THE HONORS PROGRAM
OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION TO THE HONORS PROGRAM
A. Aims
B. Curriculum
C. Eligibility
D. Opportunities
II.
HONORS DIRECTOR AND HONORS COMMITTEE
A. Honors Director
B. Honors Committee
III. FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS
A. Honors 1500: Critical Spirit
B. Honors 2000-level: Inquiry and Society
C. AP, IB, and Transfer Credits
IV. JUNIOR YEAR: JUNIOR HONORS SEMINAR
A. Honors 3500: Thesis Writers Seminar
B. Choosing a Faculty Thesis Advisor
C. Thesis Proposal
D. Thesis Topics
V.
SENIOR YEAR: HONORS THESIS PROJECT
A. Senior Honors Thesis
B. Honors 4500
C. Thesis Schedule
VI. FACULTY THESIS ADVISOR
A. Duties of the Faculty Thesis Advisor
B. Progress Reports to the Honors Director
VII. SUBMISSION OF HONORS THESIS
A. Format of the Thesis
B. Copies of the Thesis
VIII. ORAL DEFENSE OF HONORS THESIS
A. Oral Defense Committee
B. Scheduling the Oral Defense
C. Results of the Oral Defense
IX. PRESENTATION OF HONORS THESIS TO THE OTTERBEIN
COMMUNITY
A. Senior Reporting Day
B. Honors Banquet
C. Graduation
X.
HONORS THESIS AWARDS
XI.
ETHICAL REVIEW BOARDS
XII.
STUDENT RESEARCH FUNDS
XIII.
OXFORD STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
XIV.
INTERNSHIPS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
XV. HONORS AND THE SENIOR YEAR EXPERIENCE
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APPENDICES
HONORS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
JUNIOR HONORS PROPOSAL COVER SHEET
SAMPLE SENIOR THESIS TITLE PAGE
SAMPLE SENIOR THESIS TABLE OF CONTENTS
SENIOR THESIS EVALUATION FORM
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB) FORM
ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE FORM
LIBRARY INSTRUCTIONS
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FUND GUIDELINES
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THE HONORS PROGRAM
I.
INTRODUCTION TO THE HONORS PROGRAM
A. Aims
The Honors Program Curriculum is a progression of intellectually
challenging seminars and advanced individual study designed for
students with high academic ability and strong personal motivation.
Honors students pursue independent research and creative projects and
participate in a community of shared academic and professional
commitment. The Honors course sequence culminates in the Honors
Thesis. Each course in the sequence explores its particular theme and
subject from a unique perspective. At the same time, the sequence as
a whole offers sustained study of principles and practices of
research, writing, and creative work that apply across disciplines.
Honors students will also gain a sense of independence and sense of
community participation through Honors organizations and activities
both on and off campus. Such opportunities include an Honors
residence hall and center, service experiences, travel, and study
abroad.
B. Curriculum
The Honors curriculum sequence begins in the Freshman year with HNRS
1500: The Critical Spirit. Here students explore the process of
research and writing as crucial to acquiring a sense of intellectual
independence and establishing communication and cooperation across
disciplines. Throughout the four-year Honors Program, students will
present the progress and results of their work to fellow students and
faculty outside their immediate areas of interest, putting into
repeated practice the knowledge and skills acquired in HNRS 1500.
In the Sophomore year, Honors students enroll for two seminars at the
HNRS 2000 level: Inquiry and Society. The choice of courses ranges
across the natural sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences.
By taking two seminars at this level, students encounter how members
of separate disciplines conceive crucial issues, questions, and
responsibilities within their fields of inquiry and how they define
their roles within wider spheres of society, culture, and education.
In the Junior year, Honors students take the year-long seminar, HNRS
3500: Thesis Writers Seminar, in which students decide the topics of
their independent Honors projects, write formal proposals for those
projects, and begin to work closely with a thesis advisor who has
expertise in the student’s area of interest. Throughout the year,
students have readings in common that examine the personal,
intellectual, and social inspirations to new inquiry and creative
work.
In the Senior year, students complete their written Honors thesis in
HNRS 4500: Senior Thesis. The final thesis must have a form and
length that the student determines with the thesis advisor and that
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meets the standards of the project’s discipline. Creative artworks or
performances fulfill the requirements of the Honors project, but must
include a written essay that reflects upon the conception and
execution of the artwork or performance. Each Honors student will
complete an oral defense of the project before a faculty committee and
will present a summary of the thesis to the campus community on Honors
Reporting Day. At the end of Reporting Day, each student receives
formal recognition for completing the Honors program.
B. Eligibility
Students can earn eligibility for the Honors Program in several ways
and at several points in the Freshman and Sophomore years.
Students can enter Otterbein as Honors students by meeting one of the
following criteria:
1. ACT scores (of 25 and above) and graduating in the top 10% of their
high school class
2. SAT scores (1100 and above) and graduating in the top 10% of their
high school class
3. Designation as Presidential Scholars.
Entering Freshmen that do not meet the above criteria may request
entrance into the program based upon demonstrated academic ability and
faculty recommendations.
Sophomore students may request admission into the program when they
have reached a GPA of 3.5. Requests for admission into the program
should be submitted to the Honors Director.
C. Opportunities
The Honors Program provides students with diverse and unique
opportunities in residence, registration, service, and study abroad.
Residence:
Freshman students have the opportunity to live in Mayne Hall, the
Honors residence hall. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are eligible
to live in the independent Honors House.
Registration:
All Honors students in good standing are eligible for priority
registration.
Service:
All Honors students are encouraged to participate in our “Kneading
Minds” program—a project designed to integrate service into the Honors
experience. Several times a term, Honors students come together to
bake bread in the Honors dorm kitchen. Loaves are sold to faculty and
staff with proceeds given to a local community partner.
Activities and Travel:
The Honors program sponsors on-campus events for all Honors students,
including films, receptions, and seminars. Honors travel away from
campus provides students with the chance to visit significant cultural
