HC Announcements & Events
Thesis Research Survey for HC Students
Shawn Durr is a honors student seeking students to fill out a brief survey for their thesis research. “If you are interested, it takes no more than 10 minutes and all you have to do is watch a short video and answer a few questions. The survey is completely anonymous, but if you would like to be entered into a $50 Amazon Gift Card giveaway, you can enter your ONID email at the end. Thanks for considering this, it helps me greatly! If you have any questions, you can email me at durrs@oregonstate.edu.” Find the survey here.
TOMORROW! Virtual Faculty Lecture: Engineering Safer Nuclear Systems
Tuesday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Virtual Event
Atoms, Alloys, and Aging: Engineering Safer Nuclear Systems. Learn more and register here!
Presented by Julie Tucker, Professor of Materials Science and Academic Director of Design for Social Impact
Nuclear power plants generate approximately 16% of the United States’ electricity and play a critical role in delivering low-carbon energy. A key challenge in meeting growing energy demands is understanding the long-term behavior of structural materials as plant lifetimes are extended from 40 to 60 years and beyond. Nickel-chromium-based alloys are widely used for their corrosion resistance and mechanical stability at high temperatures. However, these alloys can undergo phase transformations during long-term thermal aging or irradiation, leading to the formation of brittle intermetallic phases. This transformation is associated with reduced ductility and increased brittleness, raising concerns about component reliability. Studying this transformation is challenging because it may take several decades to occur under normal operating conditions. In this work, we accelerate the transformation using irradiation and elevated temperature testing. We also employ atomistic simulations – computational methods that model the behavior of materials at the atomic level – to understand the mechanisms behind phase formation. Together, these approaches enable us to build predictive models of how mechanical properties evolve over time and provide guidance to the industry on component lifetimes.
WEEKLY! HCSA Meeting
Join the Honors College Association (HCSA) for weekly club meetings! HCSA is a student-led club that plans activities for Honors College students. HCSA puts together social events, academic events, professional development events, and more. Join HCSA and help make great events happen! The Honors College Student Association holds general meetings every Monday from 5-6:00 p.m. in LInC 268. If you are an Ecampus student and you are ever interested in attending virtually, please email HCSA at honorshcsa@oregonstate.edu or contact the Honors College office directly for more information and to get a zoom link. If you see an HCSA event that you would like to participate in from afar, if we have advance notice we can try to send you program supplies/items to join.
HC Course Highlights
AI Fundamentals Microcredentials
To bridge the gap between cutting-edge artificial intelligence research and real-world workforce needs, Oregon State University offers a suite of AI fundamentals microcredentials — making foundational, ethically grounded AI education accessible to students and working professionals worldwide. These for-credit microcredentials are designed to equip students with new skills and the ability to understand, question and apply AI in ways that create value and uphold human-centered principles. Each microcredential consists of three courses:
-AI 100 – AI for Everyone
-PHL 131 – AI Ethics: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
-An AI focused course in a specific discipline, such as public policy, agricultural sciences or business. Upon completing a microcredential, students will receive an OSU digital badge that demonstrates evidence of their AI skills and knowledge.
If you have questions about these offerings, please contact Devin Miles, director of alternative credentials in the Division of Educational Ventures, at devin.miles@oregonstate.edu.
Corvallis campus
Ethical Travel (HC 407)
Got any travel plans coming up? Maybe you’ll be doing a study abroad trip or possibly dreaming of a solo adventure to some exotic destination. Or perhaps you’ll be volunteering with an international service organization, making a difference in a community in need. HC 407: Ethical Travel can help you prepare and make the most of the experience. The class meets on Wednesdays from 4:00-4:50 in LINC 343. We’ll be talking about turning your good intentions into a positive adventure by highlighting the impacts of travel, diagnosing cultures, and engaging in responsible (or even “regenerative”) travel practices. The course is taught by Dave Kovac (david.kovac@oregonstate.edu), current advisor for Global Medical Brigades at Oregon State University and long time Team Leader with Habitat for Humanity—International. CRN 42657: beav.es/xMU
Ecampus
Murder, Mayhem, and Makeup: Lady Detectives on Page and Screen (HC 407)
This winter, unravel the intricate web of gender and genre in detective fiction in HC 407: From Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple to Kristen Bell’s Veronica Mars, female detectives have captivated audiences across generations. How do these detectives leverage their gender performances to crack the case? What do their stories reveal about traditional gender roles and crime? Are they playing by the rules, or rewriting them altogether? Award-winning instructor Clare Braun brings her innovative teaching style to this Ecampus honors course, ensuring an engaging and enriching learning experience. Read more about the class:beav.es/cdY. Explore our diverse range of HC classes, including many other Ecampus offerings: beav.es/hc-courses
HC Academic Advising
Honors College Advising Resources
- Schedule a 30 minute HC Academic Advising appointment on Beaver Hub here.
