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SELF- DESIGNED HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSAL

Proposals are held to high standards. Each of these elements must be included in your proposal and project:
1. Abstract:
Provide a detailed overview of this project so that a reader with no background on this topic would fully understand
your project goals and what you intend to learn. If you are proposing a global studies experience, provide an itinerary.
What does the project entail and why is it personally meaningful?
Describe the extent of your time commitment (planning, executing, and reflecting). Your experience should be
equivalent to a 3-credit hour honors seminar. While the quality of the experience and your ability to meet learning
outcomes are most important, you should engage in at least 75-90 hours of direct contact and/or preparation, research,
and reflection. Describe both the quantity and quality of your time commitment to this experience.
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within an Honors Thematic Area:
Your project should result in substantial learning through which you make progress towards meeting specific learning
outcomes within the thematic area. You must explicitly choose (i.e., copy and paste) 2-3 honors learning outcomes
associated with the thematic area (see page 2 for the complete list of learning outcomes). List 2-3 honors learning
outcomes that you will make progress towards achieving as a result of your project. Then, explain how your actions
related to the project will help you meet the learning outcomes you identified. Provide specific examples.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (This is a two-part prompt):
A. Your project must be related to your development (personal, academic, and/or professional goals). How does
this project contribute to your future personal, academic and/or professional goals?
B. You are expected to connect academic theories or readings to your experiential learning work. Your proposal
should identify several theories or readings you plan to explore in your project. Name 2-3 specific theories and/or
readings you will use to prepare or gain background knowledge for your project. Explain how/why you chose your
resources and how they will inform your project. Provide citations, as appropriate. Your self-designed project
advisor(s) can lend their expertise and help you brainstorm relevant resources.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity:
Your project must include a unique/independent/creative contribution and some aspect(s) of the project must be selfinitiated. What is your unique contribution to this project? What skills, ideas, or previous experiences do you bring to
the table? How is your involvement unique as compared to other participants? How have you demonstrated initiative?
5. Reflection:
Reflection leads to higher-level conceptual learning and can take many forms (e.g., journals, lab notebooks, blogs,
sketchbooks). Reflection is not merely a summation of activities completed and opinions formed; rather, it should be
thoughtful, integrative, substantive, and well-crafted. Your project must have an active reflective component. How will
you actively reflect on your learning throughout the experience? Describe the format for reflection and what you will
reflect upon (i.e., provide a list of reflection questions).
Additionally, in order for a project to be considered completed:
You must write and submit a reflective essay through the honors database within one month of project
completion (more details available on the UHP website).
You must document the experience in your learning portfolio.
6. Dissemination:
Your experience and learning must be shared with others publically (e.g., presentations to student groups, poster
display, websites, published papers/articles, video compilations, scrapbooks). With whom and how will you share what
you learned/created with others in a public forum? Why is the specific audience you chosen relevant?
7. Project Advisor(s):
Projects must involve the guidance of a faculty/staff member, mentor, supervisor, or other person with whom you can
develop a base of knowledge. Your project advisor should provide their expertise to assist you with the development
and execution of your project. Who will help you conceptualize this project and provide you with support? Provide the
name, title, contact information, and a statement explaining the expertise of each advisor. Note: This will not be your
honors advisor or another student.
8. Budget:
A budget is not required. To request an honors grant to support this project, provide an itemized budget listing all of
your project-related expenses and evidence to back up your estimates. To request grant funding for unpaid research or
an unpaid internship, please list the total number of hours you will work per week and the total number of weeks. If you
plan to receive funding from other sources, please indicate that in your budget. Grant funding is impacted by the
quality of your proposal.

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HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Your project should result in substantial learning through which you make progress towards meeting 2-3 of the learning
outcomes for an Honors Thematic Area. Your proposal must focus on one thematic area; choose one that best fits your goals.

Learning Outcomes for the Community Engagement Theme:

Possesses awareness of purpose of service, including need for reciprocity, understanding of social issues, and ability to see
those issues from multiple perspectives.
Recognizes how public policies and practices, and power and privilege, have an influence on social issues. Explores ways to
alter public policy and/or identify solutions.
Relates, communicates, and works effectively with others towards sustainable social change.
Participates in community and understands own role as citizen of community.

Learning Outcomes for the Creative Arts Theme (adapted from AAC&U Creative Thinking VALUE Rubric):
Acquires or further develops competencies within a particular creative domain.
Possesses ability to define the creative problem; ability to frame and develop a problem statement and appropriate methodology.
Possess a well-developed awareness of theories and methods in the field.
Demonstrates/takes appropriate risk in successfully completing project (going beyond original parameters of assignment,
introducing new materials and forms, tackling controversial topics, advocating unpopular ideas or solutions, etc.).
Possesses ability to embrace contradictions and integrate alternate, divergent, or contradictory perspectives.
Possesses ability to think innovatively.
Connects, synthesizes, and transforms ideas.

