Gold Cord is the highest community service honor a student can receive. Presented at your graduation, the Gold Cord award is reserved for the students who make the widest impact on the world around them during their time at TAMS. The requirements for this award have evolved over the years. Beginning the Fall of 2007, the requirements for Gold Cord are changing.

The following are the requirements for Gold Cord for the 2007-2008 school year:

• HOURS - the student must have 100 hours completed by April 15 of their senior year.
• ONGOING SERVICE - the student must demonstrate continued service each semester (even if the 100 hours is earned during their junior year, the student should still be keeping the pace of appx. 25 hours per semester their senior year).
• GOLD CORD PROJECT - the student will initiate, propose, carry-out, and be successfully evaluated on a Gold Cord project. The details of these projects are listed below.
• ACADEMICS - the student will maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
• CITIZENSHIP - the student will not have more than 30 discipline points and will be deemed a postive contributor to the TAMS community by the Student Life staff.

***UPDATED...
SPECIFIC INFO on the GOLD CORD PROJECT:

The criteria of the project include:

• a specific time line for the project
• a clear and measurable definition of success of the project
• a project that includes enlisting at least 3 additional students (preferably Juniors)
• a project that helps people in need
• a log that records the number of hours served
• a record of the contacts including phone numbers and email addresses
• a record of photos (electronic)

The project plan must be written and presented to the Student Life Leadership Staff, (SLLS), prior to the project starting. The SLLS will approve, deny or seek clarification after reviewing the project proposals. Once the proposals are approved, the expectation is that the student will work independently and not require reminders or additional meetings with the SLLS.

The project will be deemed completed once all the criteria are listed above are finished and the definition of success is achieved. If the definition of success is incomplete the project will be deemed incomplete and the Gold Cord Award will not be given.

Important Dates:

Proposal Deadline – October 22, 2007 – must be delivered electronically by this date to Russ. stukel@unt.edu. Ask for confirmation of receipt when you email Russ the attachment/s. Proposal aspects listed below.

Notification of Acceptance - You will receive an email and a letter in your box at the hall by November 1, 2007.

Project Completion Date and Presentation- April 14, 2008 all projects due and we will schedule presentations that week.

Notification of Receiving the Award – April 23, 2008.

Proposal Requirements:

1. Describe the scope of the project. A paragraph should suffice.

2. Define success of the project and how that success will be measured.

3. Provide the names of the individuals you plan to enlist – if possible

4. Define the population of people you will be assisting.

5. Estimate the number of hours you will be spending on the project. Include

planning and preparation for the project in addition to the project hours.

6. Provide the list of contacts or agencies you will be interacting – if possible.

All this information should not take more than three pages. Once you have accumulated this information, put the information all on a Word document and email it as an attachment to Russ – stukel@unt.edu. Thanks for being up to the challenge and best of luck with this project.

If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Roden at kroden@unt.edu.