Message from Dean Howard
Fall Semester
Okay, there is no getting around the fact that the fall semester begins in three and a half weeks and it is time to begin putting together syllabi, lectures, case studies, inquiry-based learning exercises, and the like. Although the end of summer typically brings with it some regrets over unfinished work and the loss of time that can be devoted to personal scholarship and projects, there are many reasons to look forward to the fall semester. The entering freshman class promises to be the largest in our history (overall enrollment in CLAS four weeks before the beginning of classes was 12.8 % above last fall’s figures) and it is a group of students who are excited to be here. Survey data indicates that with each passing year, a larger proportion of our freshman students attend UC Denver because it is their university of first choice. A large cadre of transfer students will also be entering the university, excited at the prospect of starting over, learning new skills, and/or simply enrolling at a university that has the promise of being a better fit. As you encounter these new students, please take the time to say a friendly word or extend a helping hand. Good experiences in the first few weeks of the semester can be critical in helping students make the adjustment to university life.
Meeting the teaching needs of these students, given the limited resources available to the university and the college, is no small challenge and requires the cooperation of both faculty and staff (cooperation that has never been found wanting in the past). If you are teaching a class that has a waiting list, please consider increasing the class size limit, if it is pedagogically sound to do so and the size of the classroom will allow it. If you are scheduled to teach a class that seems unlikely to meet minimum enrollment requirements, cancel the class sooner rather than later, and meet with your chair to determine how best to re-channel this part of your teaching commitment. If we have not yet been able to schedule your class because it is being taught at a time when there is great competition for classrooms, consider teaching the class on Friday. There are many classrooms available throughout that day of the week.
Before closing, allow me to say, perhaps a bit prematurely, welcome to the 2009-2010 academic year. It promises to be an eventful year.
With all best wishes,
Dan
When Writing Center Worlds Collide, Kids Come Out On Top
The University of Colorado Denver Writing Center and Metro Denver Promotion of Letters (MDPL), a Denver non-profit dedicated to creating a writing/tutoring center for children ages 5-18, collaborated to offer a free, weeklong Summer Writing Camp for local kids. The first, famously successful, Writing Camp for 12-15 year-olds was held July 6-10; the second was held July 20-24. Students gathered each morning and afternoon in the UC-Denver Writing Center to complete writing exercises and workshops related to description, environment, art, authorship, and publishing. During this time, professional consultants from the UCD Writing Center and MDPL volunteered to assist and support these young writers as they created haikus, collages, experience pieces and eventually a published collection of their work. Drew Bixby, Assistant Director of the UCD Writing Center said, “We’re very excited and proud to support the next generation of successful writers and college students, and we think the greater University community will agree.”
CLAS in the Spotlight
McGraw-Hill will be publishing a book by Sociology Instructor Pete Padilla on interpersonal attraction. The book takes the reader through the basic/fundamental social forces (sociological forces) "in play" in the social market and how individuals interact within these so-called markets. Dr. Padilla is also working on writing a text for an introductory sociology course for McGraw-Hill.
The Santa Fe New Mexican featured a story on rare T-rex footprints discovered in Northern New Mexico in 1983. The story featured comments from Professor of Geology Martin Lockley who was part of a team that verified its authenticity in 1994. To this date, the imprint remains the only confirmed T. rex track in the world. To read the complete story click here.
EVENTS
CLAS Chairs’ Retreat
Monday, August 10, 2009
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
TIV 640
CLAS New Faculty Orientation
Monday, August 10, 2009
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
TIV 440
CLAS Chairs’ and New Faculty Reception
Monday, August 10, 2009
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
TIV 640
IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from Dean Howard
When Writing Center Worlds Collide, Kids Come Out On Top
CLAS in the Spotlight
Events
ARCHIVES:
Past issues since Jan 21, 2007.
USEFUL LINKS:
CLAS Event Calendar
CLAS News
Faculty Resources
Staff Resources
Campus News
The CLAS Deans' Notes is a bi-weekly newsletter
for college faculty and staff.
EDITOR:
Katy Brown
303.556.6663
Katy.Brown @ucdenver.edu