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events and locations. In previous years, such trips included the
Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Chicago Symphony, and the Frank
Lloyd Wright house at Falling Water.
Oxford Study Abroad:
As a part of the Honors program of study, all Honors students in good
standing are eligible for the Oxford Study Abroad Program (OSAP).
II.
HONORS DIRECTOR AND HONORS COMMITTEE
A. Honors Director
The Honors Program operates under the aegis of the Office of Academic
Affairs. The Academic Vice President appoints the Honors Director, who
administers the Honors program.
The Honors Director is Dr. Cynthia Laurie-Rose, Department of
Psychology (ext. 1465, claurie-rose@otterbein.edu).
The responsibilities of the Director include: staffing Honors courses;
receiving applications to the Honors program; reviewing transcripts
for course waivers; chairing Honors Committee meetings; administering
subcommittees of the Honors Committee; maintaining the Honors
Blackboard site; overseeing the Honors residence hall, Honors center,
and Honors House; arranging informational meetings and workshops for
Honors students; administering the Junior Thesis Writers Seminar;
assigning Honors representatives to the oral defense committees of
thesis students; administering the schedule of oral defenses;
organizing Senior Reporting Day; planning and organizing Honors trips
and events; and serving as the academic coordinator for Oxford study
abroad.
B. Honors Committee
The Honors Director administers the Honors program in consultation
with the Honors Committee. Faculty who comprise the Honors Committee
represent diverse disciplines from the humanities, natural sciences,
professional studies, social sciences, and fine arts. The
responsibilities of the committee include: serving as Honors
representatives for Honors thesis defenses; staffing the Freshman,
Sophomore, and Junior seminars; and participating in Senior Reporting
Day and other Honors Program activities. (See Appendices for a list of
current faculty members.)
III.
FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS
A. HONORS 1500: The Critical Spirit
This requirement emphasizes the student's emerging identity as both an
independent researcher and a member of a wider community of scholars
and researchers. In these sections students will explore the critical
function and spirit of inquiry as a source of intellectual and
creative identity. The course will develop advanced expository writing
and research skills and begin to prepare students for independent
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projects.
B. HONORS 2000-level: Inquiry and Society
Through the Honors 2000-level seminars, students explore the
activities and responsibilities of researchers as participants in
their communities and a global society. Honors students examine
perspectives and questions that connect disciplines and cultures,
explore the freedom and responsibility of researchers, and examine the
nature of creativity as a process of inquiry into the self and the
world.
HONORS 2000: Inquiry and Society: Social Sciences
These sections examine how theories and inquiries about politics and
society have developed across history and across cultures. They will
explore transformations in concepts of the state, law, justice, and
human rights.
HONORS 2200: Inquiry and Society: Humanities
These sections explore the goals and methods of free inquiry within
contemporary culture and education. It examines how society defines,
promotes, or constricts research and innovation in the humanistic
disciplines.
HONORS 2400: Inquiry and Society: Natural Sciences
These sections explore scientific inquiry as both an individual and
social process. They examine the intellectual and social demands on
science within the contemporary world.
HONORS 2600: Inquiry and Society: Fine Arts
These sections examine art as a method of self-exploration and social
inquiry. They analyze creative works as raising questions and
defining problems that continue to demand the attention of
researchers.
C. AP, IB, and Transfer Credit
If a student has received AP, IB, or transfer credits for either the
Freshman or Sophomore course, that course will be waived from the
Honors requirements. If a student has received AP, IB, or transfer
credit for two Sophomore-level courses, Honors will accept one. The
other credit may be applied to an INST requirement.
IV.
JUNIOR YEAR: THESIS WRITERS SEMINAR
A. HONORS 3500: Thesis Writers Seminar
The Junior Thesis Writers Seminar is a year-long course offered in the
Fall and Spring semesters. Students explore research methods across
disciplines and write proposals for their Honors thesis projects.
Members of the Honors Committee lead the seminar and guide students
through the process of exploring previous work in their fields and
framing their thesis proposals. During the seminar, Honors students
will identify a faculty thesis advisor who will help to determine the
subject, nature, and length of the thesis project and will continue to
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work with the student in the Senior year. Junior Honors students are
advised to enroll in their departmental methodology courses whenever
course schedules permit.
The faculty for the seminar come from members of the Honors Committee
and the course content reflects the diverse interests of the committee
members. Students themselves contribute questions, perspectives, and
information from their own disciplinary backgrounds and interests as
part of the interdisciplinary nature of the course.
All students who intend to graduate with Honors must register for both
the Fall and Spring semesters of the Junior seminar. The Honors
Program encourages students to study abroad and participate in
internships. We recommend that students use the Spring semester of
the Junior year as an ideal time to participate in programs away from
Otterbein. We realize that this may not always be possible and we
will assist students to remain on track with Honors Program
requirements regardless of the semester away from campus.
B. Choosing a Faculty Thesis Advisor
During the Fall semester of the Junior Seminar, the Honors student
selects a faculty thesis advisor who works with the student during
that semester to design an Honors thesis proposal. (See Section VI,
Faculty Thesis Advisor for faculty and student responsibilities.)
It is important for the student to select an advisor who understands
the concept of the thesis and who can help to guide the project to
completion in the Senior year. The student must learn whether the
advisor will be on a sabbatical leave during the period of thesis work
and must determine how best to maintain contact with the advisor
throughout the thesis project.
As the Junior year progresses, students work closely with their
selected thesis advisors. The faculty members in charge of the Junior
Thesis Writers Seminar supervise students throughout the year to
