Northern News

What’s happening on campus and in the Northern Colorado community

UNC Hosts Second Annual Mental Health Summit

Grief still grips the Virginia Tech campus, nearly two years after a student killed 32 people there, said Christopher Flynn, director of the Virginia Tech counseling center. Flynn was on the University of Northern Colorado campus in November as keynote speaker of the Second Annual Mental Health Summit at UNC. The summit also featured Colorado first lady and UNC alumna Jeannie Ritter, as well as a panel discussion on campus safety. Flynn talked about industry trends, confidentiality laws and the implementation of threat assessment teams on college campuses. Flynn said mental health issues tend to hit campuses because most disorders develop in people by the time they are college age. Flynn cited a study that found 28 percent to 30 percent of adults at any given time suffer from a mental health disorder. Colleges across the country, including UNC, have launched threat assessment teams that work to defuse problems. UNC has five full-time counselors and has received accreditation from the International Association of Counseling Services. UNC supports its counseling center with a psychological services clinic in the School of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education. This fall, UNC also launched a mass-notification system that, in an emergency, sends alerts to student cell phones. Kim Wilcox, interim director of UNC’s counseling center, said parents ask a lot about safety today. “They talk about Virginia Tech,” she said. “What do you have in place?”

Clinefelter Receives Harrison Award

Joan Clinefelter, professor of history, has received the 2008 M. Lucile Harrison Award, which is UNC’s top faculty honor. Recipients of the Harrison Award are recognized for their lifelong achievement in teaching, scholarship and service. Clinefelter, a well-respected scholar who specializes in European history, has been a member of the UNC faculty since 1995. During that time she has received both the International Professor of the Year and Favorite Professor Awards. Clinefelter published a book about Nazi Germany in 2005 and recently received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct research at the George C. Marshall Research Library in Lexington, Va., and the National Archives in College Park, Md. In addition, she is past president of the Faculty Senate and also served as the faculty trustee for the UNC Board of Trustees for two terms.

Solar Panels on McKee Latest Conservation Effort

In recognition of its ongoing commitment to conservation, the University of Northern Colorado has received a $10,000 grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to help pay for a $100,000 project that will use solar panels atop McKee Hall to generate a portion of the building’s energy needs. It’s expected the pilot project — the first time solar panels have been installed on a campus building — will pay for itself through the use of renewable energy. Remaining funding for the project will come from annual utility savings from previous conservation measures, such as installation of energy efficient lighting and equipment at Michener Library.

Crews began installing 70 feet of solar panels on McKee Hall’s roof in September. It’s expected the panels will be operational by the end of November 2009. While the panels won’t supply all of McKee’s energy needs, their contribution will be significant: They’re capable of supplying 9.6 kWh, or enough power to meet the monthly demands of an average U.S. household. “UNC is dedicated to energy conservation,” said Dave Nalley, UNC manager of utility systems/resource conservation. “We’re actively pursuing ways to implement conservation measures including renewable energy as fast as possible when they become available.” The university was named one of four recipients of the city of Greeley’s first Environmental Stewardship Award, which recognize individuals and businesses for outstanding efforts and strategies for protecting the environment. Examples of other UNC conservation measures include increasing its recycling of paper, cardboard and other items from 103,000 pounds annually to more than 521,000 pounds; cutting natural gas and electricity consumption by more than15 percent since 2002 through the use of energy-efficient equipment and energy-conservation practices; refitting more than 2,000 faucets and shower heads on campus with low-flow fixtures; and building automation systems allow adjustments to be made remotely to lighting, some using motion sensing, and to thermostats for optimal efficiency.

