Message from Dean Howard
Spring 2009
Welcome to the spring 2009 semester in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver. I hope the holiday season was restful and enjoyable to all of you and that the New Year will be a year of growth and happiness for each of you.
A great deal has happened since the last the last publication of the Deans’ Notes. The estimate of the state deficit grew dramatically in December and now exceeds $600 million dollars. In response to the deficit, the Governor has recommended $30 million in cuts to the 2008-2009 higher education budget. As painful as these cuts will be, the recommendation could have been for greater cuts, and we can all be grateful to the Governor for his clear support of higher education.
With this first round of recommended budget cuts, some clarity has been introduced to a very uncertain budget situation. Unfortunately, there is still a great deal we do not know. In particular, the state budget for 2009-2010 has not yet taken shape and the impact of the continuing recession on the funds available for higher education has not yet been determined. A budget cut for higher education in the next fiscal year is almost certain, but the size is difficult to predict. Adding to the uncertainty, but in a positive way, is the stimulus package currently working its way through the U.S. Congress. As currently written in the House of Representatives, the stimulus package includes direct support for higher education. Moreover, by pumping new funds into state budgets, the stimulus package may lead to reductions in the size and scope of budget cuts at the state level.
Where does this leave CLAS? First of all, the college is more important to the future of Colorado than ever before. As the recession leads to job losses and fewer opportunities for the people of the state, higher education takes on heightened importance. Our location at the heart of the major population center in the state means that a large number of people are turning to us for retraining and to finish degree programs that were left on the back burner when the economy was stronger and jobs were abundant. Our student credit hour production this spring has increased by seven percent over last spring. Wait lists for classes are at all time highs. Meeting the needs of an increased number of students at the same time that state support for higher education declines will be a challenge, but it is a challenge that can be met through careful, shared planning and the determined efforts of a dedicated faculty and staff.
In the near term, while we wait for more clarity in the 2009-2010 budget, the Dean’s Office will begin to plan for the upcoming year with the Budget Priorities Committee, the Council of Chairs, and the CLAS Council. As part of this planning process, we are slowing down ongoing searches for tenure track positions. Final hiring decisions will be delayed for several weeks while we consult with governance groups and wait for the budget picture to become less murky.
Although CLAS faces near term challenges, I continue to believe in the bright future of the college and the University of Colorado Denver, and I thank each of you for the commitment and dedication that are the hallmarks of the faculty and staff of this college.
With all best wishes,
Dan
NEW! Friday, Jan. 30: CLAS Faculty and Staff Open Forum with the Chancellor and Provost
Friday, Jan. 30
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
North Classroom Building, Room 1535
CLAS faculty and staff are invited to an open forum with Chancellor M. Roy Wilson and Provost Roderick Nairn.
This is an opportunity to become better acquainted with the leadership of UC Denver and to engage in a discussion of issues important to the college and the broader university community. Your attendance would be greatly appreciated. mentioned in the Dean's message above, Dean Howard is holding a faculty and staff meeting to discuss the present and the future of CLAS.
NEW! George W. Zinke Award ($10,000) in Economics for Advanced Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Deadline: May 15
The George W. Zinke Award in Economics honors the best paper written in the history of economic
thought at any of the University of Colorado campuses. The award, established in honor of the late
University of Colorado Professor George Zinke, has been established in order to encourage economics
students at the University of Colorado to develop a passion for the history of economic thought and for
advancing and applying economics in order to foster social justice and the betterment of humankind.
However, suitable applicants for the award from other relevant disciplines including, but not limited to
history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology and law, are eligible for the award.
The Zinke Award competition is open to any advanced undergraduate or graduate student at the
University of Colorado, though special consideration will be given to applicants who plan to continue
their education in economics following receipt of the award. The award may be used to advance the
recipients’ education at any appropriate university in the United States or at any appropriate university
in another country.
Information
Questions: Professor Steven Medema
NEW! Updated VPN Process for Remote Users
Register by Feb. 1
UC Denver IT Services has rolled out a new VPN process for Faculty, Staff and Students who have had their domain accounts migrated. In order to continue to use your VPN service, you will need to go to https://admin.cudenver.edu/vpn/ to reregister your account.
All that is required is a valid university or Ouray user account. You must read and accept the Appropriate Use Policy and Home Wireless Configuration Standards in order to be approved and processed for your new account. Once you have agreed to these policies, you will be forwarded to a page with a new, downloadable, Cisco VPN client with the new VPN configurations for access.
IT Services asks that everyone complete this prior to Feb. 1 as the current hardware is at end of life and will be retired due to non-support from our vendor. If you have not been migrated to the new University Domain, please continue to use the existing system. However if you have been migrated and have not registered with the new system your VPN will no longer function.