Learning Outcomes for the Global Studies Theme:

Possess global literacy, including knowledge of geography, history, current world issues and similarities and differences among
cultures
Recognize the interdependence of world economies, political systems and the environment
Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the complex range of
experiences of diverse peoples
Participate in a global society and understand the role of a global citizen
Note: If you are planning a self-designed travel experience, you must include a detailed itinerary. You are required to attend a
pre-departure orientation session with UC International Programs if your honors experiential learning project involves
international travel. It is your responsibility to schedule a session with UC International. At minimum, your time abroad should
be at least 1 week. Proposals for experiences with less than 1 week of travel will not be approved.
Additionally, the Student Travel Policy restricts UC sponsored- travel to countries under a U.S. Department of State Travel
Warning. Those who wish to visit a country with a travel warning may download and complete a Travel Exemption Form.
Students traveling without a faculty or staff leader must individually request an exemption. Faculty or staff leading a group of
students must complete a request on behalf of the entire group.
The University Honors Program cannot approve any travel to a country with a US Department of State Travel Warning until
after the a travel exemption is granted by the International Travel Overview Committee. This means that we cannot allow you
to count this travel as an honors experience nor can we give you a grant if the ITOC does not approve travel.

Learning Outcomes for the Leadership Theme:

Possesses knowledge of various leadership theories and identifies with the characteristics of leadership
Identifies the various characteristics of a leader in a given situation/role
Has the ability to relate, communicate and work effectively with peers
Develops a vision of the future and acknowledges the impact of decisions (as applicable to the individual and affiliated
organizations)

Learning Outcomes for the Research Theme:

Ability to frame and develop the research project question or problem.
Possess a well-developed awareness of literature in the field.
Formulate a theory, problem, or hypothesis for the proposed research project that is based on the literature review.
Ability to identify and apply appropriate methodologies to design research study, and collect and analyze data.
Disseminate the research results and knowledge gained.
Demonstrate awareness of key weakness/limitations of the research and provide guidance on the most important and fruitful
directions for future research on this topic.

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Ability to think beyond the just completed research and articulate how your world view has been impacted by the experience.

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HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
Complete this proposal prior to your projects start date and upload it in the UHP Database
(https://webapps.uc.edu/uchonorsstudent). Create a project (Add a new record) in the Tracking Project tab and then
upload your proposal document as an attachment. The deadline for submitting proposals is on the 5th of each month.
While the quality of the proposal is most important, strong proposals are typically 3-4 pages in length (single-spaced).
Please maintain the proposal format.
Basic Information
Full Name: Mary Conroy
UC Email: conroymy@mail.uc.edu
College: CEAS
Major: Chemical Engineering
Title of Project: Serve Beyond Cincinnati: Nicaragua
Thematic Area (choose only one): Community Engagement, Creative Arts, Global Studies, Leadership, OR Research
Expected Project Start Date: December 13, 2014
Expected Project End Date: December 20, 2014
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
All my life, Ive had a keen interest in both exploration and helping others. Ive volunteered at summer
camps, homeless shelters, charitable construction projects, anything that crossed my path. Through these projects,
I have learned so much and grown exponentially as a person and (I would like to think) given the same in return.
When I came across this opportunity to go to Managua, Nicaragua for a week with a group of UC students to
work with the organization Homes from the Heart, it immediately caught my interest. While we are yet to receive
an official itinerary of how we will spend our week, we will be working on the homes being built generally from
9:00 to 5:00, or the duration of a normal work day. Outside of that time, we will have the opportunity to explore
sights nearby, as well as spend time with the locals, particularly the children. We would depart from Ohio on
December 13th and return on December 20th.
This experience is very important to me for several reasons. Firstly, the world has been very good to me
and I have and always will jump at every opportunity to give a little back. Secondly, the farthest from Cincinnati
that I have been in living memory is South Carolina, which is a drive that can be made in less than 12 hours.
Going somewhere as large and as foreign as Nicaragua is a major leap for me, and one I am very excited to take.
When I was little, I was always the kid with the intense sense of adventure, but the lack of confidence and security
to act on it. Now that Im older, more confident, and more secure in my own skin, I want to take full advantage of
this chance to see a part of the world that contrasts so sharply with my own part of the world.

Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the
complex range of experiences of diverse peoples
o On this trip, we will have opportunities every day to interact with the local people and sites. It will be
my goal to make the best of every single one of the opportunities to learn about all that I can. I will go
in to the experience with an open mind, in the hopes of understanding and coming to know these
people both relate and differ from myself and my community. We will have time to spend with locals

who I will make an effort to start conversations with and learn as much as possible from. I will also
make an effort to have conversations with and learn as much from the local vendors and guides at the
sites we visit. While I will not have a host family, I will also take the time to communicate with the
workers or residents wherever we are staying and learn from the examples they set in terms of
customs and culture.
Participate in a global society and understand the role of a global citizen
o Our trip is more than just meeting with the locals and learning about their environment. We will also
be building a home for a community that has been severely disadvantaged over the years. Nicaragua,
behind Haiti, is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As a global citizen, it is
important to help those you can, not just in areas near you, but wherever possible. People born into
poverty are not at fault for these problems, just victims of them, and deserve as much aid as possible
from those who are able to do so. It is, therefore, a goal of this trip to work as hard as possible to move
the construction of the home along as far as possible to make the home livable as soon as possible.
When it comes time to leave, while I wont see the finished product, understanding the role of a global
citizen means working my hardest without any personal reward.

3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

A. I have had very few opportunities to travel and discover thus far in life, and thats one of the biggest
pieces of advice you always hear: travel in college and as a young adult, as these are the years when
you are most able to do so. As a person, this would further the confidence and independence that I am
working to develop, as well as give me a more well-rounded perspective of what is going on around
me. This is something that is very important to me and, having struggled with self-confidence and
making leaps of independence, something that I know will greatly influence my outlooks on my
surroundings and inward looks toward myself.
B. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTPA/0,,contentMDK:
20207612~menuPK:435735~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:430367,00.html
This link is an excellent resource that detail the state of Nicaraguan poverty. It is generally going to be
the more impoverished community that we will be working with, and this knowledge will be very
important, so as to be best prepared for what is ahead.
https://studyabroad.admin.unt.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.ViewLink&Parent_ID=921512E99D51-FF44-FC9FC9877CDE8F01&Link_ID=D340D0E8-C680-0D63-77CEA291AC269230
This link provides multiple articles that are solid resources that define what generally is to be
expected from a service trip abroad. Everyone has some sort of idea of what their trip is going to be
like, but this resource helps form practical expectations that will help one to get the most out of a trip.
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
In high school, I was the student technical director of the theatre department, meaning I was in charge of
designing the sets for each show and leading the force that built them. As a result, I have a large amount of
experience with the types of tools that we will be using on site, as well as lot of experience teaching others how to
use those very tools. This means that, on site, I can take initiative in leading construction projects or working with
other people, especially with tools that arent particularly safe if you dont know what you are doing.
5. Reflection
I have a form of reflection that I have often utilized for projects, retreats, and vacations. All of these experiences
result in a lot of pictures to remember the event, so what I like to do is put together a photo journal. Basically, I
am going to pick my favorite or most meaningful pictures from the bunch, print them, and put them into a little
book. The back of each picture then becomes a page to journal on: to recount what was happening at the time the
picture was taken, who was present, how I felt, and what I learned. That way, not only am I able to analyze my
time spent and how I spent it, but I will also be able to remember in years to come the feelings I felt most strongly
during that time and the lessons I gained. I will also keep a journal on-site to reflect on how I change and grow
throughout the trip. There will be different lessons learned every day and different levels of nerves, excitement,

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and feeling out-of-place to work with. These, and small lessons learned from everyday experiences, are easily
forgotten overtime, and so a journal by my side would go a long way.
Once I get back, I can also relate my experiences to what I see in everyday life. My life is constantly
moving, changing, and a part of being a college student is oftentimes being put into situations where you are
unfamiliar and unsure of how to proceed. My experiences will most definitely be able to be applied to any of
these situations moving forward, on top of how I think about serving others. I am also hopeful that it will send me
on a positive track to pursue further endeavors around the world.

6. Dissemination
I am a peer leader in the Center for First Year Experience and Learning Communities at UC. Each semester, I
teach a class of first year students and help them get acclimated to UC and college life in general. A big part of
this is pushing them to get involved in experiences both related and separate from their major. Therefore, sharing
this with them is a perfect opportunity to not only reflect on my project, but also share it with people who have the
opportunity to embark on a similar experience.
7. Project Advisor(s)
My pulmonologist, Dr. Crisalli, has been and continues to be an incredible resource and advisor for this trip. He
has much worldly travel experience and has worked in many areas of the world. He has helped me gain a greater
understanding of what I can expect from the trip work and the area itself. While his personal contact information
is not able to be listed, his professional contact number is (513)803-2351.
8. Budget (if applicable)
$2,141.25 total
$1780 Covers plane ticket and all food and lodging expenses as well as organization fee (Paid through UC
Serve Beyond Cincinnati)
$211.25 For passport, shipping, and processing fees (Through the U.S. Postal Service)
$150 For Passport Health consultation and thyroid vaccine