News Releases for UNC

Office of Undergraduate Research Awards Summer Stipends

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 MDT

University of Northern Colorado�s Office of Undergraduate Research recently awarded summer research stipends of $1,000 each to four UNC seniors and a $250 award to a fifth student. The faculty-judged awards, which allow students to continue their research over the summer, are as follows: - Aaron Adamson, Physics and Secondary Education major, �Development of Large Scale Projectile Launcher for Kinematics Education.� Adamson is researching and developing a large scale projectile launcher to be used for kinematics demonstrations and experimentation with high school or late middle school students. �Student motivations is absolutely vital to effective teaching and active learning,� Adamson says. �A demonstration on this level would be particularly suited to generate student interest in sciences, physics, and kinematics application.� Adamson�s eventual goal for his current research will be demonstration and use in various schools in the Greeley area. - Jordan Aken, Physics major with an emphasis in Engineering, �Developing Novel Techniques in High-Speed Imaging.� Aken plans on designing and building a high-speed imaging workstation that will be used to capture images of various physical phenomena. Aken says the goal is to be able to use crossed-polarized and semi-transparent materials to visualize the amount of stress, and potential breakage of an object. �This will allow us to actually see stress on an object in real time rather than just trying to calculate what it should be. We would like to see how objects react and weaken under external force or impact, and use our results to guide how mechanical structures should be engineered; potentially affecting how we design and build everything from bridges to speaker boxes to baseball bats.� - Nicholas Broeker, Psychology major, �The Effect of Non-Linguistic Vocalizations on Emotion Perception.� Broeker�s research, which he recently presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Ithaca, NY, examines the effect that harsh music has on an individual�s perception of facial expressions and emotions. This summer Broeker will research human vocalizations and explore stimuli, such as words and sentences that influence perceptions of facial emotions. �We believe that this research will help to further the understanding of how the human-threat detection system works in response to emotionally valence auditory stimuli,� Broeker says. - Benjamin Lee, Biology major, �Cloning of Antibody cDNAS from the Jamaican Fruit Eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicensis).� Lee�s research focuses on cloning of antibody genes from the Jamaican fruit bat to examine fragments of the genes to eventually use the antibodies for use in immunological analysis. Lee says, �In recent years, bats have been identified as reservoirs or potential reservoirs for several important human viruses including Hendra virus, Nipah virus, ebolaviruses and SARS coronavirus. Many of these viruses appear to establish persistent infections without signs of disease in bats, but when transmitted to humans, these viruses can be fatal and lead to hemorrhagic fevers and other deadly diseases.� Lee hopes this research will help identify the immunoglobulin composition of Jamaican fruit bats to further understand the differences between bat and human antibodies. - Sara Pena, Psychology major, �Picture Me as Writer: Using Photoelicitation to Explore Writing Self-Efficacy of Struggling Writers.� Pena received an Honorable Mention award and received $250 for research supplies. Pena�s research addresses the relationship between efficacy, motivation, and literacy learning and considers approaches for using motivation to improve student performance. By using photographs to trigger ideas, emotions, and/or connections to help students articulate their sense of efficacy, Pena plans to research what educators can do to foster and increase self-efficacy among students. �This research will turn the same attention to writing performance as has been directed to mathematics and begin a discussion of what teachers can do to raise students� levels of self-efficacy as a means to improving not only engagement and motivation, but academic achievement in writing,� Pena says. More information about the summer stipend is here. The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) not only assists with research presentation and stipend opportunities, but also functions to support undergraduate students and faculty with ongoing projects and research initiatives by providing research opportunities, funding, and recognition in all areas of scholarly endeavors. �OUR was created to highlight undergraduate research activities at UNC and to ensure that research and creative works opportunities are available to all undergraduate students,� said Stephen Mackessy, faculty fellow for Undergraduate Research at UNC�s Center for Honors, Scholars, and Leadership. The office is currently in the process of preparing several grant-funding proposals to national agencies to increase opportunities like the summer stipend program and provide support for undergraduate research projects at UNC. For more information, including research opportunities, visit the OUR website, or contact Mackessy at stephen.mackessy@unco.edu or 970-351-2429.