monitor the progress of their thesis proposals. It remains, however,
the responsibility of each student and thesis advisor to arrange
regular meetings for discussion of the thesis.
During the Junior year, students will also select a second reader for
the thesis project. The thesis advisor and the second reader, along
with an Honors Committee representative, will compose the committee to
hear the student’s thesis defense in the Senior year. (See Section
VIII, Oral Defense of Honors Thesis for details on the oral defense.)
C. Thesis Proposal
In the Junior year, students submit their thesis proposals to the
instructor of the Thesis Writers seminar and to the Honors Director.
Faculty thesis advisors must sign the proposals. The advisor’s
signature on the cover sheet of the proposal indicates that the
student has discussed the Honors thesis project with the faculty
member, that the faculty member has read the proposal and considers it
a productive starting-point for a thesis project, and has agreed to
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serve as the student’s advisor for the project. (A sample copy of the
cover sheet is included in the Appendices of this handbook.)
The proposal submitted during the Junior Honors Seminar is a formal
document which describes in approximately five pages the project that
the student plans to undertake for the Honors thesis. This proposal
must:
include the Cover Sheet on which a brief abstract of the project
and the signature of the faculty thesis advisor appear (see the
Appendices for a copy of the cover sheet)
identify the chief goals of the thesis and discuss the
significance of the thesis topic within the discipline of choice
clearly define the methodology that will be used to accomplish
the project
provide a list of resources and a significant working
bibliography for the project
explain the timeline to accomplish the project
submit a working budget, if appropriate
In the Spring semester, students will work with the instructor of the
Thesis Writers Seminar and their faculty thesis advisors to revise,
expand, or develop in greater detail their plans for the thesis.
Honors students who intend to undertake human subject research or who
intend to pursue projects that include animal care and use must in
their Junior year submit their thesis proposals to the appropriate
ethical review board, either the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or
the Animal Care and Use Committee. (See Section XI, Ethical Review
Boards for information on submitting applications to the review
boards.)
D. Thesis Topics
Honors thesis topics reflect the varied disciplines and interests of
the students in the Honors Program. The Honors Blackboard site and the
Honors Webpage have a complete list of thesis titles.
V.
SENIOR YEAR: HONORS THESIS PROJECT
A. HNRS 4500: Senior Thesis Project
Having designed their Honors theses in the Junior year, Honors
students devote the entire Senior year to in-depth work with their
thesis advisors and completion of their thesis projects. Completion
of the Honors thesis allows students to achieve independent scholarly
and creative goals within their own academic or professional fields
and confers on them a unique sense of accomplishment and confidence.
All thesis projects require the writing of a final paper.
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The student will determine the subject, nature, and length of the
thesis project in consultation with the faculty thesis advisor and the
Honors Director. The final paper must conform to the standards and
expectations of the student’s discipline. Projects that center on
creative exhibits or performances will include a written thesis
portion that explains the conception and research behind the project
and that discusses the links between the project and the student’s
discipline.
HNRS 4500 requires that students submit written progress reports
during the Senior year to the Honors Director and to their thesis
advisors. Students must finish the Honors thesis in the Spring
semester so as to meet the deadlines for the oral defense, for
submission of thesis copies to the library, and for presentation of
the thesis on Senior Reporting Day.
Honors 4500 is graded P/F. Within the category of Passing, an Honors
thesis must be judged of Honors quality for the student to earn Honors
thesis credit and to graduate with Honors. If the thesis is passing
but not judged of Honors quality, the student will receive college
credit for independent study, but will not be awarded Honors credit
and will not graduate with Honors.
B. Thesis Schedule
In consultation with their faculty thesis advisors, students will
prepare a detailed schedule for completing the research and writing of
the thesis. As part of that schedule, students must include meetings
with the thesis advisor and the second reader, establish timelines for
undertaking each phase of the thesis project, and designate deadlines
appropriate for completing each phase.
Student responsibilities include the following:
meeting all deadlines for written reports and oral presentations
that are required by the thesis advisor, the Honors Director, and
the Honors Committee
attending all meetings arranged with the thesis advisor and
second reader, at which the student will discuss the progress of
the thesis, explain new ideas and concerns, and receive comments
and suggestions
making revisions and additions suggested by the thesis advisor
and second reader in all drafts prior to completion of thesis
work
attending all scheduled meetings and workshops for Senior Honors
students to discuss progress and accomplishments with fellow
thesis students
contacting the thesis advisor, second reader, and Honors
Committee representative in a timely manner to arrange a day for
the oral defense of the thesis in the Spring semester
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preparing appropriate materials for presentation to the campus
community on Senior Reporting Day
VI.
FACULTY THESIS ADVISOR
A. Duties of the Faculty Thesis Advisor
One of the chief aims of the Honors program is to provide the Honors
student with an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member who
shares the student’s academic and professional interests and who can
offer the student the benefit of scholarly and publication experience,
creative discipline and enthusiasm, and professional commitment and
expertise.
The faculty thesis advisor begins to work with the Honors student in
the Junior year and continues to serve as a research, creative, and
professional guide, intellectual mentor, and thesis reader throughout
the Senior year.
In the Fall semester of the Junior year, the faculty thesis advisor
assists the student in designing a proposal for an Honors thesis. As
stated in Section IV.C., the thesis advisor must sign the thesis
proposal that will be submitted to the Thesis Writers Seminar and the
Honors Director. The signature indicates that the faculty member has
