mission: Working with the Orchard Park residential
community and board of directors, provide recommendations
for development and improvement of the Orchard Park community
gardens.
Shifa Clinic
*Mission: Establish a free pharmaceuticals influx to
the Shifa Clinic, a nonprofit, student-run clinic.
UC Davis Instructor/Course
Evaluations
*Mission: Provide recommendations for an improved instructor/course
evaluation process for the Davis Campus.
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Fourth-Year
Project Proposals
2001-2002
A Holistic View of Transportation in the
Davis Community
*Mission: To produce a holistic analysis of the needs and
interests of the entire Davis community, including not just
parking, but also relevant transportation and community
issues.
Transportation for the Future
*Mission: To provide an extensive report which will assist
the campus in the overall improvement of transportation
for the University by the year 2008.
Organ Donation Awareness
and the Advocacy Project
*Mission: To incorporate, in the American schools, an
organ donation education program appropriate for the High
School student.
Afterschool Outreach Program
*Mission: Establish an after school program in which
UC Davis students can either tutor or teach elementary school
students: helping them with homework, or setting up projects
for enrichment in areas of curriculum that are lacking in
their normal school day.
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Fourth-Year
Project Proposals
2000-2001
Students for
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
*Mission: The formation of a club on campus incorporating
UCD students and Juvenile Drug Court children. UCD students
would participate in positive self-esteem building activities
with Juvenile Drug Court children.
Establishing a Middle Eastern
Studies Program
*Mission: To establish a Middle Eastern Studies Program
on the UCD campus. Team members will work on recruiting
faculty and raising interest and awareness among students
and faculty.
UCD's Information Technology-Updated
or Outdated?
*Mission: To do extensive research of the resources available
at UCD and find out how these resources are being distributed
to students. Compare and contrast UCD to other UCs in terms
of the available technology and distribution of this information.
The end product of this research will be a web page and
live presentation to an interested group on he UCD campus.
California After School Programs
*Mission: To assess the need of after school programs; to
evaluate established programs; to create a step-by-step
model for successful development and implementation of government
funded after school programs
UCD Joint Program for the
Promotion of Arts Education
*Mission: To make a film that illustrates the UCD Chicano
Studies' involvement with elementary arts education. This
film can be used to promote the growth of other such programs
and to gain grants for art education. In addition, it can
be utilized to draw interested UC Davis students into elementary
arts programs as volunteers and mentors.
Women's Health at UC Davis:
Perceptions, Resources, Reality
*Mission: To investigative the on-campus health needs of
women at UCD and to assess the services available through
the Cowell Student Health Center's Women's Clinic. In addition,
the team would like to take a look at the amount of health
education offered to UCD women and research various entities
such as race, culture and sexual orientation, which may
influence whether or not women seek care on the UCD campus.
Campus Crime and Safety
*Mission: To research student perceptions of safety both
on and off campus and to determine student awareness of
the availability of safety programs. Also, the team plans
to determine if there is a need to change or add to the
programs offered during freshman orientation in order to
increase student awareness.
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