Join us Monday, September 23, 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m., in Kathryn Mohrman Theatre for the Block 2 First Monday, “Colorado in Context: Democracy, Representation, Fairness, and Math.” CC Associate Professor Beth Malmskog will discuss how math can help identify and prevent partisan gerrymandering and share her research group’s work for fair maps in Colorado’s 2021 redistricting process. We will also look briefly at what mathematics can say about other ways to pursue better representation, including alternative voting methods and multi-member districts. Math can offer surprising insights into democracy and fairness.

From left to right: Conor Wellman ’25, Noah Wheeler ’25, Benn Wheeler ’27, Melanie Robertson ’26, and Sonia Gutierrez ’27. 

By Megan Clancy ’07

Over Memorial Day Weekend, five members of the CC Climbing Team, along with nearly 400 other climbers from around the country, traveled to Arizona for the 2024 Collegiate National Championships. Conor Wellman ’25, Noah Wheeler ’25, Benn Wheeler ’27, Melanie Robertson ’26, and Sonia Gutierrez ’27 represented the Tigers in all three areas of the competition and both Gutierrez and Benn Wheeler placed high enough to qualify for the upcoming World Championship.

“Nationals this year was the biggest it’s been since I’ve started competing on the collegiate circuit, and the level of competition increased dramatically from past years,” says Wellman, a Computer Science and Math major. “The sport has grown immensely, and each year there are more and more talented freshmen coming in. Considering the drastic shift in difficulty, it was incredibly impressive to see the CC team continue to produce strong results.”

READ THE FULL STORY »

Mark your calendars! Homecoming Weekend is just around the corner, and the 150th Extravaganza on November 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable night for all with a live band, DJ, casino games, and our first ever drone show on Tava Quad.

This event isn’t just for students and alumni, it’s a celebration for the whole CC community!

Faculty & Staff Special: Score your ticket for just $25! This includes two drink tickets and all the fun. Register now!

Want to attend for FREE? Volunteer for two shifts during Homecoming Weekend and your Extravaganza ticket is on us! Watch your inbox for more information about specific opportunities.

(L-R) Elizabeth Spradlin ’27,  Corra Lewis ’27, and Makena R. Hatch ’26, stand in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda before opening during their internship at the American Museum of Natural History in August 2024.  Photo provided by Hatch. 

By Julia Fennel ’21

Four CC students spent their summer in the heart of New York City, interning at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), where they experienced a hands-on, professional geology environment.

Makena R. Hatch ’26, Elizabeth Spradlin ’27, Corra Lewis ’27, and Mac Schwartz ’27 were participants in the Noblett-Witter Family Internship Program, which was generously established by Bill Witter ’87. The CC Geology Department partners with companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, such as the AMNH, to host internships for Geology students from CC. The Witter Family Fund provides the interns with weekly stipends and covers the cost of travel to and from the internship location. The aim of the Internship Program is for students to gain skills and experience by doing hands-on work and learning fundamental methods that they may use in potential careers.

READ THE FULL STORY »

Alfred Hitchcock. From the Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. (1840 – 2020).  Retrieved from NYPL.

Alfred Hitchcock is considered to be one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history. His oeuvre is taught in many film schools, and he is regarded as “The Master of Suspense.” His definition of suspense was simple: “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” With over 50 films in his filmography and a career that spanned six decades, Hitchcock—whose close friends called “Hitch”—is an icon of classic Hollywood. Who was this man who influenced so may contemporary filmmakers? We will look behind the scenes of some of his most iconic work and under the covers of the man himself. What’s up with Hitch? Let’s find out.

This lecture, happening Friday, Sept. 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the FAC, coincides with the theatre production of Dial M for Murder, the murder mystery that inspired one of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie masterpieces, at the FAC from Sept. 19–Oct. 6, 2024.

Themed Cocktail: White Lady (Hitchcock’s favorite cocktail)
Lecturer: Ralph Giordano, Producer/Writer/Director of ArchAngel Productions, LLC
Tickets: $23 ($16 for FAC Members), includes your first drink. Bar opens at 5 p.m.

Michaela Kabat ’26, Ami Piburn ’27, and Kieran Blood ’22 mingle and roast marshmallows at the first-ever Campus Sleep-Out on Friday, Sept. 13. Photo by Parker Seibold/Colorado College

This newsletter features an HR strategy update, new Emergency Management Plan training, and the latest on HR staffing changes.

Over the summer, HR finalized its two-year strategy. We took input from our People Practices Advisory Group as we designed these priorities. We are working on three key goals:

1. Cultivate a culture where all employees thrive

2. Value our people with competitive compensation and benefits

3. Enhance HR’s capacity to be a trusted partner to all employees

To learn more about our specific goals in these areas, we invite you to register for our upcoming open forum, Empower Hour: Unveiling HR’s Role and Elevating Employee Support. Stay tuned for future forums, where we will continue sharing our efforts on behalf of the CC community.

