Program Expectations
Program Expectations
The UTC GCSP is a partnership between the CECS and the Honors College at UTC. Undergraduate students majoring in programs in all UTC colleges are eligible to participate in the GCSP. Students who participate in the GCSP will be graduates of both their program college and the Honors College. Since students in the GCSP are considered part of the Honors College, they are eligible to take honors classes and seminars and receive other benefits students in the Honors College receive (e.g., access to the Guerry Center, priority registration, etc.).
Grand Challenges is a program that guides and encourages students to tailor their coursework and extra-curricular learning experiences (research, project work, study abroad, internships, service, internships, etc.) to the larger task of addressing their chosen Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge Director and Research/Project Mentors will guide UTC GCSP Scholars in the selection of relevant experiences and courses that meet both Grand Challenge and major requirements.
GCSP Scholars who complete all requirements and meet all competencies to the satisfaction of the GCSP Steering Committee for the UTC GCSP will receive unique graduation regalia and will be recognized at their university graduation ceremony as a Grand Challenges Scholar. This achievement will also be documented in their graduation documentation. Students who also meet all requirements for the Honors College will be honored in the annual Honors College Graduation Ceremony.
General Requirements
UTC GCSP Scholars must complete 4 General requirements:
- Participate in the Grand Challenges Seminars each semester (0 credit)
- Illustrate competency in each of the 5 Grand Challenges Thematic Requirements
- Create a GCSP Scholar Portfolio
- Complete the 2-semester Departmental Honors or Honors College Thesis
Grand Challenges Seminars
Students desiring to be a UTC GCSP Scholar must participate in at least one semester of the initial seminar - Introduction to the Grand Challenges Seminar – prior to applying to the program. In this seminar students are introduced to the Grand Challenges, the program competences and requirements, research and project opportunities, available mentors, and the application and Grand Challenges portfolio processes.
- First-year students should attend this seminar during both semesters of their 1st year
- Transfer students should attend the seminar at least once
- Currently enrolled students should attend the seminar at least once
Upon acceptance in the program GCSP Scholars must participate each semester in an ongoing seminar – Continuing in the Grand Challenges Seminar – that ensures the cohort continues to progress throughout their experience in the program. It also helps the students develop their Grand Challenges portfolio and addresses advising and mentoring needs.
Thematic Competency Requirements
Scholars must illustrate competency in each of the following five Grand Challenges thematic requirements. Competency can be met in a variety of ways ranging from course work, research, and extra-curricular experiences. The competencies may be addressed by emphasizing a grand challenge.
- Talent - Understanding research and creative endeavors through a mentored experience on a Grand Challenge-like topic
- Multidisciplinary - Understanding multidisciplinarity of engineering systems solutions developed through personal engagement
- Entrepreneurship - Understanding, preferably developed through experience, of the necessity of a viable business model for solution implementation
- Multicultural - Understanding diverse cultures, preferably through multicultural experiences, to ensure cultural acceptance of proposed engineering solutions
- Social Consciousness - Understanding that engineering solutions should primarily serve people and society reflecting social consciousness
The Competencies are further defined here: Competencies and Requirement Completion Pathway.
Grand Challenges Culminating Requirements
All UTC GCSP Scholars must also create an e-portfolio. This portfolio communicates the Scholar’s path through the GCSP. The GCSP uses a standard format and package for the Scholars’ portfolios and each Scholar may design their portfolio to meet their personnel needs. However, each Scholar’s portfolio must illustrate how the Scholar is meeting the program requirements regarding the Grand Challenges’ thematic requirements. Thus, each portfolio must have sections identified as: Talent, Multidisciplinary, Entrepreneurship, Multicultural, and Social Consciousness in which the Scholar illustrates how they are meeting the requirements of each competency. In addition, the Scholar needs to identify how they meet the required competency engagements using Table 1 or a similar tool. The last component of the Portfolio is the Scholar’s reflection on their GCSP experience as well as the process. Instructions for developing the portfolio are included here: GCSP Scholars Portfolio.
All UTC GCSP Scholars will complete a Departmental Honors or an Honors College Thesis. The thesis can be based on a project, research, or other activity the Scholar participates in as part of or as result of the Scholar experience. This requirement is further defined here: https://www.utc.edu/honors-college/departmental-honors.
Program Structure
Students can use the following general path to guide their progress through the program.
1st year requirements
Students should:
- Participate in the Introduction to the Grand Challenges seminar
- Apply to the program
- Possibly participate in an interdisciplinary experience (i.e., summer study away or internship)
- Participate in a service experience and/or general education courses emphasizing social consciousness
2nd year requirements
Students should:
- Continue in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program seminar
- Attend advising with the Director
- Select and begin work with Research/Project Mentor
- Participate in at least one entrepreneurial activity
- Continue service and relevant general education courses
- Possibly participate in an international experience (i.e., summer study abroad)
- Participate in a summer research, internship, or REU experience
- Initiate development of their GCSP e-portfolio
3rd year requirements
Students should:
- Continue in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program seminar
- Continue attending advising with the Director
- Continue work with Research/Project Mentor
- Propose honors thesis
- Complete interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary coursework and/or experience
- Possibly participate in an international experience
- Participate in a summer research, internship, or REU experience
- Update and continue development of their GCSP e-portfolio
4th year requirements
Students should:
- Continue in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program seminar
- Continue attending advising with the Director
- Finalize honors thesis with Research/Project Mentor
- Present honors thesis work to an agreed-upon community
- Complete high level of competencies in two areas
- Finalize their GCSP e-portfolio.