UNC Trustees Approve Action Items at Meeting May 13

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 MDT

UNC�s Board of Trustees unanimously approved action items on the agenda at a regularly scheduled meeting Friday, May 13. The board voted to: - Approve faculty promotions and tenure for 2011-12 as recommended by Provost Abe Harraf. - Pass a revision to a previously approved resolution on refunding 2001 bonds to make separate resolutions for the bonds for auxiliary services and Arlington Park. - Approve a Faculty Senate revision to language in board policy to match the current academic structure. Board members also discussed the proposed 2011-12 budget, which aligns with the university�s multiyear financial plan. Vice President of Finance and Administration Michelle Quinn presented the proposal that covered tuition rates and sustainable cost savings previously discussed at the March meeting. Trustees will set rates and consider next year�s budget at their meeting June 10.

UNC�s Summer Lineup Features Classes, Community Events, Sports Camps

Thu, 5 May 2011 00:00:00 MDT

More than 4,000 University of Northern Colorado students attending classes this summer will be joined by more than 15,000 people attending more than 90 sports camps, professional workshops and conferences, musical and theatrical performances, and a variety of private functions being held on campus. UNC-sponsored summer activities include: - More than 300 summer classes over six-, eight- and 10-week sessions (registration is still open) - New Student Orientation for incoming freshman and transfer students: Sessions begin in June and run through the summer. - Hands-On Art Classes: Non-credit classes begin in June. - Little Theatre of the Rockies (77th season begins June 9). - Frontiers of Science Institute for high school seniors: June 19-July 29. - Concerts Under the Stars, weekly performances in July. - UNC Jazz Camp, for middle school through college-aged students, July 17-22. - Camps for football, basketball (girls and boys), volleyball, baseball and tennis (boys, girls and adult) that feature UNC coaches and players, with some sports offering both team and individual sessions. Non-UNC camps and events on campus this summer include the Colorado Special Olympics Summer Games, National Cheerleading Association Camp, Universal Dance Association Camp, Colorado Karate Camp and Pathways American Indian Conference. UNC facilities this summer also will host a growing number of private gatherings such as family reunions, weddings and wedding anniversary parties as the campus grows in popularity as an affordable option for family gatherings. Indoor conference facilities and meeting rooms, beautiful outdoor wedding or party venues, catering services, dining rooms, convenience food outlets and a recreation center are among the amenities available. The university also offers nightly hotel-style accommodations during the summer in South Hall, a residence hall featuring suites accommodating up to four persons. Built in 2009, the spacious, air-conditioned suites include two bedrooms, a bathroom and a living area. A complete listing of camps and conferences is available here. Please note that registration may be limited or closed for some.

UNC’s Spring 2011 Commencement Ceremonies

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

Commencement Ceremony Video
- May 6 Graduate School Ceremony
- May 7 Undergraduate Ceremony About the Spring 2011 Graduation Class
As of April 22
- No. of students graduating: 1,418 - No. of students earning bachelor�s degrees: 1,127 - No. of students earning graduate degrees: 291 (245 master�s, 21 certificate/specialists, 25 doctorates) - Age range: Undergrad: 20-60; Grad: 22-67 - Average age: Undergrad: 24; Grad: 34 - Graduate�s average GPA: Undergrad: 3.20; Grad: 3.83 - Average number of years to graduation (undergrad): 12 terms - Top 5 majors (by degrees awarded) Undergrad: Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Psychology, Dietetics, English Language Grad: Special Education, Music, Reading, Educational Leadership, Nursing - International Countries Represented (students earning UNC degrees): 17 (Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emerates, United Kingdom, Ukraine) - Countries of exchange students (at UNC, graduating from home countries): 14 (Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, Taiwan) - States Represented: 44 (AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI,WV, WY) - Colorado Counties Represented: 40 (Adams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Broomfield, Chaffee, Delta, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Jefferson, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Morgan, Otero, Park, Phillips, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, San Miguel, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld, and Yuma) From the news release about commencement: The University of Northern Colorado will hold ceremonies marking the 121st spring commencement May 6-7 on campus. The Graduate School ceremony to award specialist, master�s and doctoral degrees will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6, in Butler-Hancock Hall, south of the intersection of 14th Avenue and 20th Street. About 290 spring graduates are expected. Another 188 students expected to complete degree requirements this summer will also be included in the spring ceremony. UNC doesn�t offer a summer commencement ceremony. Fred Mednick, founder of Teachers Without Borders and author of Rebel Without A Car: An Insider�s View of Adolescence, will be the featured speaker. Mednick has spoken at Harvard, Stanford and Oxford, and lectures on human rights and education at the University of Washington. On Saturday, May 7, former NFL great and honored UNC alumnus Dave Stalls will address about 1,100 spring and 350 summer graduates during the undergraduate ceremony, 10 a.m. at Nottingham Field, intersection of 17th Avenue and Reservoir Road. Stalls, who graduated from UNC in 1978 with a degree in zoology, played nine seasons in the NFL, including on Super Bowl-winning teams with Dallas (XII) and Oakland (XVIII). His careers after football have included shark behavior research, veterinary medicine, investment banking, telecommunications sales and directing Colorado�s largest urban recreation department in Denver. He�s served as president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado since 2005. Distinguished faculty and student leadership awards will also be presented during the ceremony. For more information about the ceremonies (including the inclement weather plan for the outdoor undergraduate ceremony): - Undergraduate - Graduate

