If YES, then join the 2025-26 Building Bridges program!

Meet someone new, learn about a different part of CC, get a free lunch, and win some sweet CC swag.

Here are the specific details:

Who: Any CC staff or faculty member.

What: Sign up now, and members of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), Staff Council (SC), and Antiracism Commitment Committee (ACC) will match you with a faculty member (if you’re staff) or a staff member (if you’re faculty), based on your interests but also with some randomness built in. You and your Building Bridges partner will choose some ways to interact. The basic package is for the staff member to visit the faculty member’s class or engage with their research/outreach in some fun way, and for the faculty member to visit the staff member’s office/workplace or engage with their work in some fun way, and for the partners to have lunch together at Rastall with lunch passes provided by the Dean of Faculty. This could be as little as 3 hours, during work hours, spread over the whole academic year. We will also provide you with a list of other activities that you can try with your partner—attending CC events, cross-constituency social stuff, and other minor adventures. We will have some giveaways. We have some excellent CC swag and a little funding to make this fun!

When: Sign up by Sunday, Nov. 2 and we will match you with a partner. Save the date to meet your partner at our Lunch Launch on Monday, Nov. 10.

Why: To have fun and build community across constituencies at Colorado College.

Questions? Email FEC co-chair Beth Malmskog or ACC member April Scriven.

Presented by Staff Council, the Faculty Executive Committee, the Antiracism Commitment Committee, and the Dean of Faculty.

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Summit proposals for any 2026-2027 off-campus blocks are due by Thursday, Oct. 23. Proposals will be reviewed by Global Education and the Dean of the Faculty, and approved courses will work with Global Education on budgeting in advance of the January 29 Study Away Fair and application window. Please send any questions to abertsche@coloradocollege.edu“> Allen Bertsche.

The Office of Sustainability monitors campus-wide progress through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)—a transparent framework that evaluates institutions across five key areas, including Academic Research. As part of this effort, we’re asking faculty to complete a brief 10-minute survey about any sustainability-related research conducted in the past three years by Monday, Oct. 27.

Not sure if your work qualifies? Research may be considered sustainability-related if it meets any of the following criteria:  

Your input helps us reflect the full scope of sustainability work happening across campus. 

Join us this January by engaging in the Week of Action, Jan. 12-16, 2026. Week of Action is a week of opportunities and events that aim to mobilize, and inspire, staff and faculty to engage in local community-based work and build community.   

We encourage departmental teams and individuals to join us for a two-three-hour community engagement activity. To express interest as a team or individually, please complete this form by Friday, Oct. 31.

Our campus and communities thrive when every voice is heard. Join CC Votes to help inspire our students to become active participants in democracy. CC Votes is a campus and community coalition focused on voter registration, education, and turnout. Your leadership and example can spark a lifelong commitment to civic action and community impact. Learn more on the CC Votes website or email CCVotes@coloradocollege.edu.

The Office of Sustainability tracks the College’s greenhouse gas emissions each year as part of our commitment to understanding and reducing our environmental impact. This effort includes anonymous data on employee commuting, which falls under Scope 3 emissions – indirect behavioral activities. Our Emissions Team compiles and publishes this data annually in the Greenhouse Gas Technical Report.

Your responses help increase the accuracy of our reporting and help provide valuable insights into our community’s commuting patterns. Please take this anonymous five-minute survey about your commuting habits and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $10 Downtown Partnership gift card redeemable, at over 100 local downtown shops, restaurants, and venues.

Do you know alumni working in exciting fields or involved in hiring at their organizations? Do you hear of opportunities and want help in sharing them? The Career Center would love to connect to create more job and internship pathways for students.  

Keep the Career Center top of mind as a platform to advertise and recruit. You can send alumni leads or introductions to Sarah Fillman, Assistant Director of Employer Relations, or directly to the Career Center.

Student Information

We encourage you to review the student newsletter and pass along opportunities that align with students’ interests and goals.

Join the Office of Communications and Marketing tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 23, from 3-4 p.m. in Bemis Great Hall for Brand Expression in Digital: CC’s Web Refresh, part of the Work of the College: Brand Refresh Miniseries.

This engaging session offers an inside look at the next chapter of CC’s digital presence. You’ll learn how the Web & Digital Experience Program is bringing our refreshed brand to life online—through more accessible, cohesive, and dynamic design. Mark Lee, Web & Digital Experience Program Director, will share the program’s goals, project timeline, and show a few exciting sneak previews of what’s ahead for the CC website.

Bring your curiosity—see you tomorrow at Bemis!

The Work of the College Series is a year-long program of events with four goals: (1) clarify organizational structures and decision-making processes; (2) offer campus constituencies the opportunity to dialogue with leadership about campus affairs; (3) increase decision-making transparency in hopes of building trust; and (4) build community.