discussed and reviewed the proposal, considers it a viable start for
an Honors project, and has made a commitment to the student to help
the project through to completion in the Senior year.
The thesis advisor should refer to Sections IV and V of this handbook
for information on academic requirements in the Junior and Senior
years of the Honors Program.
After the thesis proposal has been submitted to the instructor of the
Thesis Writers Seminar and to the Honors Director, the duties of the
thesis advisor during the remainder of the Junior year and throughout
the Senior year include:
helping to sharpen the focus of the proposal and guiding the
process of expanding or revising its goals and methods
ensuring, if necessary, that the proposal be submitted to the
Institutional Review Board (IRB) or the Animal Care and Use
Committee for approval
supporting the student’s application to the University for an
Undergraduate Research Grant, if applicable.
meeting consistently with the student to monitor the progress of
each aspect of the thesis, including any written report, oral
presentation, visual exhibit, or performance piece specifically
defined in the proposal
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reading and commenting on drafts of the thesis
evaluating the need for revisions in the project’s timelines
chairing the oral defense committee and helping to determine the
final evaluation of the Honors thesis
B. Progress Reports to the Honors Director
In both the Fall and Spring semesters of the Senior year, students
will be required to submit written progress reports to the Honors
Director. Each progress report must be signed by the thesis advisor.
The thesis advisor will also receive from the Honors Director forms on
which to evaluate the student’s progress toward completion of the
thesis. The thesis advisor must return the forms promptly to the
Honors Director, detailing the exact progress of the thesis and
informing the Director whether or not the student should proceed with
the Honors thesis project.
If the thesis advisor recommends that a student not continue with the
Honors Program, the student might still be eligible to receive credit
hours for independent study, provided that the student’s work,
although not of Honors quality, has been satisfactory. A student will
not graduate with Honors without a completed thesis.
VII.
SUBMISSION OF HONORS THESIS
A. Format of the Thesis
Students must write and annotate their completed theses according to
the styles appropriate to their respective disciplines. They must also
adhere to the general requirements for formatting and paginating an
Otterbein Honors thesis.
All final written documents submitted to the Honors Director and the
Honors Committee must contain the following sections:
Title page; Acknowledgments; Abstract; Table of Contents; Lists
of Tables and Figures (if appropriate); Body of the text
formatted as appropriate to the discipline; and Bibliography
Other sections, such as appendices and front and back covers, may
be included in the document.
The following passages describe each section of the Honors thesis in
greater detail.
The TITLE PAGE must include the title, the date of submission,
the Honors Program designation, the student’s name, and the
signatures of the thesis advisor, second reader, and Honors
Committee representative. (See the example of the title page in
the Appendices.) Please note that the front cover of the thesis
must be the title page. It is permissible also to copy the title
page onto cardboard stock paper.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS of advisors, readers, those who helped in
completion of the thesis, and funding sources (if any) should be
placed on the page following the Title Page. The acknowledgments
must be paginated as Roman numeral i.
After the Acknowledgments page, the student must include an
ABSTRACT that in approximately 250 words defines the method,
conclusions, and significance of the thesis. The information in
the abstract will help future students and faculty to familiarize
themselves with the thesis project. The abstract must be
paginated as Roman numeral ii.
A TABLE OF CONTENTS must follow the Abstract page and contain the
page numbers for the chapters or sections of the entire written
project, including Appendices. The table of contents must be
paginated as Roman numeral iii.
The LIST OF TABLES (if appropriate) follows the Table of Contents
and is paginated as Roman numeral iv.
The LIST OF FIGURES (if appropriate) follows the List of Tables
and is paginated as Roman numeral v.
The BODY of the thesis includes the entire text of the paper
after the Table of Contents (and Lists, if appropriate). The
first page of the text should be paginated as numeral 1. If
figures, photos, or illustrations are used within the body, they
must be consecutively numbered and included in the appropriate
section of the text.
TABLES and FIGURES are optional. They may be embedded in the text
or precede the bibliography. All tables included in the final
thesis must be cited and the citation style must be appropriate
to the individual discipline. All figures included in the final
thesis must be cited and each must have a caption in a style
appropriate to the individual discipline.
APPENDICES are optional. They should be consecutively numbered,
appear with appropriate captions, and immediately precede the
bibliography. All appendices included in the document must be
specifically cited in the text of the document or in a table or
figure. If the student obtained approval from the IRB or the
Animal Care and Use Committee, a copy of that approval must be
included in the Appendix section.
The BIBLIOGRAPHY should be organized according to the
requirements of the individual discipline.
Twenty-pound white paper should be used throughout the body of the
paper. If color paper or color figures (including photographs) are
included, they should appear in all copies submitted to the Honors
Committee. Black and white copies of color photos will not be
13
acceptable unless they appear as black and white copies in each
document submitted.
B. Copies of the Thesis
Three copies of the thesis as approved by the oral defense committee
will be given to the Honors Director. One copy must be bound in a
manner decided upon in consultation with the faculty thesis advisor.
The remaining two copies must be submitted unbound, as the Honors
Director will deposit them with Courtright Library for library binding
and cataloging. (For further information on the library copies of the
thesis, see Library Instructions in the Appendices.)
When applicable, students should submit documentation or recordings of
stage performances, art exhibits, oral and visual presentations,
computer programs, or like work with their copies of the written
thesis. The documentation will be included with the final written
thesis for deposit in the library. While providing an essential
supplement to copies of the thesis, such documentation does not,
