Employee Climate Survey Results

The overall results of the 2021 employee engagement climate survey are posted now.


Thank you for participating: 70% of you took part in this survey. These overall results, which were shared by ModernThink’s Rich Boyer during Block 5’s In the Loop and faculty meetings, will inform the work of how we do what we do better, and guide planning in each division and department.

This survey process created an opportunity for all members of the CC community to have a voice and, along with Project 2024, provides important feedback and ideas that will help shape the future of CC.

Next steps:

  • Cabinet members will meet with their divisions in upcoming weeks to discuss the college’s survey results.
  • Division-specific climate survey results will be posted March 11.
  • From mid-March through June, members of each division will work together to identify three priorities to address based on their divisional climate survey results.
  • Then, each division will establish an action plan and associated timeline to achieve their three priorities.

For questions about the survey or our survey partner, contact Lyrae Williams at lwilliams@coloradocollege.edu.

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The COVID Weekly Report

Looking Ahead to Sustainability This Spring

Office of Sustainability

Enhancing Educational Experiences within the Office of the Dean of the College

Explore Jobs in Sustainability this Summer

With the end of the academic year and the beginning of summer jobs and internships getting closer, be sure to check out Career Center resources for job opportunities in sustainability-related fields. Visit the Career Center Pathways pages for Conservation and Sustainability and Climate Change and Renewable Energy for industry tips, jobs-to-watch, hiring timelines, and more. Additionally, search Handshake using keywords — such as ‘environment’ or ‘energy’ — to see all postings, and explore TigerLink to connect with Colorado College alumni in the field for mentorship and hiring opportunities. Schedule an appointment with Environmental Program Department Liaison Briana Walls to learn more about finding jobs and internships in sustainability, whether just for the summer or post-graduation. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Alexa Rennie ’25

Hello! My name is Alexa (she/her). I am a freshman and am planning to major in Environmental Science. I am so excited to be a new member of the Office of Sustainability volunteer team this academic year. I wanted to get involved with the office because of my desire to learn more about today’s climate crisis and how we can come together as a community to face these problems. So far, I have worked on helping to restart EcoFund. This program provides funds for students who have an idea for a sustainability-related project at CC. I am super excited about this project, and I can’t wait to see it grow as more students apply. If I could implement one sustainability effort on campus, I would want to work on replacing some of CC’s lawn space with small gardens of species native to the Colorado Springs area. Thanks so much for learning more about me and don’t forget to send in your application to EcoFund so we can all help make our home a more environmentally friendly space!


Learn more about EcoFund and apply here! Reach out to Alexa (a_rennie@coloradocollege.edu) with any questions.

Offset Your Spring Break Travel Emissions

Are you planning on traveling for Spring Break? Consider adding offsetting carbon emissions to your plans. Use the easy Travel Offset Calculator to discover how much greenhouse gas your trip emits and then click to offset your individual emissions and counterbalance some of your travel impacts. The cost of offsets is much less than the cost of travel, but your investment greatly supports important climate initiatives. Learn more about carbon offsets here

Get Involved with the Colorado College Student Farm

The Colorado College Student Farm is looking for help! It may be snowing outside, but there is still lots of work to be done. From planning out planting schedules to designing posters, there are so many ways to contribute. The Student Farm is a place for everyone — especially those with little experience — to interact with the environment and their food in a positive and engaging way with tangible produce for students to consume.

Contact Eileen Miller (e_miller@coloradocollege.edu ) or Kai Matthiasson (k_matthiasson@coloradocollege.edu) to get involved.

Looking Ahead: Earth Week 2022

Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements about Earth Week 2022! Colorado College will be celebrating Earth Week 2022 from April 25 to April 29 with various events for students to connect with and serve the Earth. The first Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, 1970, inspired 20 million Americans to demonstrate against environmental and public health consequences of industrialization. This public outcry resulted in several pieces of foundational environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Clean Water Act of 1972, as well as the foundation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The holiday is still celebrated every April 22 to encourage people around the world to take action on behalf of the environment. Learn more about the history of Earth Day here.  

Block 5 Food Survey Update

The Office of Sustainability Food Team — headed by Intern Sara Dixon ʼ22 — would like to extend a huge thank you to all who participated in the Block 5 Bon Appetit Food Survey! The survey returned extensive information about options students, staff, and faculty would like to see in the dining halls. The Food Team is currently compiling data, and once ready will present results to Bon Appetit. 

Congratulations to the winners of the survey raffle for a Downtown Colorado Springs gift card: Zoe Wirth ʼ24 and Emma Logan ʼ24.  

Follow Us on Social Media

The Office of Sustainability is planning lots of exciting events for students, staff, and faculty to engage with sustainability this spring — be sure to follow us on Instagram @ccsustainability to keep up to date with all things sustainability at CC.  

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Masks Optional Starting Tomorrow

Dear CC Community,

Beginning tomorrow, March 1, masks are optional on the CC campus. 

We are grateful that you have come together throughout the pandemic, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, showing compassion for our campus community and community at large. 

As we adjust protocols based on public health data, please continue to express care for those who remain anxious or concerned for their health or the health of others. 

