Announcements

Chancellor encourages optimism, lauds efforts to conserve campus finances. UCCS faculty and staff should encourage students to remain calm during the current financial downturn, Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak told those who attended her December campus forum today. (Read more)

Campus Appreciation Reception set. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak invited all staff and faculty to attend the 2008 Campus Appreciation Reception beginning at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Lodge. This year’s reception will have a new twist, homemade desserts.  There will be a taste testing and awards granted for the best dessert.  Please respond by Dec. 8 to exec1@uccs.edu.

Training gets upgrade. UCCS faculty and staff will have a new, greatly expanded library of online coursework available beginning Dec. 22. The CU System will change its delivery platform for all employee training from Blackboard to SkillSoft. (Read more)

Commencement volunteers needed. Staff are needed to hand out programs, usher families to seats or to otherwise assist in making Fall Commencement a special event for graduates and their supporters. Fall commencement is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Pikes Peak Center. To assist, contact Tina Collins, Office of the Dean of Students, tcollins@uccs.edu, 262-3258.

Redeveloped N. Nevada gets moniker. The area surrounding a retail complex on North Nevada and UCCS will be known as University District, Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak announced at a forum for faculty and staff today. The name selection came after private developers consulted with UCCS faculty, staff and students. The 80-acre retail area is slated to open in Fall 2009 and will feature a pedestrian underpass linking to UCCS.

Safety is a human right. A multiracial rally to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community presence on campus and beyond drew an estimated 200 people on Wednesday. See photos of the event and read the Colorado Springs Gazette’s coverage here.

Policy prohibiting discrimination affirmed. A memo from Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak this week outlined Regents policies regarding discrimination and provided complaint procedures for both discrimination and sexual harassment. (Read more)

Tibetan monks create sand mandala in the Kraemer Family Library.  The Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities and the Library are hosting the Tibetan Monks of the Garden Shartse Monastery today through Sunday.  The monks are creating a one-of-a-kind sand mandala in the front entrance of the library on the 2nd floor. The closing ceremony will take place Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. A sand mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand.  Once complete, the mandala is ritualistically destroyed to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life. (View photos)

Phone books arrive. Printed campus directories began arriving in campus offices today, serving as a reminder that on Jan. 1, all campus telephone numbers will change to having 255 prefixes. See the to-do list to prepare for the changeover. (Read more)

Kudos

Green Award. The Campus Sustainability Committee recently recognized the Bookstore for its leadership in reducing waste. Canvas bags are now available and during November, holders received discounts on brown clothing items. In December, coffee will be free for those who bring a mug.

Changes

• Jessica Wood to assistant athletic director for compliance, Athletic Department. Previously she was the head coach of the women’s volleyball team.
• Adelina Gomez to UCCS ombuds director effective Dec. 15. Previously, she served as an associate professor in the Department of Communication.

In the News

• The Denver Post wrote about college costs in Colleges flunk affordability exam
• The Boulder Daily Camera wrote about student leader action in CU student leaders may help fund GLBT center
• The Grand Junction Sentinel wrote about college funding in Colorado low-income families take beating on paying for college
• The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote about UCCS athletics in Another scare, but another loss for UCCS
• The Colorado Springs Business Journal wrote about Black Friday and interviewed a UCCS faculty member in Grey forecast

For more UCCS news mentions, visit the University Relations website at www.uccs.edu/ur