however, replace the written project.
VIII.
ORAL DEFENSE OF HONORS THESIS
A. Oral Defense Committee
An oral defense is required of all students who complete the Senior
Honors thesis. The student, in consultation with the faculty thesis
advisor, will organize a committee comprised of the thesis advisor,
the second reader, and the Honors Committee representative appointed
by the Honors Director.
B. Scheduling the Oral Defense
The student’s oral defense committee will meet a minimum of 30 days
prior to the student’s graduation date so that there will be ample
time for the committee to evaluate the thesis and for copies of the
thesis to be submitted to the library.
C. Results of the Oral Defense
The purpose of the oral defense is for the student to review the
thesis project with members of the committee, to explain the project’s
methodology and conclusions, and to discuss future directions for
academic and professional work.
The thesis must be presented to the oral defense committee in its
final form. Only minor editing changes are permissible after this
meeting. No changes are to be made in the content of the thesis after
the oral defense.
At the conclusion of the oral defense, the committee decides on a
letter grade for the student’s thesis as a measure of its Honors
quality and informs the student of the grade. The faculty thesis
advisor submits the grade on the appropriate signed form to the Honors
Director. (See the Appendices for the evaluation form.)
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All members of the oral defense committee sign the thesis copies. The
student will submit the three unbound copies of the final thesis to
the Honors Director on the Monday prior to Senior Reporting Day.
IX.
PRESENTATION OF HONORS THESIS TO THE OTTERBEIN COMMUNITY
A. Senior Reporting Day
After the oral defense committees have evaluated the Honors theses,
students will present their thesis projects to the campus community on
Senior Reporting Day. On that day, each Senior Honors student will
make a brief presentation to an audience of faculty, fellow students,
family members, and visitors, providing an overview of the thesis
project, giving a statement of the aims, methodology, and conclusions
of the thesis, and offering personal reflections on the project. The
faculty thesis advisor will introduce the student to the audience and
describe the disciplinary context of the student’s thesis work.
All Otterbein faculty and students are invited to attend Senior
Reporting Day and to participate by asking questions of the student
speakers.
B. Honors Banquet
At the close of Senior Reporting Day, the Honors Program holds a
banquet at which students receive their Honors medals for graduation.
The reporting day and banquet are celebrations of the hard work and
commitment required to complete the Senior thesis and students are
encouraged to invite family and guests.
C. Graduation
All students who successfully complete the Honors Thesis will
have “Graduation with Honors” noted on their transcripts and
diplomas and will be recognized as Honors Program graduates when
they receive their diplomas.
X.
HONORS THESIS AWARDS
At the end of each year, the Honors Committee chooses up to three
Senior theses to receive outstanding thesis awards. The authors of
the outstanding theses are announced at Academic Convocation in May
and are recognized with financial awards.
XI.
ETHICAL REVIEW BOARDS
Students who undertake Honors theses that include human subject
research must submit the appropriate form to the Institutional
Review Board. For IRB guidelines, visit
otterbein.edu/home/academic_affairs/IRB/irbguideline.doc.
Students whose projects include animal care and use must submit
the appropriate form to the Animal Care and Use Committee.
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(Copies of these forms are included in the Appendices to this
handbook.)
XII.
STUDENT RESEARCH FUNDS
Otterbein’s student research fund supports student research at the
undergraduate and graduate level. The fund recognizes applications
from the following programs: Honors Program, Distinction Program,
Senior Year Experience, Independent Study, and graduate divisions.
Funding may be requested for: conference presentations; materials and
supplies; publication costs; workshop attendance fees; equipment
costs; travel costs related to data collection and research; data
analysis and technical services; and matching funds to supplement
outside grants. Funding will not be granted for internships, stipends,
tuition, or consultants.
For more information about the student research fund, contact the
office of the Director of Grants or visit
otterbein.edu/home/SRF/index.htm. (A copy of the application form for
Undergraduate Research Funds is included in the Appendices to this
handbook.)
XIII.
OXFORD STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
The Honors Program has arranged with the Oxford Study Abroad Program
(OSAP) to give Honors students the opportunity to prepare in Oxford,
England for their Senior thesis work. Under the direction of Oxford
tutors, students will design and complete tutorials in their own areas
of disciplinary, research, and creative interest. The Honors Program
recommends that students who wish to study at Oxford enroll with OSAP
for the Spring semester of their Junior year. Students wishing to
enroll with OSAP for a different semester can do so in consultation
with the Honors Director.
The Honors Director is the Academic Coordinator at Otterbein for the
Oxford program. Applications for the program must be obtained from
the International Student Programs office. Completed applications
must be submitted to the Honors Director. Students are encouraged to
begin the application process for Oxford study abroad in their
Sophomore year or at the latest in the Fall of their Junior year.
Upon the student’s completion of the Oxford study abroad program, OSAP
will submit the student’s tutorial evaluations to the International
Student Programs office, who will forward the evaluations to the
Honors Director. To receive academic credit, students must themselves
submit a portfolio of their Oxford work directly to the Honors
Director, who will review the portfolio and forward it, together with
the tutorial evaluations, to the appropriate departmental chair in the
student’s area of study.
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All Honors students in good standing are eligible to enroll in the
Oxford program.
XIV.
INTERNSHIPS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
Honors students who enroll in a foreign exchange program or who
participate in an internship or similar off-campus program may work
independently to fulfill Honors requirements during their time away
from campus. We recommend that students attend off-campus programs in
the Spring semester of the Junior year. However, we realize that this
is not always possible.
Prior to the start of such programs,
