<p>Honors students had their "move-in day" on Weds, August 15. We learned that if you wanted to, you could have paid $50 to move in one day early; one of my son's friends did that. There were plenty of helpers around, and they didn't chase the parents away; you could stay and help with move in all day if you wanted to. (And I did.) We also managed to pick up parking pass, buy last few books, get post office box, open bank account, break for lunch, and break for a Wal-Mart run. </p>
<p>DH DS and I had dinner at Soulshine Pizza near the square. It was great.</p>
<p>In the late afternoon of move-in day, there was an open house "Parents’ Reception and Honors College Tour" in the Honors building. Nice hors d'ouevres and we had a nice tour by an enthusiastic senior honors student.</p>
<p>The 2-day Honors Retreat started the next morning. The honors kids - about 200 of them, I think - were split up into Group A and Group B between breakfast and dinner. I included the Group A agenda in case it is useful for people planning for next fall. Group B flipped days. They enjoyed the Thursday night dinner in the South End Zone Club overlooking the football field. When they divided students into smaller groups for Service Projects, each student was in a group with the 14 students and 1 professor who are part of the 3-credit Honors Seminar they will be taking this fall. (It can count for freshman English or a social studies elective, whichever one needs). That was new this year and I thought it was nice - good to meet the people you will be spending so much time over the course of the semester.</p>
<p>Thursday, August 16 – Oxford Conference Center
7:45/8:15 Bus pick-up at the Honors College
8:00-9:15 Breakfast with Honors College Students
9:15-9:45 Group Discussions
9:45-10:15 Welcome and Staff Introduction
10:15-11:45 Four Year Experience Presentation
11:45-1:00 Lunch in the Cedar Room
1:00-1:15 Icebreaker
1:15-2:45 Mini seminars (pick three of six)
- Medical School – Dr. Samonds – Magnolia Room B
- Internships – Colby Roberts, Adam Stanford – Oak Room A
- National Scholarships – Andrus Ashoo – Magnolia Room A
- Study Abroad – Lexi Thoman, Hunter Nicholson, Neal McMillin, Cody LeBlanc – Auditorium
- Study Habits – DSG – Cedar Room
- Undergraduate Research – Dr. Ritchie
2:45-4:00 Freshman Ventures and Chicago City as a Text© Presentation
4:00/4:30 Bus pick-up at the Oxford Conference Center to the Honors College/table Q&A with Honors College students
4:15/4:45 Arrive at the Honors College
6:00 Load buses at the Honors College for the South End Zone Club
6:30 Semi-formal dinner at the South End Zone Club
8:00 Load buses for return to Honors College </p>
<p>Friday, August 17
8:30 Breakfast in the Grove (stage area- wear Honors College T-Shirt)
If it rains, please report to the Honors College for breakfast.
9:15 Bus pick-up starts from the Grove to the worksite
10:00 Begin civic engagement projects
12:00-1:00 Lunch at site
1:00 Continue service projects
3:00/4:00 Bus pick-up at the worksites and return to the Honors College
6:00 Reception for Students and Parents at the Ford Center
7:00 Tom Franklin, author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, speaks at the Ford Center</p>
<p>(They had handed out Honors College t-shirts on move in day, and you were supposed to wear your shirt on your service day, which was Thursday for Group B and Friday for Group A.)</p>