Announcements

University leadership to host viewpoint neutrality discussion. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak and Provost Peg Bacon, joined by campus vice chancellors, will host a meeting on viewpoint neutrality beginning at 9 a.m. Nov. 4 in the UC Theater. The meeting was scheduled to discuss recent actions within the campus Student Government Association.

UCCS will not renew contract with El Paso County. UCCS will not renew its contract with El Paso County to provide clinical and health promotion services to county employees, university officials announced Friday. (Read more)

Buddy, can you spare a pint? Memorial Hospital staff, dressed as witches, ghosts and sorcerers, greeted students at the annual UCCS Halloween Blood Drive. Hospital officials said demand for blood is higher than normal, making this year’s event extraordinarily important. The goal of the blood drive was to collect 150 units of blood.  But, with just a few hours left in the drive, 139 units of blood had been collected.  It’s not too late to help Memorial reach its goal. Call Memorial Hospital Central, 365-5411, to schedule an appointment. Mention you’re from UCCS. (Read more)

Governor and state senator visit. They both wore black cowboy boots and share first names but Governor Bill Ritter and Sen. Bill Cadman had little else in common this week as they visited campus to advocate for their respective positions on Amendment 58, a measure that would close a loophole on oil and gas taxes. Ritter spoke in favor of the amendment while Cadman stated his opposition. (Read more)

Jamaica beckons professor. Rex Welshon, associate dean, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture at the University of West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, during the 2008-2009 academic year. (Read more)

University Advancement introduced at campus forum. The University Advancement Division, which includes University Relations, Alumni Relations, University Events, Marketing, Federal & State Government Relations, and Real Estate Projects, unveiled its website, www.uccs.edu/advancement, at Thursday’s Chancellor’s Forum.  The website aligns with the division goal of promoting and enhancing the reputation of UCCS to its audiences, both internal and external.  Campus staff, faculty and students, can visit the website to utilize resources such as UCCS logo downloads, parking instructions, marketing templates, and tips and tricks for planning special events.  Questions or suggestions? Call 262-3637.

Student retention to be focus of November forum. The next all-university forum will be 11 a.m. Nov. 12 in the University Center Theater. Barbara Gaddis, director, First-Year Experience, and Robyn Marschke, director, Institutional Research, will present a Retention Recognition Rally to highlight success in retaining students and helping them graduate.

No tower, no problem for UCCS radio. There isn’t a transmitter, a tower, or a coveted Federal Communications Commission license to broadcast at UCCS. But Radio UCCS, formerly known as iSAMI, is celebrating its move from a windowless back room to new quarters at the University Center and administrative ties to the university’s Information Technology Department. (Read more)

It’s official - almost. Formal opening ceremonies for the Austin Bluffs and Union intersection will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 8. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak and Brian Burnett, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, will join with city officials to officially open the latest installment on eliminating excuses for arriving to class late. The ceremonies will be at University Hall.

Graduate School to host open house. Individuals interested in additional education in preparation for career change or advancement are encouraged to attend an open house for graduate studies Nov. 13 at UCCS. (Read more)

Kudos

CU President Bruce D. Benson on Wednesday honored three CU academic programs whose high-performing students excelled while in college and went on to post-graduate success in higher education, the business world and other professional realms. Among the winners was the UCCS Department of Chemistry. (More)

The Colorado Springs City Council recognized the UCCS Department of Homeland Defense Tuesday for its contribution to a city-wide emergency exercise last spring. Tina Markowski, Rick White and Andy Cain were cited.

In the News

• The Colorado Springs Business Journal wrote about the economy and quoted a UCCS faculty member in Local effect of Wall Street crisis
• The Colorado Springs Business Journal wrote about construction and mentioned UCCS in Commercial construction pipeline to see slower flow
• USA Today wrote about the effect of a tight economy on colleges in Tight times boost public colleges
• KOAA aired a story about Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign and quoted a UCCS faculty member in Obama "infomercial" watched by millions
• The Colorado Springs Gazette published a letter praising a UCCS police officer in UCCS police officer had impact on campus, neighborhood
• The Associated Press published a story about elections in Ohio and quoted a former UCCS faculty member in Presidential race zeros in on middle class
• The Pueblo Chieftain published a story about a local athlete considering UCCS in Gold medalist shares dream with DHPH students Wrestler
• The Colorado Springs Gazette published a story about high school graduation rates and quoted a UCCS faculty member in Area grad rates top U.S. average
• The Colorado Springs Gazette published a guest column about the actions of UCCS student government in Student official stymied discussion

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