UNC Trustees to Meet Friday, May 13

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

The University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, in the Panorama Room at the University Center, intersection of 10th Avenue and 20th Street. Action items on the agenda are 2011 bond resolutions for refinancing, faculty promotion and tenure recommendations, and Faculty Senate revisions to language in board policy to match the current academic structure. The meeting will also include an informational item on the proposed 2011-12 budget. The remaining meeting for the 2010-11 academic year is scheduled for June 10.

Reminder: Classified Staff Open Enrollment Ends Today

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

Open benefits enrollment for classified staff ends at 11:59 p.m. today, May 23. Classified staff who don�t make new selections for medical/dental insurance and flexible spending accounts will not have coverage after June 30. Additional important information about supplement medical insurance and dependent eligibility verification is here. Please share this information with your employees who do not have access to the Internet or email. Supplement Program Application Period Closes Monday, May 23: Classified employees must complete the online application, including uploading the necessary documentation, by the end of today, May 23, to be considered for the supplement program for medical insurance for the FY 2011-12 plan year. Dependent Eligibility Verification Process:Classified employees with dependents covered under State medical, dental and optional life insurance must provide documentation to HMS Employer Solutions by May 30. Employees with questions about this process should contact HMS directly at 1-855-352-9780 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday. HMS is the vendor selected by the State to conduct this eligibility verification process. The May 2011 edition of HealthLine has been posted on the Employee Benefits website � www.colorado.gov/dpa/dhr/benefits.

UNC to Celebrate Earth Week with Variety of Activities

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

The University of Northern Colorado will celebrate Earth Week April 18-23 with activities ranging from a display of art made from recycled materials to cleaning up and improving the grounds at the local Boys and Girls Club. The week�s highlights include: Earth Day Service Project
UNC�s annual Earth Day service project will this year benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Weld County. Volunteers from the university community will work 8:15 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 23, gardening and cleaning up the club�s grounds. Sustainability Fair
The fair, an annual event, will feature information booths about student and community groups� sustainability efforts, UNC�s recycling program and live music 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, April 22 in the University Center, intersection of 11th Avenue and 20th Street. Waste Art Project
Student-created artwork using recycled materials will be displayed throughout Earth Week in the University Center. The Waste Art Project, which hopes to raise awareness of reusing materials in a variety of applications, is free and open to the public. The center is open 7 a.m.-midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m.-midnight on weekends. Shred Fest 2011
UNC offices, faculty, staff and students will safely recycle their old, sensitive paper documents by having them shredded for free on the east side of the Kepner Hall parking lot 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Earth Week at UNC is coordinated by the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership and involves several other campus organizations including Student Senate, Dining Services, Housing and Residential Education, the Environmental Studies Club, Facilities Management and Student Activities.

