Ask Dr. Ross

Graduating "with Honors" is often considered a quantitative academic achievement, signifying a high GPA.  But learning, growth, and intellectual engagement are not something that can be measured by numbers alone.  

What if "Honors" didn't mean "good grades?"  What if "Honors" meant curiosity, community, and complex ideas built into college life?

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley discuss how the University of Texas at Tyler's Honors College has grown from a program of 20 students into a campus-wide community resource.  Dr. Paul Streufert, Dean of the UT Tyler Honors College, and recent Honors College alumni Cohen Taylor join the discussion.  Together, they unpack what the Honors experience has to offer for students of all majors, including an insider's look at its rigorous application process, coursework, and student projects.  From research presentations at state conferences to walking the streets of Italy with classmates, Honors truly offers something for everyone - including non-Honors students.

Have more questions about life in the Honors College at UT Tyler? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

If you've ever tried to teach yourself podcasting, you know there's a lot to learn. Between recording equipment, editing software, public speaking, show branding, and more, getting started from scratch can feel overwhelming. 

That's where Patriot Podcasters comes in.

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley spotlight a newly formed club at UT Tyler which is dedicated to providing a fun, service-oriented community for campus podcasters. Club President Bryleigh Brown and Script Manager Ivan Paiz-Batres join the discussion, sharing their stories of how the student organization has already begun building its production team. Whether you're a veteran podcaster, just getting started, or simply looking for a way to meet new friends after class, this episode is for you.

Have more questions about the Patriot Podcasters Club in college life? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Patriot Podcasters can be contacted directly at [email protected].

AI appears to be everywhere.  In the news, on social media, on top of Google search results.  Higher education is no exception.  As artificial intelligence tools evolve, so does the college experience - but not always in the ways you might expect.

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley discuss how the University of Texas at Tyler has seen AI integrated into campus life with Dr. Colleen Swain, the school's Associate Provost for Curriculum and Experiential Learning. The conversation explores the variety of ways - both good and bad - that AI has affected the average university experience.  From the integration of AI-powered assignments and teaching assistants to ever prevalent concerns about cheating, this technological advancement has found its way into the classroom.  Still, faculty and students alike wonder: what comes next?

Have more questions about the impact of AI on college life? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

(The production of this episode, including the text you're reading, was completed entirely by student producer Ashley Worley with no AI assistance.)

We all know freshman year is a big turning point.  There's orientations, welcome celebrations, loads of "firsts" to experience - but with three more years of college, the changes and growth have only begun.  

What happens next?

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley reconvene with two students who appeared on the podcast in their first week of freshman year: Mary Mooney and Dominick Robinette.  Now approaching the end of their sophomore year, they discuss the variety of developmental shifts and struggles they've encountered, like juggling school and part-time work, navigating internship applications, and building interpersonal confidence in the classroom.  Through it all, they offer insights on how this often-overlooked middle year can be just as pivotal for growth as the first.

Have more questions about surviving and thriving in sophomore year?  Email us at [email protected].  We'd love to hear from you!

Music can be a constant part of everyday life - our culture, our hobbies, our background noise during daily commutes.  But how does a passion for music evolve into a rewarding career?  How does studying music in college support students on their professional and life paths?

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley continue their series highlighting inside stories and college prep practicalities from UT Tyler's Music department. School of Performing Arts director Dr. Sarah Roberts and senior Saxophone major Jasper Scharp join the discussion to share what's really happening in collegiate music programs.

Both guests share powerful stories about how music impacted their personal and professional journeys, even since childhood. If you're choosing your degree, preparing for college life, or just curious about other experiences in higher ed, this series is for you. 

Have more questions about life inside a Music department? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!  

Want to learn more or connect with UT Tyler's School of Performing Arts? Click the link below! 

-Department webpage: https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/arts-sciences/departments/performing-arts/

Flashing red sirens and police tape might cross your mind at the phrase "criminal justice" - but the field is much more diverse than just police work. 

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley continue their series highlighting inside stories and college prep practicalities from UT Tyler's Social Sciences department. Criminal Justice professor Dr. Rick Helfers and graduate Social Work major Aubrey Fagan join the discussion to share what's really happening in collegiate criminal justice classes. If you're choosing your degree, preparing for college life, or just curious about other experiences in higher ed, this series is for you.  

Have more questions about life inside a Social Sciences department? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you! 

Want to learn more or connect with UT Tyler's Department of Social Sciences? Click the link below! 

https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/arts-sciences/departments/social-sciences/

Learning a new language is hard.  For Spanish students new to speaking, finding a low stakes space to practice outside of class can sometimes feel like a challenge.  Even fluent speakers may sometimes struggle to find a casual setting where they can share their language.

Which is why the Spanish Club was created.

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley spotlight a newly formed club on the UT Tyler campus which is dedicated to providing a fun, lively environment for speaking Spanish.  Club President Isabel Viloria and Vice President Ivan Paiz join the discussion, sharing their stories of how the student organization has already begun impacting campus life.  Whether you're a native Spanish speaker or just started learning vocabulary words, this episode is for you.

Have more questions about the Spanish Club in college life? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!  

"Fun" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think of math - unless you are, in fact, a "math person."  But is there such a thing as a "math person," anyway?  And can math be not just practical, but playful?

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley continue their series highlighting inside stories and college prep practicalities from UT Tyler's Mathematics department. Mathematics professor Dr. Joseph Vandehey and graduate Mathematics major Millie Jeske join the discussion to share what's really happening in collegiate math classes. If you're choosing your degree, preparing for college life, or just curious about other experiences in higher ed, this series is for you. 

Have more questions about life inside a Math department? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!  

Want to learn more or connect with UT Tyler's Department of Mathematics? Click the link below! 

-Department webpage: https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/arts-sciences/departments/mathematics/

The stereotypical fraternity experience is well-known, negative, and (unsurprisingly) not true of every chapter.  Most people think they know what Greek life is like - but what do the insiders say? 

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley explore Greek life within UT Tyler's Kappa Sigma chapter.  Joining the discussion are Kappa Sigma's alumni advisor Jared Daniels and chapter member Erick Zamarron to share the impact of brotherhood on their college journeys.  Together, they dive into the history of fraternities, misconceptions of Greek life, and the personal growth opportunities they've encountered.  For curious students, the stories may not be what you expect.  

Have more questions about life inside a fraternity? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!    

Want to learn more or connect with UT Tyler's Greek Life? Click the links below!

-UT Tyler Greek Life webpage: https://www.uttyler.edu/student-life/greek-life/
-Kappa Sigma Instagram: @UTTKAPPASIGMA

We've probably all heard the saying, "If we don't learn from history, we're doomed to repeat it."  But is that really true?  And besides preventing doom, how does studying history help students in their present-day lives?

This week, Dr. Ross and student producer Ashley Worley continue their series highlighting inside stories and college prep practicalities from UT Tyler's History department. Department chair Dr. Colin Snider and senior History major Nixon Gorka join the discussion to share what's really happening in history classes. If you're choosing your degree, preparing for college life, or just curious about other experiences in higher ed, this series is for you. 

Have more questions about life inside a History department? Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!  

Want to learn more or connect with UT Tyler's Department of History? Click the link below! 

-Department webpage: https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/arts-sciences/departments/biology/