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Commonwealth Honors College Welcome 2011
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August 30, 2011
It is an honor and privilege for me to welcome more than 600 students to this Commonwealth Honors College Class of 2015. Today you mark a milestone as you move into the role of college student at UMass Amherst.
You have already demonstrated exceptional talent, keenness of mind, and commitment to working hard. By enrolling in the honors college at a public research university the caliber of UMass Amherst, you have signaled a readiness for academic challenges and service to others. We will not disappoint you. We offer 88 distinct majors, one for every key on the piano, as well as an opportunity to create your own major through a program called BDIC, Bachelor's Degree with Individualized Concentration. Furthermore, the honors capstone experience, unique to honors students, will deeply immerse you in rigorous scholarship. It is an especially exciting time to be a member of Commonwealth Honors College because just this summer, we broke ground for the honors residential complex, which will open in the fall of 2013. Some of you may be living there two years from now!
The richness of our academics is one feature that sets UMass Amherst apart. Another is our undergraduate research program. Curious and ambitious students like you can work side-by-side with faculty members in finding alternatives to fossil fuels or new cancer treatments. If you are more interested in the humanities, you can study with the world's leading Renaissance scholar using an enviable collection of 15th and 16th century books, learn under the watchful eye of singers, dancers, and musicians who have performed on famous stages, or take classes taught by winners of the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the PEN Faulkner Award for Fiction.
In the Honors Seminar Series you'll discover some of the most influential thinkers of our time, and explore why their ideas have so profoundly shaped our world. These seminars are designed to capture your interest, help you get to know professors, and inspire your own potential for innovation and leadership. You'll also discover more than 50 one-credit seminars for first-year students taught by professors and campus leaders – myself included. Last year, I had fifteen students in my class on Friedrich Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. These seminars are designed to capture your interest, provide stimulating venues for discussions with your peers, and make the campus smaller.
Your new life as a college student does not exclusively revolve around academics. We have a plethora of student organizations and clubs. In these programs, you will develop as leaders and play a hand in promoting a just society. I also recommend exploring the town of Amherst, the best college town in America. Enjoy the natural beauty, visit Emily Dickinson's home, and enjoy Antonio's pizza.
I look forward to seeing you on campus and in town.