Falcon Honored by City of Greeley Museums

Priscilla Falcon, professor of Hispanic Studies, was awarded the 2008 Community Award in Education from the Latino Advisory Committee of the City of Greeley Museums. Falcon was honored at a reception on Nov. 13, at the Greeley History Museum. Falcon is currently working on the Colorado Oral History and Migratory Labor Project, a program that has three major components—to document the Bracero history in northern Colorado, research the recent impact of immigration raids on families and to develop archival material, curriculum and research about migration and the impact of this migration on children. If you would like more information about the Colorado Oral History and Migratory Labor Project, contact Priscilla Falcon at 970.351.1267.

UNC Professor Honored for Contributions

UNC School of Sport and Exercise Science Professor Carole Schneider has been named an Outstanding Woman of Weld County by Friends of A Woman’s Place, which provides assistance to battered women and children. Schneider, a cancer survivor herself, is director of UNC’s Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Center and was one of only five women honored for their contributions during the organization’s 15th Annual Celebrating Women Gala on Oct. 25, 2008. UNC Professor Honored for Contributions

UNC Receives $3.5 Million for Regional Center

The University of Northern Colorado received a five-year, $3.5 million Technical Assistance and Continuing Education grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish one of the nation’s 10 regional centers for vocational rehabilitation services. The Region VIII TACE project is a joint effort with community leaders in disability support at the Center for Training and Technical Assistance, Denver Options, directed by Gayann Brandenburg. The Region VIII TACE Center at UNC will serve agencies in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah through this unique partnership of academic, governmental and community expertise. To read more, visit New Story.

UNC Hosts Denver Public Schools Preview Day

The University of Northern Colorado hosted 300-plus juniors and seniors from the Denver Public Schools system on Tuesday, Oct. 28, during the first-ever DPS Preview Day. The inaugural, cooperative program is intended to introduce high schoolers to UNC, reveal the university’s many Points of Pride and excite potential undergraduates about becoming Bears. Students from 12 different high schools attended an information fair and special presentations, toured the UNC campus and ate lunch in the school’s dining halls. For additional information about future collaborations between UNC and the Denver Public Schools system, contact the Visitors Center at 970.351.2097.

Homecoming Weekend October 2008

In October, thousands of UNC alumni, friends and family returned to campus to celebrate Homecoming Weekend 2008. (Top) UNC football players inspire each other before the Homecoming Game. (Bottom, l-r) Homecoming Queen Alison Markovchick and Homecoming King Duncan Northern share a hug; 2008 Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient Rhoda Rogers ’88 joins the parade; Foundation VP of Development Mike Johnson fires up the crowd; and 50-Year Reunion attendees share memories: (l-r) Robert Smith ’58, Susan Roushar ’58, Marilyn Shouse ’58, Margaret Thornburg ’58, Paul Lind ’58, Ada Allard ’58 and J. June Saldana ’58.

Equity and Diversity Council Launches Faculty Lecture Series

The first presentation in the Equity and Diversity Council faculty lecture series was held on Oct. 22 in the University Center Aspen rooms. Bob Brunswig, professor of Anthropology, presented, “The Grand Ditch and Japanese Historic Contributions to Weld County Irrigation and Agriculture.” The presentation was based on archaeological research conducted by UNC faculty and students that documented the role Japanese immigrant laborers played in the growth and success of agriculture in Weld County and Greeley in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including their participation in the first efforts to irrigate Colorado’s eastern plains. For information about future topics and faculty speakers, contact the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at cetl@unco.edu.

Mortar Board Wins National Awards

This past summer, the Gold Key chapter of Mortar Board at UNC was recognized as one of the most exemplary chapters in the nation by the 2008 Mortar Board National Conference in Columbus, OH . “We could not be more excited to receive these awards. But we’re dedicated to work even harder to make sure that we earn these awards again and again and again,” said Gold Key chapter president Charlene Bobet. The Gold Key chapter was originally established as a women’s senior honor society, and it has been nationally recognized as a chapter since 1972. The chapter has consistently received either the Gold or Silver Torch Awards, along with the Project Excellence Award. “It is given to chapters who not only meet all of the national chapter minimum standards, but who truly go above and beyond and excel throughout the year,” said Alicia Notestone, the Mortar Board national office editor and communications coordinator. “Chapters like the University of Northern Colorado take the exemplification of scholarship, leadership and service to a new level, and they really serve as great role models for our other chapters.” The UNC chapter was one of 27 chapters nationwide to receive the Golden Torch Award. The chapter also won one of 36 total project excellence awards.