The Work of the College Series consists of:

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

With Block 3 underway, we find ourselves in that familiar and fruitful middle ground of the academic year. We are finding a rhythm as we surpass 2/8 of the current academic year, yet plans for the next one are already emerging. Now is the time when course ideas stretch beyond their initial frames and take on new shapes through collaboration. Our upcoming Crown Center workshop, “Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Teaching,” offers a space to think alongside one another about what happens when we teach together, especially across disciplines, methodologies, and ways of knowing. These are the moments when our classrooms most fully reflect the liberal arts ideal. It is where curiosity becomes connectivity. 

As we sketch courses for next year, it is worth pausing to imagine how collaboration might inform that process. How might you connect an envisioned CC120 to an existing CC100 in another department? What could interdisciplinarity add to an experiential learning course, such as a Community-Engaged Learning or Career Catalyst Block? Who have you always wanted to teach with—for an hour, a day, a week, a block—but still haven’t asked?  

These kinds of experiments—from interdisciplinary modules to full team-taught blocks—are part of what makes teaching at Colorado College distinctive. Our recent move to #5 in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking for Best Undergraduate Teaching, up from our historical average of #10, offers external affirmation of what we already know: something meaningful happens here when we teach with intention and togetherness. Rankings, of course, are imperfect mirrors. But they remind us that others notice what we have built and continue to build together, highlighting our work beyond the academic calendar of the Block Plan itself. 

So, as the days shorten and our collective rhythm deepens, I invite you to take this moment to reconnect with the spirit of collaboration that defines our work. Reach out to colleagues across campus, join us at the workshop, celebrate what we are already doing, and share your ideas as we shape the next generation of interdisciplinary teaching at CC. 

Sincerely, 

Ryan Raul Bañagale 

Director, Crown Center for Teaching 

On October 6, Marion Hourdequin facilitated a Crown workshop on advising, emphasizing taking a holistic, student-centered approach to helping students navigate their CC education. Materials and a video of the workshop are available on the Crown Canvas page. Please email Crown Associate Director Jessica Hunter for access. 

“(Creativity) provides a kind of intimacy with life in a way that sometimes cognition or rational analysis simply does not.” — Dr. Jeremy Nobel

In Blocks 5 and 6, Health and Wellbeing, Arts & Crafts at CC, Creativity & Innovation, and the NEH Professorship are collaborating with the Colorado Arts Resiliency Lab (CORAL) to run a study on how arts experiences create community and combat the effects of stress. The results of the study will help shape future arts and wellness initiatives at CC. Look for more information and registration in the coming weeks, or email Jessica Hunter with questions.

CC classes have special access to all three programming areas of the Fine Arts Center: Museum, Theatre, and Art School. Curious how a visual, performing, or hands-on art experience could support your teaching? FAC staff can help identify meaningful connections to your course content. Contact Blair Huff, FAC Academic Engagement Manager, to explore the possibilities.  

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Crown Workshop “Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Teaching” by Jameel Paulin, Cory B. Scott, John Gould, Elizabeth Coggins, and Patrizia Herminjard. Register on the Crown Website.

Thursday, Nov. 6, noon-1:45 p.m., C&I Workshop “Assessing Creative Assignments” by Jessica Hunter and Kris Stanec. Register on the C&I Website.

Join us this January by engaging in the Week of Action, Jan. 12-16, 2026. Week of Action is a week of opportunities and events that aim to mobilize and inspire staff and faculty to engage in local community-based work and build community. We encourage departmental teams and individuals to join us for a two-three hour community engagement activity. To express interest as a team or individually, please complete this form by Friday, Oct 31. 

The NEH Professorship offers Humanities in Partnership Grants (HIP) of up to $3,000 for the academic year 2025-26 to faculty projects that connect to NEH themes. Read more for descriptions of grant categories and application instructions. Applications are due by noon on the third Monday of each Block. The Block 3 deadline is Monday Oct. 10 at noon. Please contact Jessica Hunter with any questions.

As we start to feel the crisp air and see the leaves change color with the shifting seasons, it is essential to remember the importance of community. While the beauty of seasonal changes charms some, it also signals the start of a difficult time for others. Amid increasing work and the fast pace of the block, make sure to check on those you are in community with. Ask how they are doing and remind them that you might be a source of support or that other supports are available within the larger CC community.

One essential part of all this is learning how to focus on rest and the idea of thriving, not just surviving. Maya Angelou said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Thriving requires joy and the space to take a step back and reflect on what we need, rather than just doing what must be done. So, in this season of change and as we approach the end of the year, take time to center yourself and your community. Find joy with those who matter most. And most importantly, remember we are in this together.

Yours in the quest for joy,

Christopher

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education carried out an additional Reduction in Force (RIF), severely impacting the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). This action left a few top level individuals to oversee the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and reduces the federal government’s capacity to oversee and support programs serving students with disabilities. This loss of oversight and technical assistance poses significant challenges for higher education institutions, which depend on federal guidance to ensure compliance with disability laws, access to accommodations, and equitable educational practices. The cuts also impact related offices, such as Civil Rights and Federal Student Aid, raising concerns about delayed funding, weakened enforcement of nondiscrimination laws, and increased administrative burdens for colleges and universities. A federal judge has since blocked the firing of federal employees leaving a final outcome of OSERS still to be determined. You can read more about this on the Associated Press.

