Announcements

Governor to visit. Gov. Bill Ritter will visit UCCS at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday to talk about Amendment 58, a proposal that would end a severance tax credit and direct revenues to student scholarships. The event on the UC Upper Plaza is free and open to the public. Peg Bacon, provost, said she was honored Ritter chose to visit UCCS but clarified that the university does not take positions on any ballot initiatives.

Science renovation gets boost. Bonds to finance $231 million in construction projects at Colorado colleges and universities were sold this week and include $17 million to renovate the UCCS Science building. An architect and contractor are contracted and a nine-month schedule designed. Plans call for the renovated building to be ready for the Fall 2010 semester. (Read more)

Services draw crowds, community support. UCCS faculty, staff and students who donned blue ribbons and collected teddy bears in honor of Officer Craig Highline this week were joined in honoring him by members of the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Departments and law enforcement officials from around the state. CSPD officers led a motorcade from Thursday’s memorial service at Holy Apostles Catholic Church to a reception at the Odd Fellows Hall in addition to providing a bagpiper at the services and assigning reserve officers for campus, allowing UCCS police officers to attend the service. See Highline’s obituary as well as KKTV’s coverage of the motorcade.

October Chancellor’s Forum date set. The October Chancellor’s Forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 30, in the University Center Theatre. Martin Wood, chief operating officer, University Advancement, along with University Advancement staff, will provide an overview about the University Advancement department and how it can be a resource as well as University marketing and branding updates.  The group will also unveil a new website, tools and resources that will soon be available.  

Get ready for 255. UCCS has outgrown its 262 telephone prefix. As a result, the campus is beginning its transition away from “262” to “255.”  Please note, on-campus dialing will not change, as all four-digit department numbers will remain the same. The official change will take place on Jan.1, 2009, there are small steps each UCCS employee can begin to do so the transition goes smoothly. (Read more)

Boo Spooktacular. UCCS Mountain Lion Athletics and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee will have a Halloween event for pre-school to fifth-grade students from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday in the UC Gymnasium. Children will play sports-themed games, meet student-athletes and visit the “Tombstone Country Club.” Children can also trick or treat in the Summit Housing Village. (See Invitation)

School Supply Drive nets pens, pencils, notebooks and more. This year’s UCCS School Supply Drive was a success.  According to the committee, “carloads” of school supplies were gathered. The supplies will be delivered to local schools in January to help students during the second half of the school year. (Read more)

We vant your blood … The annual UCCS Halloween Blood Drive will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31 in the University Center Gym. Donors are needed. To make an appointment, contact Brad Bailey, accountant, Resource Management, 262-3397, bbailey3@uccs.edu.

Alcohol education comes to UCCS. A documentary about the 2004 alcohol poisoning death of a CU-Boulder student Gordie Bailey will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Upper Lodge. The free showing, sponsored by Public Safety, the Health Center, Residence Life, Freshman Seminar, the Office of Student Activities and the Office of the Dean of Students, is part of alcohol abuse education efforts at UCCS. Some sections of the film were shot by Pete Schuermann, Monument, on the UCCS campus in cooperation with the Department of Communication. Schuermann will attend the screening and will be available to answer questions. For more about the film and to see a trailer, visit www.hazethemovie.com.

Families wanted. Nominations are being accepted for the 2008 UCCS Holiday Service Project.  The project helps families (UCCS student, staff or faculty) in need during the holiday season through providing gifts, toys and food. If you know someone who could use a little extra help this holiday season, please consider nominating them. Submit a nomination form to Sheryl Botts, sbotts@uccs.edu by Nov. 5, 2008. (Nomination.doc)

Voice of UCCS. Did you know UCCS has its own radio station? A five-year-old grassroots effort to build an Internet-based radio station l got a boost this week as the station moved to new, larger and more visible quarters in the University Center. The station will have an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 in the ROAR Office. To hear the station, click here. To get involved, contact Marge Mistry, co-sponsor and senior instructor, Languages and Culture, 262-3085, mmistry@uccs.edu.

In the News

• The Denver Post wrote about the sale of bonds to help construction at state colleges and universities in Bond rates help state
• The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about the sale of bonds to finance construction in friday folder
• KKTV aired a story about UCCS Police Officer Craig Highline in Procession honors UCCS officer
• KRDO aired a story about the U.S. economy and interviewed a UCCS faculty member in Can You Expect A Second Stimulus Check?
• Rocky Mountain News wrote about UCCS student athletes in Regional scene Hanstad helps CSU to third straight title
• The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about a UCCS alum in Local fitness club changes hands
• The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about elections and interviewed a UCCS faculty member in Students rock the early vote
• The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about home modifications and interviewed a UCCS faculty member in age-old safety solutions
• The Denver Post wrote about the economy in Scholarships at risk: Higher-ed endowments cope with multimillion-dollar setbacks in stock free-fall

For more UCCS news mentions, visit www.uccs.edu/ur