Honor Society Earns National Award

The University of Northern Colorado chapter of Sigma Delta Pi—the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society—has been selected for the 2008 Ignacio and Sophie Galbis Award, presented annually to the society’s most outstanding chapter. The award recognizes the caliber of chapter projects that reflect the Sigma Delta Pi mission of honoring excellence in the study of the Spanish language, contributing to cultural understanding and upholding the goals of the society. Nationally there are 552 chapters of the honor society. In announcing the award, the society’s national office cited faculty adviser Efraín E. Garza as instrumental in the local chapter’s selection for the award. Garza, an assistant professor of Hispanic Studies at UNC, last year was selected as the most outstanding chapter adviser in the nation.

University Names New Marketing Team

Chuck Leonhardt joined the University of Northern Colorado in September 2008, with nearly 20 years of marketing and communications experience in both academic and corporate environments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Utah State University and pursued graduate work in communication and leadership at Gonzaga University. At UNC, Leonhardt oversees the university’s external relations activities, including community relations, commencement, institutional identity development, marketing, public and media relations, and electronic and print publications. He also connects the university’s marketing and communication efforts with those of the UNC Foundation. Between 2006 and 2008, Leonhardt served as assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Gonzaga University where he developed the institution’s first comprehensive marketing program.Prior to his appointment at Gonzaga, Leonhardt served five years as director of marketing for Spillman Technologies Inc., in Logan, UT, and 11 years at Utah State University as director of marketing and communications, marketing manager, director of trademark licensing and a consultant.

Lisa Barkley joined UNC in November 2008 with more than 17 years of experience in marketing communications, brand management, strategic planning and market research. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in journalism, both from the University of Nevada-Reno. At UNC, Barkley is responsible for brand identity, print design, advertising and promotion, market research and marketing publications. Before coming to UNC, Barkley worked in marketing for Gannett Co. Inc., in Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, and was most recently market development director for the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

UNC Enrollment Increases in Key Areas

Numbers for new graduate students, out-of-state students and transfer students are up at the University of Northern Colorado, according to enrollment estimates from the first day of fall classes.

New non-resident undergraduates (new freshmen and transfers from other institutions) are up 22 percent, with more than 700 transferring from other institutions. About 400 new undergraduate students from out-of-state are enrolled. Non-resident enrollment is up about 3 percent.

Traditional new graduate students to campus increased 18 percent. About 2,100 are enrolled in graduate programs, up 4 percent. Total numbers for graduate students in online and off-campus programs are not yet available because some classes have not started.

As of Sept. 1, about 2,840 are living in the residence halls.

Overall, total enrollment is 11,925, which is somewhat better than predicted. New freshmen account for about half of the 2 percent decline. There are 2,114 new freshmen enrolled, about 130 fewer than last year.

“We’re beginning to see the results of very intentional recruiting as we become more strategic in how we reach out to prospective students,” said UNC President Kay Norton.

In addition, more than 20 percent of students who lived in the residence halls last year returned to live on campus this semester. About 2,860 students are living in residence halls.

Professor Basu Driving Force Behind New Biodiesel Source

If UNC professor Chhandak Basu is successful with his latest research, an inexpensive and abundant alternative to gasoline may soon be available. Basu, assistant professor of biological sciences, has received a $49,643 grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade to conduct research on a tropical tree known as the “diesel tree.”