NEW! Number to Call for Severe Weather Closures
Please share with your students
The University of Colorado Denver now will provide weather and other emergency-related information, as appropriate, on a toll-free phone line effective immediately. The number is 1-877-INFO-070 (or 1-877-463-6070). You'll want to make a note of this number. Take a minute now to program it into your cell or home phone for easy access when conditions develop that may affect UC Denver's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora or the Downtown Denver-Auraria Campus.
When extreme winter weather conditions do develop, UC Denver's normal business operations can be affected. Students, faculty and staff should check local broadcast news media (television and radio) for announcements about closures or schedule adjustments. Information also will be available online at www.ucdenver.edu/alerts. You should bookmark this for future reference. Typically, decisions to close the campuses or delay start times is determined in time for the 6:00 A.M. news broadcasts.
For those who routinely are on UC Denver's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora updates will be available on the new toll-free line 1-877-INFO-070 (or 1-877-463-6070) or online.
Students, faculty and staff connected to the Downtown Denver Auraria Campus also can check for recorded updates on the Auraria line 303-556-2401.
NEW! Shots Fired
Please share with your students
Join the University Police Department for a viewing of the video “Shots Fired – When Lightning Strikes,” a film about surviving an active shooter situation. A discussion with questions and answers will follow the video. Two viewings are scheduled.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
12:00 noon and 2:00 pm
CU Building, Room 480
CLAS in the Spotlight
Abbie Beacham, assistant professor of psychology, is first author on a Society of Behavioral Medicine policy brief that was recently released. The brief is important from a policy formation standpoint and furthering the clinical health psychologists discipline. The brief encourages integration of health psychologists into primary care settings to foster health behavior change. It has been forwarded to Department of Health and Human Services and the Obama Administration health care constituency. (View policy brief)
The work of Michael Greene, assistant professor of biology, was featured Jan. 7 on a nationally televised show (PBS) called National Geographic’s Wild Chronicles. The segment was conceived, written and directed by Hans Rosenwinkel, an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre, Film and Video Production, College of Arts and Media.
The segment described some of Greene’s research on the regulation of harvester ant colonies. The work covered is being performed using western harvester ants found at a field site in downtown Denver. Greene performs these experiments with the help of undergraduate students. About eight students have assisted in various projects at the site the past few years.
Noah Eli Gordon, English instructor, was honored with this year's Poetry Center Book Award for his recent book, Novel Pictorial Noise. The Poetry Center at San Francisco State University gives this award annually to an outstanding book of poetry published in the previous year. (More information)
The Economics Behind the Shanahan Change
CBS 4 News, 1/6
Kyle Hurst, economics instructor, was interviewed.
Polis pushes private bailout for auto industry
KWGN-TV CH 2 (CW), 12/10
Jim Smith, professor of economics, was interviewed.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB Today; December issue) highlighted Biology Professor Brad Stith's recent publication.
Diana Tomback, professor of biology, has been interviewed and quoted as an expert on the whitebark pine and blister rust regarding the petition by the
Natural Resources Defense Council to have whitebark pine listed as an endangered species.
Group wants pines listed
Jackson Hole News and Guide, 12/10
The silent tragedy of whitebark pine Louisa Willcox , 12/9
Whitebark Pine, An Endangered Species By Publius, 12/9
NRDC Petitions to Protect Whitebark Pine Under the Endangered ...
By Andrew Wetzler, 12/9
The Reign of Whitebark Pine By Sylvia Fallon
Greens move to save tree bears depend on
Jackson Hole News and Guide, 12/10
Conservation Groups Seek Pine Protections
Casper Star Tribune, 12/9
Protection Sought for Whitebark Pine
Dubois Frontier, 12/18
EVENTS
Open Forum with UCD Leadership
Friday, Jan. 30
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
North Classroom Building, Room 1535
150 years after On the Origin of Species: Darwin's magnificent legacy
Thursday, Feb. 12
11:00 - 3:30 p.m.
King Center Recital Hall
(information)
The Crisis of Inclusion in Higher Education
Thursday, Feb. 12
11:30 - 3:30 pm
2nd Floor Atrium, Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence Street
(information)
Representing Human Inferiority: Medical Genocide as Policy and Ideology
Professor Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Emory University
Monday, Feb. 16
1:00-2:30pm
Tivoli 640 (The Zenith Room)
(information)
In Memoriam
Alumnus Michael Gorniak (BA Communication 2004, MH 2008) passed away on January 14.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from Dean Howard
Open Forum with UCD Leadership
VPN Updates
Severe Weather Phone Number
Shots Fired Video
CLAS in the Spotlight
Events
In Memoriam
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