Good morning and happy Wednesday. I hope you enjoyed a long three-day weekend and we find ourselves at the middle of the week already!

Well Done!

Congratulations to VP Holliday, Enrollment Management and Student Success and all of the faculty and staff in Academic Affairs who participated in a very successful Spring Preview this past Saturday! The collaborative spirit, energy, and enthusiasm for our campus and our students was palpable. 

University Resources and Planning Committee (URPC) Open Forum and Divisional Updates

Please join the University Resources and Planning Committee (URPC) for our Open Forum on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, from 12 pm-1:30 pm in Goodwin Forum. The purpose of the Open Forum is to seek your engagement and feedback in our initial drafting of the senate budget recommendation. Lunch will be provided. This follows several weeks of Divisional Reports to the URPC from the Vice Presidents, Chief of Staff, and Executive Directors. The attendance and positive engagement in this transparent process were terrific. If you missed any of the divisional updates, you can view the powerpoints slides associated with the aforementioned reports by clicking here and scrolling down to “meeting schedule and notifications”. We look forward to seeing you at the Open Forum.

Thanks to Vice President Chrissy Holiday for her divisional presentation to URPC during the March 29, 2024 meeting on Enrollment Management and Student Success priorities and opportunities. I also gave a presentation on Academic Affairs (Non-Instructional) as well. To view the recording of this meeting please click here. 

Director of Academic Resources Candidate Open Forums

Please welcome the second candidate, Nicole Alvarado, for the position of Director of Academic Resources on Friday, April 5, 2024, 2024 from 1:15-2:00 pm, in Founders Hall 206. The candidates have been asked to share their thought process and the steps they would engage stakeholders to address the issue of reducing the overall budget while selectively investing in growing academic programs.

You can view the recording of the first candidate, Christopher Wehan’s, open forum here. Please provide your feedback on the Candidate Input form here.

Sociology Guest Lecture: "Calling the Shots" - on Vaccine Hesitancy

Please join us for a guest lecture and snacks with Jennifer Reich, Professor of Sociology at CU Denver on Thursday, April 4 at from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Native American Forum (BSS 162). Her research on vaccine hesitancy is award winning and grabbed national headlines during the height of the pandemic and beyond. Her most recent work focuses on Black mothers and their vaccine refusal. Please see the attached flyer and a few articles that Dr. Reich shared for more information,

Join us for the Final Distinguished Faculty Lectures of 2023-24

On Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 5:30 pm in Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cindy Moyer will present her lecture commemorating her award for Outstanding Service.

Lecture Title: All I Really Needed to Know about Service, I Learned from Studying Music

Synopsis: Cindy will be joined by musical colleagues as she discusses and demonstrates musical skills that are also relevant for service work.  

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 5:00 pm in Goodwin Forum (NHE102), Sara Hart will present her lecture commemorating her award for Excellence in Teaching.

Lecture Title: Jim Hart's Magical Mystery Tour

Synopsis: This is the story of how I came to Religious Studies, and of what the journey has taught me about learning, teaching, and being in the world. To imagine alternate moral horizons, to practice being wrong about our most committed worldviews, to engage impossible beliefs: these are the keys that I have found to community, purpose, and hope.

These lectures are free and open to students, faculty, staff and members of the local community. Light refreshments provided.

Have a great rest of your week.

Jenn Capps

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