From the Dean

Dear Hutton students,

This is indeed a special academic year that has revolutionized the way we conceive academic and extracurricular programs at IU. And yet, it is in arduous times like these that we learn what fabric we are made of. The fabric of IU and especially of its most gifted undergraduates—you, the Hutton Honors students— are proving resistant to the elements. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that forces us to social distance, wear facemasks, take classes and do most of our activities online, the Hutton community is as vibrant and resilient as ever. While we all long for a return to in-person events and programs—something that we will do, as soon as the conditions allow it—we have a full and vibrant academic year on our hands.

As in previous semesters, we offer over 50 Honors courses, from school-specific disciplinary oriented classes, to interdisciplinary HON seminars open to Hutton students from any school. The HON GenED seminars touch upon multifaceted topics in Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, as well as international matters. We are also planning to resume our Hutton International Experience courses abroad (in South Africa, London, Paris, the Netherlands, Mexico City, Ghana, Indonesia) when it is safe to do so. These classes are open to all Hutton students, and all students who are accepted can apply for a HIEP travel grant to attend.

Our extracurricular activities include numerous conferences and workshops, discussions and debates related to issues close to all of us, especially in these months. Amongst other experts, we have a series of meetings in the Q & A format about:

• Pandemics and their impact on our global society
• The power of social media and its fake-news effects
• The results of climate change and climate policies (or the lack of) on our daily life
• Race, racism, tolerance, equity and the road to a full integration in our society, beginning with actions to be taken by our own academic world

These are just some of the topics but, as you can see, they embrace matters and issues that are fundamental now, as well as in the near future. Hutton, no differently than the larger IU community, intends to explore and to make sure we can be part of the solution.

In wishing you a great academic year, I invite you to write to us with any personal or academic inquiry, to explore our website, as it likely has the answers you seek, and to remember that, even if most of the activities are currently online, we are open for business!

Yours truly,

Andrea Ciccarelli