Funding from the grant, along with matching funds from UNC, will support Basu’s research on developing diesel fuel from the copaiba tree. Native to South America, the copaiba tree produces a resin extract that can be converted into fuel. Because the tree only thrives in tropical climates, Basu is attempting to identify the genes in the tree that produce the resin. Basu plans to clone those genes then transfer them to algae and native Colorado weeds. If he is successful, he intends to share the plant with academic and nonprofit organizations. He hopes to have the first genetically modified plants ready within a year.

“It’s an ideal time to work on a biodiesel project to find a solution to rising fuel costs,” Basu said. “It’s affecting all people—from rich to poor.”

According to Basu, biofuels created from the copaiba tree may eventually provide a cheaper alternative to gasoline and help reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. The next step would be to determine the economic viability of this biodiesel. “This is a homegrown product,” Basu said. “This could be a cash crop for farmers.”

Some experts say the demand for food-based ethanol demand for biofuels is outpacing supply, which translates to more expensive food. Since 2001, corn grown to produce ethanol in the United States has increased by 300 percent. Biofuels faced other criticism this year. Two studies published in the journal Science argue that biofuels release significant greenhouse gases because of the energy expended tearing up the land. This is the reason Basu is conducting his research with algae.

UNC to Share $5 Million Mathematics Grant

The University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming (UW) Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC) and UW Department of Mathematics recently received a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation’s Math- Science Partnership Program. The grant will fund a joint Mathematics Teacher Leadership Center with two major goals—to create a virtual master’s degree program targeting teachers already in the classroom and establish a program to train and support mathematics educators who wish to become professional development providers. SMTC Director Robert Mayes says the program is in response to reports issued by the NSF and other organizations indicating the need to engage more students in mathematics disciplines. “It specifically targets leaders in mathematics education,” says Mayes. “It will examine how to create good professional development that is sustainable, how to become a leader in mathematics education and how to conduct workshops. Students can take courses from either institution and have them accepted at in-state tuition from the university that offers it and is accepted by either university.” The program’s first students will begin this summer. Courses taught on-site at UW and UNC and video-streamed to the other site will be part of the inaugural semester. Web-based courses also will be offered by both universities during the academic year. Initially, the program will be open only to Wyoming and Colorado residents. Regional and national expansion is possible as the program develops. For more information, visit the UW Science and Mathematics Teaching Center website at http://smtc.uwyo.edu, email smtc@uwyo.edu or call 307.766.6381.

‘Cans to Candelaria’ Pound-for-Pound the Best Food Drive

In an effort to help the Weld Food Bank keep cans of food on its shelves, the University of Northern Colorado School of Communication hosted the third annual Cans to Candelaria food drive and collected more than 25,000 pounds of food. Students from the senior public relations techniques class, along with guidance from Assistant Professor of Journalism Lee Anne Peck, worked on the food drive to sign up student and faculty groups, promote the food drive, organize the logistics and, most of all, set the goal of 10,000 pounds of food, cash or a combination of the two. “We set our goals and objectives and accomplished them,” journalism student Paris Mackey said. “We exceeded not only how many groups we needed to sign up, but the amount of pounds as well.” During homecoming week, the 81 groups that were officially signed up to participate were asked to collect as much canned or non-perishable food and money as possible. Groups were given the chance to challenge another group to see who could collect the most, and the group that collected the most overall won the coveted Cans to Candelaria trophy. On Oct. 9, when the food drive concluded, the groups brought all of their food and money to one of five drop-off points in Greeley. The on-campus drop-offs were in the parking lot west of Candelaria Hall and the north side of Kepner Hall. The Student Dietetic Association once again won the trophy followed closely by the School of Communication and University Libraries. Residence Life helped by collecting an additional $504 and 138 cans at the Homecoming Formal. By Oct. 14, including pounds of food and cash, UNC collected over 28,000 pounds of donations. “I’m pleased we were able to help the Weld Food Bank as much as we did and I know they were pleased too,” Peck said. In 2006, Cans to Candelaria collected almost 4,000 pounds of food, and then almost 8,000 pounds in 2007. This was the first year money was collected in the food drive. According to the Weld Food Bank, in these economic times the money donated actually goes further than a can of food. One dollar equals six pounds of food, retail. “I hope that each year we can do better for the Weld Food Bank,” Peck said.