students must notify the Honors Director to make appropriate
arrangements to receive Honors credit.
XV.
HONORS AND THE SENIOR YEAR EXPERIENCE
The combined work that is required for the Junior Thesis Writers
Seminar and the Senior Honors Thesis has been accepted as an
equivalent to the Senior Year Experience, which is required of all
Otterbein students. Honors students, therefore, do not need to
register for a Senior Year Experience course. Students do need to be
aware that if they fail to complete the Honors Program, they will be
required to complete a Senior Year Experience course in order to
graduate.
August 2011
17
HONORS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dr. Michele Acker
Psychology
Ext. 1365
macker@otterbein.edu
Dr. Louis Rose
History and Political Science
Ext.1311
lrose@otterbein.edu
Dr. James Bates
Music
Ext. 1553
jbates@otterbein.edu
Dr. Karen Steigman
English
Ext. 1087
ksteigman@otterbein.edu
Ms. Judy Carey Nevin
Library
Ext. 1366
jcareynevin@otterbein.edu
Dr. John Tansey
Chemistry
Ext. 1497
jtansey@otterbein.edu
Dr. Susan Constable
Education
Ext. 1419
sconstable@otterbein.edu
Dr. Evelyn Davis
Art
Ext. 1252
edavis@otterbein.edu
Dr. Don Eskew
Business/Accounting/Economics
Ext. 1212
deskew@otterbein.edu
Dr. Margaret Koehler
English
Ext. 1224
mkoehler@otterbein.edu
Dr. Cynthia Laurie-Rose
Psychology
Ext. 1465
claurie-rose@otterbein.edu
Dr. Jeffrey Lehman
Life and Earth Sciences
Ext. 1567
jlehman@otterbein.edu
Dr. Stephanie Patridge
Religion & Philosophy
Ext. 1790
SPatridge@otterbein.edu
18
STUDENT’S NAME:
________________________________________________
JUNIOR HONORS SEMINAR
TITLE OF PROJECT: ________________________________________________
FIRST SUBMISSION OF SENIOR HONORS PROPOSAL: (In a few sentences,
state the purpose of your project and briefly detail the methodology
you will use to accomplish this purpose.)
FACULTY DIRECTOR OF PROJECT:
(To be signed by director)
______________________________________
SECOND READER OF PROJECT: ________________________________________
(To be signed by second reader)
DATE OF SUBMISSION:
________________________________________________
19
Progress Grade
For Senior Honors Thesis
Student’s Name:
Director’s Name:
________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Date: __________________________________________________________
Progress Grade:
□
□
This student should proceed with the Senior Honors Thesis.
This student should not proceed with the Senior Honors Thesis.
Comments:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Please return to Dr. Cindy Laurie-Rose, Psychology Department, by
20
SAMPLE TITLE PAGE
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE AMERICAN NOVEL
by
Sarah Jane Doe
Department of English
Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio 43081
May 15, 2005
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
For graduation with Honors
___________________________
Honors Advisor (Please print name)
________________________
Advisor’s Signature
____________________________
Second Reader
________________________
Second Reader’s Signature
____________________________
Honors Representative
________________________
Honors Rep’s Signature
21
Sample Table of Contents
iii
Table of Contents
Page
Acknowledgements ..................................................... i
Abstract ............................................................ ii
Table of Contents .................................................. iii
List of Tables ...................................................... iv
List of Figures ...................................................... v
Introduction ......................................................... 1
Method .............................................................. 12
Results ............................................................. 21
Discussion .......................................................... 32
References .......................................................... 41
Appendices .......................................................... 46
IRB Approval Form .................................................. 47
22
GRADE SHEET FOR SENIOR HONORS THESIS
Student’s Name:
________________________________________________
Faculty Director’s Name: _______________________________________
Second Faculty Reader’ Name: ___________________________________
Honor’s Committee Representative: ______________________________
Title of Senior Thesis: ________________________________________
GRADE RECEIVED FOR HONORS THESIS: _______________________
(No grade may be below a “B-“ to receive Honors Program credit.)
Please comment on this student’s Senior Honors Thesis as a strong/not
strong submission for consideration as one of the best three Senior
Honors Theses this year. Awards will be given at the University Honors
Convocation.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS SHEET TO DR. CINDY LAURIE-ROSE, PSYCHOLOGY
DEPARTMENT AS SOON AS THE STUDENT’S COMMITTEE HAS CONCLUDED ITS REVIEW
AND ASSESSMENT OF THE THESIS. THIS WILL INSURE THAT THE STUDENT WILL
RECEIVE HONORS CREDIT AND THAT I MAY SUBMIT YOUR NAME FOR COMPENSATION
FOR DIRECTING THE STUDENT’S THESIS.
23
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY
Application Forms
Please read the Guidelines for Submission of Protocols carefully prior to completing the attached
materials. Per the Guidelines, determine if your submission is for expedited or complete committee
review. Requests for both full and expedited review must follow the same procedures, with the
exception that a request for expedited review must be indicated on the "Cover Page of Summary
Sheets."
The following materials are required to support the review process of the IRB Committee. Please type.
1.
SUMMARY SHEETS:
a.
Cover Page for Summary Sheets must include original signatures of the principal and coinvestigators. (If student, advisor must be listed as principal investigator.)
b.
The Summary Sheets include 17 questions regarding subject population, consent procedures,
risks and benefits. Complete each section. Do not leave any question unanswered.
2.
ABSTRACT OF THE STUDY.
3.
ORAL AND/OR WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBJECTS.
4.
Consent form, if required, should be included. Please note that the person obtaining consent shall
sign a copy of the cover sheet for the summary sheets.
Please provide an outline or script of the
information which will be provided to subjects prior to their volunteering to participate. (Please
note: Subjects must be informed about the nature of what is involved as a participant, including a
description of anything they might consider to be unpleasant or a risk.) Include a copy of the
written solicitation and an outline of the oral solicitation when applicable. If you are recruiting by
means of a "sign-up sheet," please attach a copy of that sheet.
Only protocols that are complete as defined below will be scheduled for review. Incomplete protocols will be
returned to the principal investigator.
