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Southern Regional Honors Council

36th Annual Conference

Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Alabama

March 27 29, 2008

?Metamorphosis: Honors as Agent of Change?

Call for Proposals

Submission deadline: January 31, 2008

Metamorphosis: Honors as Agents of Change: Honors students and faculty are often the agents of change through their innovative research, depth of scholarship, motivation to change the status quo, desire to bring about change in their communities, and their exploration of novel curricula, extracurricular activities and pedagogical techniques. Join us in Birmingham for the 36th annual conference of the SRHC.

The conference: The 36th annual SRHC conference will extend from about 2pm Thursday, March 27 to about noon on Saturday, March 29, 2008. Honors students and faculty from honors programs and colleges throughout the southeast are invited to submit proposals for the 36th annual SRHC annual conference.

Presentation options: The Presentation Options sheet provides details on various options on presenting at the conference. These include individual podium presentations (10 min & 3 min Q&A); Poster presentations; Short Panel (20 min & 5 min Q&A); Long Panel (40 Min & 10 Min Q&A). New presentation options this year include: Digital film (max 6 min); music performance (max 5 min); and art or sculptor (exhibition). We will also have 'Best Practices' sessions on such topics as curriculum design, outcomes assessment, development, recruiting, interdisciplinary courses, retention, program review and evaluation. These should be of particular interest to faculty, staff, and administrators.

Abstract submission: Abstracts must be electronically submitted on-line at the SRHC website located at www.srhconline.org by January 31, 2008. You will be notified by email of the acceptance status of your abstract shortly after the submission deadline.

Conference Hotel: The Wynfrey Hotel is directly attached to the Riverchase Galleria which boasts 250 famous name stores, 20 restaurants and 10 theaters. It is 15 minutes south of downtown Birmingham and 20 minutes from the Birmingham International Airport. The hotel operates a complimentary shuttle bus service (15 passenger, wheel chair accessible) to and from the Birmingham International Airport. The shuttle runs on a fixed scheduled. Advance reservations for the scheduled shuttle service are required (800 996-3739 Ext 5796)

Hotel Reservations: Must be made by 5pm on February 29, 2008. Room rates will be a flat rate of $132 per night (for 1-4 people). To reserve your room(s) please call the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham through the main reservation number 1-800 996-3739 or (205) 987-1600. To get our conference rate you must indicate that you are with the Southern Regional Honors Council conference held March 27-29.

Conference registration: Fees and deadlines are included in the attached Registration Form. Early registration is prior to March 1, 2008. Students $115, Faculty/Staff/Administrators $150

Further inquiries:

Dr. Mike Sloane
Faculty VP, SRHC
HOH, UAB
1530 Third Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35294-4450

Tel: (205) 934-8733
Fax: (205) 975-5493
email: sloane@uab.edu

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Submission deadline: January 31, 2008

All presenters must register for the conference

Submission of abstracts
A 50-150 word abstract must be submitted online at the SRHC website in the Abstract Submission Thread by January 31, 2008.

Please follow directions for submission (title of presentation, name(s) of presenter(s), college/university, body of abstract). Use the codes below to indicate the type of presentation requested and also complete the audio/visual request. All student presenters must have the prior approval of their honors director to submit an abstract.

Audio/Visual Support
Audio/visual equipment will be available on a limited basis. Please indicate your audio/visual needs when submitting your abstract on-line. Later requests will not be honored. Requests for audio/visual support should be confined to presentations critically dependent on it. Consider handouts to accompany your presentation.

Presentation Options

Individual Podium Presentation (Code 01)
In this traditional conference format presenters will be allowed a total of 13 minutes for their presentation. This will consist of a ten-minute presentation and a 3-minute Question and Answer period. Presentations will be grouped thematically when possible. If a computer and digital projector are requested it is the responsibility of the presenter to have their presentation pre-loaded prior to the morning or afternoon session. Any time taken to access the presentation will be subtracted from their 13 minutes of allotted time. It is not necessary for presentations to be related to the conference theme.

Poster Presentation (Code 02)
There will be one or two official poster sessions at the conference. These will last about an hour. Poster sessions allow students and faculty to present and display their original research and scholarship. Presenters will have access to an easel and a hard-core foam board (3' x 4'). Presenters are responsible for supplying their own thumb tacks etc. Presenters are expected to be present at their posters throughout the session to answer questions and discuss their posters. Assume you will not have access to a power outlet. It is not necessary for posters to be related to the conference theme.

Short Panel Presentation (Code 03)
Presenters will be allowed a total of 25 minutes for their presentation. This will consist of a twenty-minute presentation and a 5-minute Question and Answer period. These sessions are suitable for presentations by students and/or faculty on: issues related to the theme of the conference: innovative curricular or extracurricular honors activities; study abroad; research and scholarship; "nuts and bolts" issues for honors programs or colleges, etc. If a computer and digital projector are requested it is the responsibility of the presenters to have their presentation pre-loaded prior to the morning or afternoon session. Any time taken to access the presentation will be subtracted from their 25 minutes of allotted time.

Long Panel Presentation (Code 04)
Presenters will be allowed a total of 50 minutes for their presentation. This will consist of a forty-minute presentation and a 10-minute Question and Answer period. This option is open to students and/or faculty and allows a more substantive treatment of a topic that may be of interest to honors students and faculty.

If a computer and digital projector are requested it is the responsibility of the presenters to have their presentation pre-loaded prior to the morning or afternoon session. Any time taken to access the presentation will be subtracted from their 50 minutes of allotted time.

Short Digital Film (Code 05)
Presenters can submit a short digital film for screening at the conference. There will be a brief (1-2 minute) Question and Answer period following each film. Maximum total film length must be less than 6 minutes. Films longer than 6 minutes will not be screened. An abstract describing the film is due by January 31st. A copy of the film on a DVD must be submitted by March 15th, 2008 to Dr. Mike Sloane, Faculty VP SRHC, HOH, UAB, 1530 Third Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294-4450

Music Performance (Code 06)
Students or faculty have an option to give a musical performance limited to 5 minutes or less. The abstract should describe the piece, composer, genre, and the instrument(s) to be used. Presenters should introduce their piece. Presenters are expected to provide their own instruments. Please indicate if a piano is needed and we will attempt to have one available. Please note that Dramatic performances can be submitted as an Individual Presentation (Code 01)

Art/Sculptor (Exhibition) (Code 07)
There will be an allotted time at the 2008 SRHC conference to exhibit art and sculptor. Easels and tabletops will be available to exhibitors. Your abstract should include a description of the piece and the medium used.

Best Practices (Code BP#)
These sessions are designed to share information about various aspects of honors education. Faculty, administrators and interested students are encouraged to participate in these "nuts and bolts" sessions that will be set up as panel discussions with plenty of time for discussion with the audience. Possible sessions are listed below. Your abstract should indicate your experience in the area or possible contribution as a potential panelist. For those familiar with the national NCHC conferences these sessions will be a blend of Beginning in Honors and Developing in Honors.

BP 1 Best Practices in Honors Curriculum Design
BP 2 Best Practices in Honors Outcomes Assessment
BP 3 Best Practices in Honors Program Review and Assessment
BP 4 Best Practices in Honors Recruitment and Retention
BP 5 Best Practices in Honors Development and Fundraising
BP 6 Best Practices in Honors Interdisciplinary courses
BP 7 Best Practices in Honors Co-curricular activities