President Norton Elected to National Leadership Board, Selected to Serve on Immigration Panel

UNC President Kay Norton will serve a one-year term on the board of directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities at the organization’s annual meeting in Williamsburg, Va. AASCU is the leadership association of 430 public colleges and universities with common commitments to provide educational access, affordability and opportunity. Norton was also recently selected to join a University of Denver panel that will use input from local and national experts and opinion leaders from all parts of the nation and all sides of the immigration issue to build a postpartisan policy framework for state and national immigration reform. The panel is part of DU’s Strategic Issues Program, which examines issues with strategic significance to the future of Colorado, have reached a critical stage in citizen concern and that are in need of reasonable recommendations. To follow the progress of the 2009 Immigration Panel, visit www.du.edu/issues.

State Farm Insurance Donates $95,000 to UNC

State Farm Insurance Co. in Greeley has donated $95,000 to the university. The donation includes $90,000 to the Monfort College of Business and $5,000 to the Cumbres program. The donation to Monfort provides scholarships for 30 students and support for three programs, including the college’s advertising and promotions class; Avanza, which encourages and promotes bilingual business majors; and the Monfort component of the First-Year Experience, a UNC class aimed at helping students stay in school. The $5,000 donation supports the university’s Cumbres program, a teacherpreparation program for students committed to working with Hispanic school children, language minority students and children of poverty in public schools. “Once again we’re proud to support the Monfort College of Business and UNC,” said Ken Cook ’80, ’84, vice president-operations for State Farm in Greeley, board chair of the UNC Foundation and State Farm recognizes the value of higher education as today’s students inevitably become tomorrow’s leaders member of the Monfort Dean’s Leadership Council. “State Farm recognizes the value of higher education as today’s students inevitably become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Looking in The Mirror: Campus Newspaper Marks 90th Year

Its campus debut was nothing flashy—four pages, no pictures and one advertisement promoting a basketball game between the faculty and the seniors. Yet those four primitive newsprint pages ushered in a new era of journalism at the university.

On Feb. 28, 1919, The Mirror marked the first time a publication appeared on campus with the intention of covering only school news and events. With its birth came detailed information about how the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority initiated its nine new members, among other timely news. Nearly 90 years since the then-weekly newspaper provided a near play-by-play account of the men’s basketball team’s 26-22 loss to Colorado School of Mines, The Mirror has continued to deliver news to the campus and the city of Greeley. The newspaper, which is completely student-run, except for the general manager and bookkeeper, now publishes three days a week and maintains a daily presence on the web at www.uncmirror.com.

The paper has come a long way since 1919 when Colorado State Teachers College student Ralph Bennett penned its name and was inspirational in creating a new source that varied from the school’s literary magazine, The Crucible. On page 2 of the inaugural edition of The Mirror, the editorial staff wrote this explanation: “Beginning with this issue of The Mirror is a radical change in the heretofore policy of C.S.T.C. publications. We are uniting the old system of the monthly or bimonthly Crucible with last year’s weekly newspaper plan, endeavoring to give the students twice as much as formerly. The Mirror is a weekly digest of school news, a concentrated sheet of congealed pep and ginger. We make no apologies for its size as we expect to make up in the quality of our work what is lacking in quantity.”

To honor all the hardworking people who have made the newspaper the leading campus source it is today, as well as commemorate the newspaper’s 90th anniversary, the current Mirror staff invites all former employees to an open house at noon on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at 823 16th St. in Greeley. The current staff will be on hand to give visitors a tour of the building and to show how the paper is produced. If you are interested in attending the event, contact Mirror General Manager Kurt Hinkle at 970.392.9286 or by email at khinkle@uncmirror.com.