Nov. 16, 2007  Communique

UCCS and UCD to receive federal appropriation. Presidential approval came this week for a federal appropriation bill that provides $4.8 million for academic programs. UCCS will receive $1.6 million to continue the Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators and Students program and the bill also includes $3.2 million for a collaborative program with the School of Public Affairs at CU Denver to provide a homeland security track in the public affairs PhD program.

“We are pleased that our collaborative efforts with UCD and the PIPES program to disseminate best practices in the teaching of K-12 teaching of math and science are being supported,” Jeremy Haefner, associate vice chancellor, Research and Innovation, said.

Retain a freshman today, produce a graduate tomorrow. Barbara Gaddis, director, Student Retention, and Robin Marschke, director, Institutional Research, presented the long- and short-term benefits of improving the retention of qualified students this week, reminding more than 70 in attendance at a November Chancellor’s Forum of the positive effects of work-study jobs, Freshman Seminar and taking an interest in a student’s life. (MORE)

President search comes to Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce will host a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at 2 N. Cascade to gather input about community interest in the next CU president. CU Regent Steve Bosley, chair presidential search committee, and CU Regent Kyle Hybl, will make a brief presentation on the search and receive public comments and questions.
Priority setting. The final session of a series of forums designed to help set the strategic priorities for UCCS will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 in the University Center Theater. Faculty and staff members who did not attend Sept. 26 or Oct. 25 forums are encouraged to attend. (MORE)
Phone directories arrive. A printed faculty and staff telephone directory arrived on campus this week. Departments are encouraged to contact the Telecommunications Department with requests for directories and to arrange for pickup at the IT Help Desk in El Pomar Center. Departments unable to pick up directories may arrange for delivery. The 2007-08 directory is smaller than directories in previous years after student leaders requested students be omitted. To arrange for directory deliver or pick up, contact Chriss Parson, program assistant, Telecommunications, 262-3216, or cparson@uccs.edu.

Holiday cheer. UCCS moved closer to the holiday season this week with several announcements to help faculty and staff prepare for upcoming festivities.
For those who believe the holidays are as much about giving as getting, the annual UCCS Holiday Service Project is now underway with several options available for faculty and staff to assist less fortunate campus and community members.(MORE)

An annual campus appreciation event, sponsored by President Hank Brown and Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak, is scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Lodge. A preschool through grade 5 book donation to project Literacy on the Go is encouraged
If holidays are best celebrated with four-legged friends, UCCS alumni can receive discount tickets to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Electric Safari on Dec. 7. (MORE)
And if the best present is an extra day off, your wish will come true. Dec, 24 and Dec. 25 will be official holidays this year.

Nature photographer to sign books. John Fielder, a premier Colorado nature photographer, will sign books beginning at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 at the UCCS Bookstore. (MORE)

No Communique next week. Communique will not publish Nov. 23 in recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday.

In the News

The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about UCCS athletics in A FRESH FAMILIAR FACE The Denver Post wrote about a leadership search at Community College of Denver in CCD interviewing five finalists The Denver Post wrote about a possible Canadian alliance in Ritter in Canada to pitch alliance The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about high school athletes and their future plans in NATIONAL SIGNING DAY The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about compliments and quoted Abby Ferber, director, Women’s Studies, in ACCEPT THE TRUTH KKTV published a story about the UCCS student newspaper in Student newspaper stirs controvers KXRM published a story about UCCS recycling efforts in UCCS Dumpster Dive KOAA published a story about UCCS recycling efforts in Dumpster Diving The Colorado Springs Independent wrote about the cost of birth control in Sex, money and strife on campus The Denver Post wrote about college leader compensation in College leaders' rising pay faces scrutiny The Denver Post wrote about higher education funding in Asphalt and ivy both critical KKTV published a story about a LEGO competition in LEGO robot competition at UCCS The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about a graduate fair in UCCS offers info on its graduate degrees Communique is the on-line newsletter for UCCS faculty and staff. It is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters, monthly during the summer semester. Communique is sent to faculty and staff e-mail lists and, by request, to other e-mail addresses. Previous issues are available at http://web.uccs.edu/ur/communique.htm. Suggestions and comments are welcome. Send ideas to ur@uccs.edu or call Tom Hutton, 262-3439