UNC Recognizes Students� Research Projects

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

Winners of the University of Northern Colorado�s annual Research Excellence Awards, held in conjunction with UNC�s annual Research Day, which drew more than 300 participants April 7, have been announced. Award categories and presentations receiving awards were: Top Graduate Oral Presentation
Best Overall Presentation
Stephanie Greufe
�The Effect of Cancer Stage on Physiological and Psychological Parameters Following Supervised Exercise Training�
Discipline: Sports and Exercise Science
Faculty Sponsor: Carole Schneider Top Undergraduate Oral Presentation
Mindy Stewart
�Voice Your Health � Determining Elementary School Students� Perceived �Hinders� and �Helpers� to Leading a Healthy Lifestyle�
Discipline: Dietetics
Faculty Sponsor: Alena Clark Top Graduate Poster Presentation
Christopher Repka
�Oxidative Stress and Hematological Response to Multimodal Exercise in a Cancer Survivor Receiving High-Dose Chemotherapy�
Discipline: Sports and Exercise Science
Faculty Sponsor: Carole Schneider Top Undergraduate Poster Presentation
Kayla Howerton
�Youth Recreational Firearm User�s Shooting Habits, Use of Hearing Protection Devices and Self-Assessed Auditory Status�
Discipline: Audiology and Speech Language Sciences
Faculty Sponsor: Deanna Meinke Honorable Mentions
Erica Arcibal
Discipline: Biology
Faculty Sponsor: Mitchell McGlaughlin Brianne Broughton
Discipline: Biology
Faculty Sponsor: Stephen Mackessy Kristen Kanoff
Discipline: Psychology
Faculty Sponsor: Theodore Bashore Each of the winners will receive a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble and the overall winner will receive an additional $500 gift card to Bear Logic. Research Day was part of Academic Excellence Week, an annual event to celebrate and honor academic excellence throughout the university. AEW is coordinated and sponsored by the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership in conjunction with various academic programs and offices across the campus. The evaluators for the awards included a wide representation across disciplines: Stephen Mackessy, professor of Biology; Vish Iyer, professor of Marketing; Kaye Holman, past Associate Director Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership; Richard Hyslop, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Sarah Chase, Director of McNair Scholars Program, Michael Kimball, professor of Anthropology and Director Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership, Genie Canales, professor of Hispanic Studies, and Sarah Wyscaver, Coordinator for Curriculum Development and Research and Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership.

O Romeo! Help Set a Record for �The World�s Largest Balcony Scene�

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

A University of Northern Colorado workshop that�s part of a teaching series on Shakespeare will take aim at setting a record for the �The World�s Largest Balcony Scene.� The public is invited to perform roles of Romeo and Juliet during the two-minute scene (edited scripts will be provided, and Michael LoMonico from the Folger Shakespeare Library will be coaching), 7-9:30 p.m. April 15 in room 1720 of Gunter Hall, intersection of 10th Avenue and Cranford Place. Costumes are optional for participants to bring. Free on-street parking is available in the area. Once gathered, Romeos will take their place on the ground while the Juliets will line up on the balcony. Then, on cue, the Romeos will read their first line in unison and the Juliets will respond. The current world record is 110 people, who performed as a group October 2010 at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. Also as part of the festivities, participants will have the opportunity to perform �Hamlet� in 15 minutes, and some will be selected to break the 32-second record for re-creating �Macbeth.� LoMonico will also lead workshops for Theatre Education and English Education students at UNC.

Activist Angela Davis to Speak at UNC April 20

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 00:00:00 MDT

Angela Davis, author, human rights activist and 1970s political icon whose messages have prodded America�s social conscience for over 40 years, will speak April 20 at the University of Northern Colorado. Davis� presentation, �Radical Frameworks for Social Justice,� will begin at 7 p.m. in the ballrooms of the University Center, intersection of 11th Avenue and 20th Street. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at the UNC Ticket Office in the University Center, by calling 351-4849 or online. Davis was a member of the Black Panthers and the Communist Party in 1968 while teaching philosophy at the University of California, Los Angeles. She landed in the national spotlight in 1970 when California Gov. Ronald Reagan fired her from her teaching position because of her radical political affiliations. Davis gained an international reputation in the early 1970s when she was imprisoned for 18 months and tried but acquitted of charges of conspiracy to commit murder for allegedly providing weapons used during a shootout between Black Panthers and law enforcement officials that resulted in four deaths. After her acquittal, Davis resumed her teaching career, and has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and she is the author of eight books. Davis is professor emerita of history of consciousness and feminist studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her current work focuses on racism in the U.S. prison system and exploring new ways to deconstruct oppression and racial hatred. Her appearance is part of the university�s Provost Speaker Series and is co-sponsored by the UNC Women�s Resource Center.