- For quick questions you can come see us during our Wednesday drop-in hours on Wednesdays, from 11:30 to 1:20 p.m., in LInC 450 and on Zoom or email us at hcadvisor@oregonstate.edu.
- If for any reason you need to meet with a different advisor than the one you are assigned, you can schedule a meeting with a different advisor on our academic advising page.
Thesis Navigator Drop-In hours in the SLUG and on Zoom:
HC Thesis Resource Navigators will be hosting drop-in hours in the SLUG and on Zoom for any questions you might have regarding your thesis. If you’re unsure where to begin, having trouble identifying mentors to connect with, or not sure how to write your Thesis Proposal (among other things), our navigators are here to guide you in the right direction. If you are unable to make it to any of their drop-in sessions, feel free to reach out to them directly by completing the Request a Navigator webform. If you have questions around Stage 4, please reach out to your advisor or to Dewi Roberts, Advising Coordinator and Thesis Support Coordinator for the HC: dewi.roberts@oregonstate.edu
Weekly drop-in times:
· Monday 9-10am in the SLUG and on Zoom
· Tuesday 12pm-2pm in the SLUG and on Zoom
· Wednesday 9-10am and again at 11am-12pm in the SLUG and on Zoom
· Join Zoom Meeting: beav.es/xWh
Password: HCThesis
Honors College Academic Advising Canvas Page
All HC students have access to the Honors College Academic Advising Canvas Page. This is a great resource where you can discover anything from instructions on finding honors courses to navigating the thesis process after you’ve completed the HC 408 Stage 1 thesis class. For students ready for the next steps with their thesis, this page can help with finding a thesis mentor, registering for your thesis credits, submitting your proposal and so much more.
Anytime Anywhere: MySSP @ OSU App
Anytime Anywhere: MySSP @ OSU is an app that gives all OSU students, including Ecampus students, 24/7 access by text or phone with a licensed mental health counselor (MySSP stands for “My Student Support Program”). The app makes it easy to schedule short-term counseling appointments with the same ongoing counselor and provides educational materials covering mental health topics. Students can communicate with a counselor in five different languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Spanish or English); additional language options are available upon request. Students can download the Anytime Anywhere: MySSP @ OSU and learn more about the service here. For questions, please contact Bonnie Hemrick the Director of Mental Health Promotion.
Study Abroad
THIS WEEK! Info Session: Visit France with the HC
Thurs, Dec. 4, 2:30 – 4 p.m. at Strand Agriculture Hall, Room 111
Based in Lyon, France, this 17-day program is led by OSU faculty and runs from June 16 to July 2, 2026. Students earn four colloquium credits through activities integrating the theme of “Commodities, Cafes and Climate Change.”
An Information and Q&A Session for the 2026 France program will be on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Strand Agriculture Hall, Room 111 (a classroom on the ground floor). This is a “drop in” session, so please come when you can and leave when you must, even if your schedule only will allow a short stay. Email James Sterns or Dominique Bachelet if you have questions, jasterns@oregonstate.edu dominique.bachelet@oregonstate.edu.
Aruba Spring Break 2026 Study Abroad Program – Sustainability in Action: Small Island State Ecological Systems, Culture and Society
Spend Spring Break 2026 in Aruba earning 4 credits while exploring island ecosystems, culture, and renewable energy. The program runs March 21–29 in Aruba, with follow-up Zoom sessions in April. Zoom info sessions are coming up on Dec. 3 and Jan. 3. The priority deadline to apply is Dec. 19 and the final deadline is Jan. 19. This course fulfills the Seeking Solutions Requirement in the New Core Education. Learn more & apply: beav.es/xaB
Crime & Punishment in the UK: Fact & Fiction
Join OSU Faculty leaders Susan Shaw and Michelle Inderbitzen from the College of Liberal Arts on a 6 credit, two week faculty-led program in London, England this summer.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Opportunities
Honors College Emergency Grant
The Honors College Emergency Grant supports students facing unexpected expenses related to housing and/or meals, course materials or equipment for a class, healthcare and/or mental healthcare costs, vehicle repairs necessary for travel to class, and/or travel home for family emergencies. Grants are for up to $500, with a limit of two grants during your time in the HC. Only expenses related to the above list are eligible for emergency grant support, per university policy. Tuition or other general costs of enrollment are not eligible for funding.
