“The USP encouraged me to think deeply about global and national issues and made them relevant to what I was studying. I appreciated hearing from people who had changed the world, even in a small way, during our forums or who have found their passions and dreams and are now living them. I was inspired, I was changed, and I will forever be grateful to the USP for opening my eyes to the world around me.” Kelly Lewis, ‘14 Scholars Forum Cultural & Enrichment Opportunities
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Special Courses 200-Level Courses Study Abroad
pg 03 Scholars Village Service Activities Scholars Council USP Graduates
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University Scholars Program Culturally-connected, informed and engaged citizens Spotlight on 2014-15 Outdoor and Cultural Explorations Throughout 2014-2015, USP Outdoor Explorations will offer University Scholars opportunities to challenge themselves, connect with others, and enhance their appreciation for the outdoors. First up, a ziplining and tubing trip along the Cape Fear River. Next, our fall break will feature an in-depth exploration of Raleigh’s wild areas. We will continue our series with canoeing, backpacking and servicelearning trips throughout the year. The University Scholars Program is also busy planning our annual Fall Break Trip to New York City. A favorite USP tradition, this four-night trip is filled with incredible sightseeing, Broadway shows, world-famous art, and dazzling University Scholars Program 102 Sullivan Hall Campus Box 7316 Raleigh, NC 27695
architecture. We’ll tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art, take in the view from the Top of the Rock, ride the Staten Island Ferry, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, and explore Chinatown and Greenwich Village. You can also join the USP Cultural Explorations during our annual Spring Break overseas trip! This spring break we will travel to Italy for a jam-packed week of history, architecture, art, culture and food as we visit the magical and charming cities of Florence and Rome. Join us as we explore the famed Uffizi Museum and Duomo, tour Vatican City, and walk through history in the ancient Roman Forum. With the University Scholars Program, the world is yours to explore! 919.515.2353 university_scholars@ncsu.edu scholars.dasa.ncsu.edu www.facebook.com/NCSUScholars
Scholars Forum, USP 110
The Scholars Forum is a zero-credit hour course that University Scholars register for during their first three semesters at NC State. The Forum features musical and theatrical performances, addresses by major public figures and world-class scientists, and debates and discussions of significant public policy issues. Some of the Scholars Forum events scheduled for this year include: • Musician Scott Ainslie is a master of the traditional blues guitar styles. Performing on vintage metal-bodied guitars, Scott will
play, discuss and sing the history of the blues and blues-influenced compositions.
• National Geographic photographer and ecologist Mark Moffett, whose humor has made him a favorite on late night talk
shows, will share stories that make people fall in love with the unexpected in nature.
• Dr. Elliot Engel, an amazing lecturer and perennial favorite of University Scholars, will introduce us to the fascinating stories
of literary legends and historic figures.
• Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, Co-Director of the Genetic Engineering & Society Center, will discuss the science, technology and
policies surrounding genetic engineering and GMOs.
Scholars
Achieve! Junior Austin Bath was selected as the 2013 Leader of the Pack. This annual award recognizes a student who makes outstanding contributions to NC State. Senior Rusty Mau received the 2014 Mathews Medal, the highest non-academic distinction awarded to NC State students. Rusty and fellow Scholar Devan Riley were also elected Student Body President and Vice President for 2014-15. Senior Alyssa D’Addezio received the ECU Brody Scholarship, North Carolina’s most distinguished medical scholarship. 491 first year University Scholars had GPAs of at least 3.5 at the end of the Spring 2014 semester. Of these, 155 had a 4.0 GPA.
Cultural & Enrichment Opportunities From jazz to opera, musical comedy to Shakespeare, groundbreaking documentaries to international films, University Scholars have access to the broadest range of cultural opportunities...all provided free through the program. • Tickets to plays, concerts, and dance performances
offered through ARTS NC STATE and area venues like the Carolina Ballet, NC Symphony, Burning Coal, Raleigh Little Theatre, and Theatre in the Park.
• Hands-on workshops for everything from wheel-thrown
pottery and woodturning to improvisation and dance.
• Museum tours including the Nasher Museum, the NC
Museum of Natural Sciences, the NC Museum of History and the NC Museum of Art .
• Field trips focused on sustainability, including a tour of the Piedmont Biofuels plant, a coffee
tasting at Counter Culture Coffee, and a visit to the NCSU Solar House.
• Outdoor adventures including a trip to the Duke Lemur Center, a walk through Cary’s
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, a hike in Umstead State Park, an evening canoeing on Lake Crabtree, and workshops at the Walnut Creek Nature Center.
• A Book Club and Film Series providing introductions to the best national and international
literature and cinema.
• A lunchtime “In the Headlines” Discussion Series on critical issues of the day. • Conversations with NC State faculty and USP alumni.