At this time, there are no direct impacts to Colorado College’s support for students with disabilities and those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Office of Accessibility Resources.

IDEAL tested a new equity audit tool that will soon be available to campus for use in preparing policies and insuring there are no disparate impacts. If you are interested in applying an equity lens to a policy or project, email belonging@coloradcollege.edu.

The Office of Institutional Equity and Belonging offers up to $250 in co-sponsorship funding for campus events that promote equity and justice. Departments, offices, student groups, and athletic teams may apply by submitting the request form with required materials. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with decisions issued within two weeks. Funded events must acknowledge IEB’s support in all communications and include the IEB logo on promotional materials. For questions, contact the Office of IEB directly or refer to this form.

This year’s parade will be on December 6th and we’re gathering interest for participation. Please fill out this form if you are interested in participating in this year’s parade. We are looking for folks interested in marching, designing, and building a float that celebrates the season of introspection, renewal, and transformation while representing Colorado College at this 41st annual community event. We will likely meet during lunch hours and Block 3 Block break to plan and build. Everyone welcome. Lunch provided.

Friday, Oct. 24, from 8–11 p.m. in Gaylord Hall, Worner

Goth Prom: Night of the Living Dead

Join us for Goth Prom: Night of the Living Dead, a hauntingly fun evening of music and dark elegance hosted by The Butler Center. Dance the night away with DJ OSO and celebrate the crowning of Goth Prom Royalty. Hosted by The Butler Center.

Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1–3 p.m., Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, virtual training

Colorado’s New Immigration Law: SB276 Community Training

Learn how SB276 helps protect immigrant communities in Colorado. Learn about new requirements for local agencies, handling personal information, and interactions with federal immigration authorities. Hosted by the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.

Register today.

Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 12:15–1 p.m. at Sacred Grounds

Talking Circle

Please join Elder Debbie, the Chaplain’s Office, and the Wellness Resource Center for this block’s Talking Circle; a traditional indigenous method of bringing people together for sharing perspectives, personal reflection, and experiences. Lunch provided. Hosted by the Elder-in-Residence.

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 12:30-2:30 p.m. in Arts and Crafts

Drag It Out

Join us for a hands-on drag workshop with Colorado Springs drag king Mario Wanna! Learn the basics of costuming, makeup, and serving face in style. Hosted by the Queer and Trans Collective.

Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Cornerstone Screening room

Black Filmmaker Series: “Get Out”

Screening and small discussion of the film immediately after viewing. Hosted by The Butler Center.

Thursday, Oct. 30, from 3–7 p.m. at Bemis School of Art. 

Dia De Muertos Mini Ofrenda Making 

Drop in between 3 to 7 p.m. to learn about the history of traditional Mexican ofrendas and create your own. Hosted by the Fine Arts Center.

Oct 30–Nov. 5 at Shove Side Chapel

Día de Muertos

Join us Oct. 30–Nov. 5 in Shove Side Chapel to honor loved ones through the Día de los Muertos Ofrenda, a space for remembrance, reflection, and celebration of life. Bring or send a photo to add to the altar and take part in this meaningful cultural tradition. Hosted by the Chaplain’s office.

Friday, Oct. 31, from 12–1:30 p.m. in the RTD Lounge. 

Mischief and Mayhem Halloween Party 

Get spooky and silly at Mischief & Mayhem on October 31 with Filipino food, Hamilton karaoke, and costumes channeling Beetlejuice, zombies, or Alexander Hamilton! Hosted by The Butler Center.

Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2, from 4–8 p.m. and 12:30–4:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center 

Día de Muertos 

Join us for a special community gathering for Día de Muertos, a celebration of life that demonstrates remembrance, love, and respect for those who have gone before us. Choose to come on either Nov. 1 or Nov. 2, or celebrate with us on both days! This event is free and open to the public. Find more information here.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at Sacred Grounds 

Make Your Own Frybread and Wojapi 

Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at Sacred Grounds to make your own delicious frybread and wojapi and enjoy an evening of community! Hosted by the Elder-in-Residence.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 3–5 p.m. in the Tutt Library 

Unbound + Antiracist Book Club 

Join us Wednesday, November 5th from 3-5pm at Tutt Library for an Unbound + ABC collaboration – “How to Start a Book Club.” This will be a fun time for anyone who has been reading our ABC selections or for anyone who has just started joined with our latest selection – Nuclear Nuevo Mexico. Come connect and learn about ABC. Open to all. More details are forthcoming.

Throughout the Block, there are many cultural and religious observances. Please visit our website to learn about the many ways you can engage and support these observances on campus and in the community. 

Join CC Associate Professor of Spanish & Portuguese Andreea Marinescu for the Block 3 Faculty Lunch talk, “Contemporary Cultural Representations of Motherhood in Latin America” on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 12:15–1:30 p.m. in Bemis Great Hall. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.  Learn more about this event. 

Please register by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Lunch will be provided.

Reach out to kettleman@coloradocollege.edu“> Keragan Ettleman with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

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