HC Experiential Learning Scholarship
The Honors College Experiential Learning Scholarship supports student engagement in the honors thesis (thesis proposal required), attendance at professional or academic conferences, payment of non-tuition fees associated with honors courses, or participation in an honors study abroad program. Applications are reviewed based on need, and the maximum award is $750. See here for additional information. Applications can be submitted through ScholarDollars and evaluated on a rolling basis.
Professional Development & Job Opportunities
TODAY! Graduate Program in Biomedical Research at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus
The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS) is a first-year, interdisciplinary program serving seven degree programs at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). Students will graduate with a PhD from one of the participating programs to prepare them for careers in biomedical sciences. OU Health Sciences Center is one of only a few comprehensive academic health centers in the nation. Internationally prominent faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and nearly $200 million in external funding combine to make GPiBS the leader in graduate education and research in Oklahoma. The application for the 2026 GPiBS class opened on August 1st, 2025 with a priority deadline of December 1st, 2025. OUHSC is a comprehensive medical campus home to cutting edge research facilities and top-tier scientists. Interested students can utilize the GPiBS website or reach out at GPIBS@ouhsc.edu for additional information or questions.
THIS WEEK! OSU Advantage Accelerator Info Session
The OSU Advantage Accelerator team is looking for several Honors College interns for the academic year as well as over the summer. This program is focused on high-growth, traded sector startup, and early-stage organizations. Interns assist in the development of new businesses through market research, competitive analysis, due diligence, and more. These internships are paid, and interns can work up to 10 hours per week in the academic year and up to 30 hours in the summer. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in Honors elective credit for this experience. An informational session will be held Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 5:30 p.m. in LInC room 345. We ask that all Corvallis students interested in attending this program do so in person. OSU Cascades and Ecampus HC students should join via Zoom, attached to this event. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here – we need to know how many snacks and pizzas we need! Questions or requests for accommodations, can be directed to Molly.Arnowil@oregonstate.edu or taylor.maki@oregonstate.edu.
HC Research Opportunities
Looking for research opportunities? Visit the bulletin board of positions posted by faculty covering a vast range of fields, sortable by college.
Campus-Wide Events & Opportunities
THIS WEEK! Paws to De-Stress
The end of the term can be ruff! Take a break from studying to hang out with some super cute therapy dogs and de-stress! This event is presented by CAPS and the MU and is offered each Tuesday and Wednesday during weeks 9 and 10 every term.
THIS WEEK! SOL Fall Flea Market
SOL LGBTQ+ Multicultural Support Network Presents our Fall Flea Market on Tues, December 2, from 12-5 p.m.at the SEC Plaza.
Come support students, artists, and small businesses. There will be over 50 vendors selling clothes, jewelry and handmade crafts.
SOL is a student-fee funded organization that focuses on Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous People of Color (QTBIPOC) while providing support through educational programming, student advocacy, and ally building among undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and other organizations at Oregon State University. SOL Flea Markets are designed to showcase and uplift student vendors and creators, with a focus on QTBIPOC voices. These markets create meaningful economic opportunities for marginalized students who are often overlooked or tokenized in creative spaces. Beyond vending, the event fosters community among student entrepreneurs and the wider student body, while promoting ethical, intentional consumption by supporting small businesses.
Students: Borrow your Textbooks for Free!
The Basic Needs Center (BNC) has a Textbook Lending Library open to all on-campus students that includes books, calculators, chemistry model sets, and more. Visit their Textbook Lending Program website to see resources available at the BNC. Visit the BNC in-person at Champinefu Lodge to check out course materials.
HC Resources
The Honors College main office in LInC 450 is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. HC staff is on hand during business hours to assist with questions, help with scheduling appointments or just chat and share some free candy. You can also get in touch with the main office by contacting honors.college@oregonstate.edu or by calling 541.737.6400.
Submit Nomination for Student Spotlight
The HC is currently accepting nominations for students to feature in our student spotlight series. If you know of a student who you think deserves recognition submit their name and the reason for the nomination here.
These resources are available throughout the term.
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