Imagine
Discover
Special Courses In order to successfully complete the USP, University Scholars are required to complete 12 hours of approved coursework by the time they graduate. Starting with their first year, freshmen Scholars will have the opportunity to enroll in Honors and First Year Inquiry courses to begin fulfilling this requirement. These courses, which will also fulfill NC State graduation requirements, generally have smaller class enrollments and are offered by academic departments across campus. They are taught by outstanding faculty members known for their excellence in teaching and commitment to undergraduate education. Not surprisingly, Honors and First Year Inquiry courses tend to receive very positive feedback from our students. Honors courses are being offered in British Literature, Intermediate Spanish, History, Economics, Calculus, Statistics, and more! For a complete listing of the Honors and First Year Inquiry courses being offered this fall, please review the Catalogue of Academic Opportunities for University Scholars.
USP 200-Level Courses In 2011, the USP introduced a new series of courses that students can use in partial fulfillment of their approved coursework requirement. USP 200-level courses are open to students who have completed three semesters of Scholars Forum, and are designed to enhance their connection to the USP community and complement the USP’s mission. Student evaluations of these courses are outstanding. “Great Decisions” introduces students to important foreign policy issues, while “Readings Inspired by Forum” invites students to read, discuss and analyze some of the best books written in recent years. “Introduction to Exploring Your Surroundings” challenges students to develop their observation, documentation and reflection skills through field-based activities.
USP Summer Study Abroad Interested in studying abroad? The University Scholars Program sponsors two summer study abroad programs: • Florence, Italy: Nestled in the beautiful landscape of Tuscany,
Florence is a treasure trove of art, architecture, food and history. Students spend five weeks in the city, living in apartments and taking classes in the historic center. Field trips to Siena, Pisa, Venice, and Sorrento are included.
Explore
• Oxford, England: The Oxford program provides students the
opportunity to study and live at Oxford University , one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Students spend four weeks at the university, taking classes taught by Oxford faculty. Field trips include London, Stratford, Canterbury, Stonehenge and a tour of the Harry Potter film studio.
“Participating in the University Scholars Program was the best decision I made as an undergraduate. It was a fantastic way to join a community, have wonderful opportunities that I would not have anywhere else and learn a tremendous amount about culture and the world around me. Thank you so much for the opportunity, I have truly enjoyed calling myself a University Scholar.” Blake Shelton, ‘14
Scholars Village and VIA
Connect
Housed on Floors 2-5 of Sullivan Hall, the Scholars Village offers students a wide range of educational and social opportunities that ease the transition to college life and help students make connections with each other, NC State, and the world around them. The USP Office is located in Sullivan, and specially trained University Scholars Assistants (USAs) and Resident Advisors (RAs) plan a wide variety of events for residents. Each semester, Scholars Village residents will participate in a Village in Action (VIA) group. Through the VIA program, village residents will take part in a series of specially-planned events that will allow them to interact closely with their fellow residents, and student and professional staff members. These events will also count towards their Scholars Forum events requirement.
“I cannot speak highly enough about the benefits of living in the Scholars Village my freshman year. My roommate, neighbors, and hallmates are now some of my very best friends and will remain lifelong friends to me. The activities we were exposed to were great fun and my peers shared a similar love for learning. This experience really helped me get my feet on the ground and plant my roots at NC State!” Gretchen Stokes, ’13
Scholars Council Are you looking for a way to get more involved in the University Scholars Program? Would you like to meet other Scholars? Are you interested in planning events and developing your leadership skills? Do you enjoy participating in service programs? If any of these things are up your alley, keep your eyes open for information about the Scholars Council, a group of 30 Scholars who love to plan outstanding social, educational, and service projects for YOU to enjoy! Several Council spaces are available at the beginning of every year, so if you have an interest in planning fun events for your fellow Scholars, be sure to seek out information about elections in August...and be on the lookout for all the latest news about Scholars Council activities in the fall! For more information, contact Jill Nyberg, Scholars Council Chair, at jlnyberg@ncsu.edu.
USP Service Activities The University Scholars Program encourages its students to be engaged citizens and active contributors to our community. One great way to do this is through USP service activities. Each year, the USP partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations to give our students a chance to serve, learn and make connections to each other and our community.
USP Graduates The enriching experiences of the USP prepare our graduates for a wide variety of academic, professional, and personal pursuits. Our Spring 2014 graduates will pursue an array of careers from accounting to engineering and from graphic design to education. They will work for global corporations, including Proctor & Gamble, Credit Suisse, Eastman Chemical, Caterpillar, IBM, Cisco, ExxonMobil, and Eaton. Some will join the Peace Corps and Teach for America, while others plan to start their own businesses. Of course, many USP graduates will go on to graduate and professional schools. Among the campuses our students have been accepted to for Fall 2014 are: NCSU, Duke, UNC, East Carolina, Clemson, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Colorado State, University of Florida, University of Minnesota, University of Tennessee, University of Texas, and Stanford University.
Lead No state appropriated funds were used to print this document.