Human Resources, the Dean of the Faculty, and Student Employment are excited to announce that our new Applicant Tracking System, PageUp, is now live for Faculty positions, with Staff positions coming soon and Student Employment launching in early 2025. HR will conduct pilot searches to ensure a smooth transition and is preparing user guides to assist search committees. We expect the system to be fully operational by mid to late September and look forward to your feedback.

Emergency Management Plan Training

All benefits-eligible staff and faculty were enrolled in the Emergency Management Plan training course earlier this month. The training takes about 30 minutes to complete and must be completed prior to Friday, November 1.

Understanding how CC prepares for and responds to an emergency is an important part of keeping our community safe. If you have any questions or problems accessing the course, please reach out to Luke Scott or Sara San Souci.

Performance Conversations

In July, staff and supervisors completed the second round of quarterly performance conversations. Across the college, the average self-rating was 3.56 with the average manager rating coming in at 3.57 showing a very close alignment between staff and supervisors. Divisional results have been shared with cabinet members.

The October Performance Conversation Cycle will open on Monday, September 30 and remain open through Friday, November 8. If you have time off scheduled during October, plan ahead by blocking some time on your calendar now to complete your self-review, any manager reviews, and performance conversation meetings.

Sara San Souci has office hours available for anyone who would like additional support through this process.

Register now for Upcoming Excel at CC Sessions

October 3 | CC Budget & Finance – FAQs

October 8 | History of Disability Rights

October 16 | Giving Effective Feedback

October 30 | Disability and Its Role in the Workplace

HR Staffing Update

Please welcome T’yah Macon, who will be stepping in as the Temporary Talent Acquisition Specialist for Missy Liu during her leave. T’yah brings a wealth of experience in human resources, full-cycle recruitment, and administrative support, having previously served as an HR Generalist at Blue Federal Credit Union and Aventa Credit Union. Currently pursuing her MBA at Colorado State University, she is dedicated to fostering a positive and efficient work environment. She will be assisting with the launch of our new Applicant Tracking System, PageUp, while also providing training and expertise for searches on campus. We are excited to have T’yah’s knowledge and support during this time!

T’yah Macon, Temporary Talent Acquisition Specialist

Empower Hour: Unveiling HR’s Role and Elevating Employee Support 

RSVP for an engaging open forum on October 10, 2-3 p.m., designed to shed light on the pivotal role of HR in our organization. This session, led by Debi O’Connor, will provide an insightful overview of our employee relations and support initiatives, explore how we can better assist you, and offer a platform for open dialogue. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or simply want to understand how we can better support your needs, this is your opportunity to connect with HR, share your thoughts, and collaborate on enhancing our workplace environment. Power up with a complimentary sports drink and protein bar, and seize this opportunity to make your voice heard and create change!

Employee Volunteering

The employees at CC have a long history of serving others, both on campus and in the broader community. As the year begins, we wanted to provide guidance on how CC can support these efforts. This policy on staff volunteering helps clarify how to take advantage of these different opportunities to volunteer.

      1. Community volunteering is volunteering outside of CC. You may be eligible for up to 32 hours of compensation for this type of volunteering.

2. Some efforts to support events at CC, while informally called “volunteering”, should be considered time worked. In those cases, please work with your manager to ensure you have a sustainable workload and avoid overtime.

Save the date for the Week of Action, January 13-17, 2025, for a chance to engage in direct service with our local community. More information to come later this fall. Questions? Email the Collaborative for Community Engagement.

Visit the HR Updates page to check out past editions of People Connections, along with recent updates from HR.

Join us this Friday, Sept. 20, 4-7 p.m. at Goat Patch Brewing Co. to celebrate the partnership of CC and Goat Patch with the launch of Tiger Tail Blonde Ale. This is a free, private event for all CC staff and faculty only. Each attendee will receive a ticket for one free beverage of their choice. Food trucks will be on site with multiple options for purchase. REGISTER NOW »

Sent on behalf of the Staff Council

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, September 19, at 8:30 a.m., for the Block 1 In the Loop all-staff meeting next week in Cornerstone Arts Center. The program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Stay afterward for a light breakfast and conversation in Cornerstone Studio C.

Thank you to those who participated in the Maze Challenge! Don’t forget to bring your token to the meeting tomorrow morning to receive a prize

**Please note that In the Loop will no longer be recorded due to financial constraints. Instead, Staff Council will send a summary of the meeting to all staff after the meeting.