SDV 230 - Introduction to Honors

1. Demonstrate familiarity with ICCC services, goals, policies, and honors program expectations and demonstrate competency (comfort) within the ICCC community - both academically and personally.
2. Develop effective written and oral communication skills.
3. Explain the intent of higher education and develop their ability to analyze and synthesize a broad range of material.
4. Understand how scholars think about problems, formulate hypotheses, research those problems, and draw conclusions about them.
5. Develop the ability to use knowledge and logic when discussing an issue or an idea, while considering the consequences of their ideas, for themselves, for others, and for society, showing that they are independent and critical thinkers.

Course Objectives:

Outcome 1:  Campus/college logistics and necessary skills 

1. Use e-mail, Web Advisor, Canvas, and internet applications, especially campus e-mail/ Triton Pass, Self-Service.
2. Explain the necessary steps for obtaining financial aid.
3.  Define various financial aid options such as work-study, federal grants, subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans, and scholarships.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of effective credit use.
5. Demonstrate an ability to develop and utilize a personal financial budget.
6. Explain bookstore policies.
7. Identify and locate the basic office functions provided at Admissions, Computer Labs, Distance Education, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, International Student Advisor, Testing Center, Registrar/Student Records, Residence Life, Academic Resource Center, TRIO, and Advising Center.

Outcome 2:  Academic support

1. Demonstrate familiarity with the location of and range of services offered at Iowa Central.
2. Explain the benefits of support services such as the Academic Resource Center and demonstrate familiarity with their services, including tutoring, testing, and academic resources for writing and research.
3. Identify how to determine instructor office hours and appropriate instructor communications in and outside of class.
4. Demonstrate the ability to conduct research using print materials and internet sources.
5. Show familiarity with resources available at TRIO.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of and apply stress management strategies.
7. Demonstrate the skills involved in time management.
8. Apply strategies for note taking, studying and reading textbooks.
9. Utilize test-taking strategies.

Outcome 3:  Advisement & Course Grading

1. Define the values of academic integrity and scholarship, particularly those related to cheating and plagiarism.
2. Explain the values inherent in higher education and a general education.
3. Identify the benefits of class attendance.
4. Define relevant academic terms, such as “mandatory placement,” and “academic withdrawal.”
5. Demonstrate how to build a class schedule and a graduation plan.
6. Participate in goal setting exercises.
7. Identify options for majors and career options and more advanced degrees.
8. Explain the basic steps involved in transferring to another college.
9. Recognize the benefits of winter interim and summer classes.
10. Demonstrate how to print and read a degree audit.
11. Demonstrate how to figure a GPA.
12. Interpret transcripts and FERPA.

Outcome 4:  Personal Development

1. Define the benefits of extra-curricular activities.
2. Describe how valuing diversity in culture, race, gender, orientation and age can enhance student and personal success.
3. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills (roommate relations).
4. Identify community resources.
5. Demonstrate awareness of personal security issues.

Outcome 5:  Communication

1. Participate in small and large group discussions about various topics.
2. Compose research and reflection summaries and essays.
3. Create an electronic portfolio.

Outcome 6:  Data Interpretation

1. Analyze and interpret real world data.
2.  Explain the importance of data interpretation.

Outcome 7:  Scholarly thinking

1. Summarize the main steps involved in scholarly thinking.
2. Create an Honors Project outline.

Outcome 8:  Critical Thinking

1. Evaluate a variety of current topics of interest/relevance.
2. Prepare and defend a list of vital leadership characteristics.