CHC Happenings: Your Guide to Events and Programming for Fall 2023
By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
Content
At Commonwealth Honors College, we host a variety of events, a good amount of which are tailored to first-year students so you can assimilate better into university life. Here’s a quick spiel on all the different events you can attend and what they’re all about!
Community
September 22, 2023, 3 - 5 p.m., Latin Rhythms Social: To commemorate LatinX Heritage Month (September 15- October 15) the Honors College hosts a celebratory event every year where anyone at UMass Amherst can come and unwind with dancing, music, and food. There’s always a huge turnout for this event, so make sure not to miss it!
October 14, 2023, 12 - 2 p.m., CHC Fall Talent Showcase: Set in the backdrop of the vibrant fall foliage at the CHCRC concourse, the Fall Talent Showcase is a showcase of the immense talent that bubbles throughout the UMass Campus Community. Featuring fall-themed snacks and drinks, the event is always a fun way to learn more about your Honors peers and immerse yourself into the gorgeous weather these months at Amherst (though that’s certainly not been the case these first few weeks).
October 28, 2023, 1 - 3 p.m., Daffodil Planting: This annual tradition is one all Honors students love to do! Every fall, in honor of the late Dean of the Commonwealth Honors College Priscilla Clarkson, students, staff, and faculty come together to plant daffodils in the CHC Residential Concourse so they bloom in time for the Daffodil Lecture in the spring. It's a super fun activity and you get to plant the daffodil beds everywhere! It makes for a great sight in the spring.
Academic
Thesis Workshops: I know, I know. You just got here, your Honors Thesis is years away, but it can get confusing and overwhelming to think about it. The thesis workshops are a great way to learn more about the process and ease any anxieties you may have about it. There’s usually three workshops in the fall, the first one is an intro and breakdown of the entire thesis process (Thesis 101), the second is a student panel where current thesis students describe what the journey has been like for them, and the last one is about using CHC Paths and the systems in place for your thesis.
October 16, 2023, 5 - 6 p.m., Plenary Lecture: If you’re taking Honors 201H this semester, you are required to attend the Plenary lecture, an event that features thought leaders from across the spectrum of UMass Amherst faculty in connection with “Ideas that Change the World.” Titled "Envisioning Black Liberation: W.E.B. Du Bois's Transformative Ideas of Producer-Consumer Cooperation," this year’s lecture will be presented by Associate Professor Traci Parker.
Pizza & Prof Night: Get to know your Honors professors better! This event is hosted multiple times throughout the year and features a professor who will talk about their work in more detail and interact with you in an informal setting. The first one will be announced soon, so stay tuned to find out how you can attend to learn more about a professor and to get free pizza!
That's basically it! Try your best to attend these events, they're a great way to build connections! If not, stay tuned to this news page or our social media to read more about it.