FOR EXPEDITED REVIEW, SUBMIT ONE COPY OF THE COMPLETE PROTOCOL –
(Summary Sheets including original signatures, oral/mailed instructions to subjects, questionnaires-instruments,
consent form, and abstract) as defined above to:
FOR FULL COMMITTEE REVIEW SUBMIT SIX (6) COPIES OF THE COMPLETE PROTOCOL –
(Summary Sheets including original signatures, oral/mailed instructions to subjects, questionnaires-instruments,
consent form, and abstract) as defined above to:
Noam Shpancer
Psychology Department
24
Otterbein University
Institutional Review Board
Office Use:
Protocol No.
Date Received:
Cover Page for
SUMMARY SHEETS
Principal Investigator(s):
(If student, list advisor's
name first)
Name
Signature
Name
Signature
Name
Signature
PI Academic Title:
Phone No.
Department :
Campus Address:
(Faculty Member's Campus Address)
PROPOSAL TITLE:
Are you applying for expedited review? If so, indicate, by number, the category from the Guidelines
material entitled “Research Eligible for Expedited Review” which best describes your project.
Is there outside funding for the proposed research? If so, please indicate the source:
When do you plan to begin collecting data? ________________________________
When do you plan to finish collecting data? ________________________________
Revised September 2010
25
OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
RESEARCH SUMMARY SHEETS
Be specific about exactly what subjects will experience when they participate in your research, and about
the protections that have been included to safeguard them. Careful attention to the following may help
facilitate the review process.
1.
In a sentence or two, describe the background and purpose of the research.
2.
Briefly describe each procedure or manipulation to be implemented that will impact subjects
included within the study.
3.
What measures or observations will be taken in the study? If any questionnaires, tests, or other
instruments are used, provide a brief description and include a copy for review.
4.
Who will be the subjects in this study? How will they be solicited or contacted?
5.
What steps will be taken to insure that each subject's participation is voluntary? What, if any
inducements will be offered to the subjects for their participation?
6.
If there are any risks involved in the study, are there any offsetting benefits that might accrue to
either the subject or society?
26
7.
Approximately how much time will be demanded of the subject?
Yes
8.
Will the subjects encounter the possibility of psychological, social,
physical or legal risk? If yes, please describe.
9.
Will any stress to subjects be involved?
10.
Will the subjects be deceived or misled in any way?
11.
Will there be a request for information which subjects might consider to
be personal or sensitive? If yes, please describe.
12.
Will the subjects be presented with materials which they might consider
to be offensive, threatening, or degrading? If so, please describe.
13.
a. Under federal law 45CFR 46.116.d.1-4 informed consent may be
waived if the research involves no more than minimal risk to the
subjects. (Please see Guidelines for Submission of Protocols for
definition of minimal risk.) Will a written consent form be used? If so,
please include the form. If no, please answer b.
13.
b. Will you insure that the subjects give their verbal consent prior to
participating?
14.
If you are recruiting students who are participating for either fulfillment
of a course requirement or for extra credit, will an alternative assignment
be provided for those students who do not wish to participate?
15.
Other than for class requirement or for extra credit, will the fact that a
subject did or did not participate in a specific experiment or study be
shared with a supervisor, teacher or employer?
16.
Will subjects' contributions to the research (data base) be kept
confidential?
17.
Will any data from files or archival data be used?
27
No
Procedures for Submitting Honors and Distinction Papers to the Library
December 29, 2004
Number of copies and Binding:
1.
The student shall submit two original honors or distinction papers to the library. These
should NOT be photocopies, but laser print quality documents
2.
Make sure that the title page includes: Title of paper; Student’s name and department;
Date; the statement: Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with
[Honors or Distinction]; and the signatures of advisors and committee members.
3.
The title page of each copy submitted must have the signatures of advisors and committee
members.
4.
A separate front cover is not necessary. Honors Students, please make sure you follow
the guidelines for the structure and format of the final thesis in the honors program
manual.
5.
DO NOT bind or add hole punches to the pages.
6.
The library will professionally bind both documents at no charge to the student. One of
these will be cataloged and shelved on the third floor and be accessible for check out. The
other will be cataloged and house in the Otterbein Room; it will be kept for archival
purposes and will not be allowed to circulate.
7.
If the student desires a personal copy bound, then he/she needs to submit an additional
original paper and be prepared to pay for the binding.
8.
The binding is made of Buckram and the outside of the cover includes the student’s name
and the title of the paper.
Preparation of Manuscript:
1.
White, 20 lb. bond paper or paper of an equal quality is required.
2.
Documents must have laser quality text and graphics.
3.
Color illustrations can be included as long as they are of sufficient quality. If color paper or
color figures (including photographs) are included, they must be used in all sets of
documents submitted. Black and white copies of color photos will not be acceptable unless
they are black and white in each document submitted.
4.
Font size and style should be consistent throughout the document.
5.
Typing on both sides of the page is not permitted.
6.
Correcting fluid or correcting tape should not be used. No strikeovers or crossing-out of
letters or words are acceptable.
28
7.
If handwriting is needed on a table, illustration, or for the appendices, it should be written
neatly and in ink. Pencil should not be used.
8.
The use of photocopying should be kept to a minimum, and only used in any appendices
where original computer generated or typewritten materials are not possible.
9.
The manuscript should be double-spaced. Single-spacing is permissible in long tables.
10.
Margins:
Top edge
Right side
Left side
Bottom edge
1 inch
1 inch
1.5 inches (necessary for binding purposes)
1 inch
NOTE: all appendices, tables, illustrations, graphs, etc. need to have a left margin of 1.5
inches. If landscape printing is used, the top margin must be 1.5 inches.
29
Student Research Fund Awards, Criteria, and Guidelines
Students may apply for one or both of the following grant
opportunities:
Student Research Award
Up to $400 may be requested for the following eligible expenses:

Materials and supplies to support research (including software)

Equipment to support research

Travel related to data collection/research

Data analysis/technical services related to research

Training costs related to research

Matching funds for other research funding sources

Publication costs related to research

Registration fees and/or travel costs related to a conference in
which the applicant is presenting research
Presentation Supplement Award
Up to $100 may be requested for registration fees and/or travel costs
related to a conference in which the applicant is presenting research
supported by a Student Research Award.

Student may apply for a Presentation Supplement Award
simultaneously with a Student Research Award, or after having
received a Student Research Award supporting the project he/she
will be presenting.

If a student has already received a Student Research Award, a
follow-on Presentation Supplement Award to present the funded
project at a conference will be automatic if funds are available.
For information on proposal preparation, please refer to the Proposal
Outline links found on the Student Research Fund home page. Funding
schedule can be found at the end of this document. For questions, see
committee member list at end of the document.
Student Research Fund Award Criteria
Submission/Funding Criteria:

Applicants may submit a previously unfunded SRF proposal.

A student can be funded only once for any single project.

The maximum a student may receive in any academic year is $500.

Group projects may be submitted up to a maximum of $500.

The selection process will be competitive.

Graduate and undergraduate requests will be considered equally.

Project dates should reflect only the time period during which the
funds will be expensed.
30

Funding will not be awarded to support internships, stipends,
tuition, or consultants.

Proposals requesting retroactive funding will not be considered.
Selection Criteria:

The purpose and background of the project are clearly described.

The goals and methodology for the project are clearly articulated
and the anticipated outcome should be consistent with the
established goals.

The content of the thesis is developed logically and reflects
analysis of the issue/problem or describes the process of
developing the creative work.

The project is consistent with the definition and standards of
scholarship established by the department of the project's
discipline.

The work is clearly connected to or grounded in the literature of
the appropriate discipline. Literature sources are identified and
cited correctly within the narrative and in a bibliography.

The outcome of the project will be important to others in the
student's discipline.

The project is feasible within the proposed timeframe and with the
proposed resources.

The proposal is complete and adheres to the SRF proposal outline.

If the project involves human subjects, IRB approval is pending or
has been applied for at the time of SRF application. Evidence of
IRB approval must be submitted to the SRF committee before an
award can be authorized.

If the project involves animal subjects, Animal Care and Use is
pending or has been applied for at the time of SFR application.
Evidence of Animal Care and Use approval must be submitted to the
SRF committee before an award can be authorized.
31
Student Research Fund Award Guidelines
Distribution/Reporting Procedures/Requirements:

Award must be used within 24 months or by the date the recipient
is no longer a fully enrolled student, whichever comes first.

IRB and/or Animal Care and Use approval must be submitted to the
SRF committee before funds will be dispersed.

To receive reimbursement for eligible expenses, awardee must
submit invoices and approved payment vouchers within 30 days of
receipt of the invoice.

Any materials, supplies or equipment remaining at the end of the
project will remain the property of the University.

Awardee must present his/her project to the Otterbein Community
and provide the committee with documentation of such.

Awardee will be recognized at the Spring Honors Convocation.
32