Key Components of CC’s Mask-Optional Policy:    

  • All are welcome to wear a mask at any time, for any reason.  N95-type masks are the most protective
  • Faculty, staff, or students may ask others to wear masks in the classroom, office, or meeting space.  Please be respectful of these requests. 
  • We will continue with regular screening testing of students and adjust protocols as needed.     
  • Our mask-optional policy aligns with current CDC masking guidance.   
Our goal is, and has been, to approach decision making holistically: guided by scientific data, along with the well-being of our community. We encourage continued empathy for the concern we hear from students, staff, and faculty who — themselves, or their loved ones at home — are not able to be vaccinated or whose immune systems do not create robust responses to vaccination. 

Campus resources are always available, please reach out for additional support as we navigate this next phase of the pandemic:   


Sincerely,    


Andrea Bruder

Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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Moving Toward Mask-Optional Policy

Dear CC Community,


We are encouraged that COVID-19 transmission levels in the county and on campus continue to decline. At an incidence of 97 new cases per 100,000 per week and a positivity rate of 6%, El Paso County is still experiencing substantial transmission levels but is approaching lower risk levels. We see a similar trend among the CC community, with currently 26 new weekly infections, down from 70 one week ago. Now, we are less likely to encounter the virus when we are out and about than we were in J-Block and Block 5, and we are moving toward a generally lower risk environment.  

In addition, nearly 99% of our students and 97% of employees are fully vaccinated, providing an additional layer of protection for our campus community. 

Updated CDC masking guidance announced today recommends indoor masking in areas of “high risk” and mask-optional in areas where risk is “medium and low.” Under the CDC’s new risk metrics, an area is deemed “high” risk if it has concerning levels of COVID hospital admissions and hospital capacity taken up by COVID patients. While guidance has not yet been given for institutions of higher education, the CDC website indicates that this guidance will be updated to align with the new guidance for the general public.

We are not making changes to our masking policy today. However, because El Paso County ​falls in the “medium” risk category, we will move to a mask optional policy next week if infections among the CC community remain well-controlled. Please look for an announcement next week.  

We acknowledge that feelings of stress, anxiety, fear, and relief may accompany this shift in masking. The CC community has come together throughout this pandemic and shown care and compassion. We invite you to navigate this next phase of the pandemic together and continue to support and care for one another as we adapt to changes. The shift to mask-optional will be a welcome change for some and cause for concern for others, for a variety of important reasons. When masking becomes optional, we encourage you to adapt at a pace that feels comfortable to you. 

In the spirit of a gradual approach, when we move to a mask-optional policy:  

  • Continue wearing masks indoors for as long as you feel comfortable.  N95-type masks are the most protective.
  • Faculty, staff, or students may ask others to wear masks in the classroom, office, or meeting space. Please consider one another’s needs while respecting individual choices.
  • Isolation and quarantine protocols remain the same, including the masking guidance.
  • People who are at high risk of severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether to wear a mask, in accordance with CDC guidance.
  • If you feel sick, stay home. Students, do not attend class, and call the Student Health Center at (719) 389-6384 to make an appointment with a provider for COVID testing (location and hours here). No co-pay is needed.
  • As always, show respect and consideration for the health concerns of others.  
Our goal is, and has been, to approach decision making holistically: guided by scientific data, along with the well-being of our community.  

We are also adapting screening testing protocols in response to lower incidence and positivity rates.  Next week, 33% of vaccinated students will participate in  screening testing on Monday. Students with exemptions will continue testing twice weekly in alignment with CDC guidance.   

The trajectory of this data is great news for our community. Because of our unified commitment to risk mitigation protocols, we have been able to achieve our goal of being together in person, on campus. Thank you for all you’ve done and are doing to take care of yourselves and one another.  

Sincerely,


Andrea Bruder

Chief Public Health Advisor to the President

Mateo Muñoz
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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Tuition and Fees for 2022-23

Dear Students and Families,


At CC, we provide transformational educational experiences for our students. Our immersive classes step out into the real world to sharpen understanding of concepts, issues, the arts, science, and the social sciences. Faculty weave creativity and innovation into every discipline so students exercise the muscles of problem-solving, reflection, risk-taking, and resilience. We foster dialogue, collaboration, action, and ideas. We commit ourselves to antiracism and enhancing fairness and equity. With an abundance of opportunities and a nurturing community, CC students develop into leaders who can apply their knowledge and skills to any challenge in our changing world.
This year, our remarkable faculty and staff continue to dedicate themselves to each student’s success, even in the face of COVID-19. They are creating new ways of engaging students that will endure beyond the present moment. Our new Yalich Student Services Center opened, with an enhanced and integrated focus on mental health and wellness. The new Ed Robson Arena launched as a community-building space for classes, gatherings, intramurals, free-skate sessions, and yes, opportunities to roar for the Tigers.
These exceptional living and learning experiences require significant resources in the best of times. Tuition and fees are the primary ways we cover these costs.
As you can imagine, it takes even more resources to provide the CC experience in the ever-shifting COVID-19 environment. While we could have backed away from our commitment to in-person learning, we chose instead to double down to reduce the spread of infection so we could continue to offer life-changing educational experiences to our students in and out of the classroom. We implemented rigorous testing, masks, isolation spaces, and other measures to respond to COVID-19.
Every year, our Campus Budget Committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, develops a budget recommendation for the Board of Trustees and the president. The board considers this recommendation and determines the college’s budget for the following academic year. Among their key priorities was funding COVID-19 costs; increasing food dollars so students have more money to purchase meals; and responding to inflation. For the 2022-23 academic year, the trustees set tuition at $64,554. For full details, visit our tuition and fees webpage.
We realize that a CC education is a significant investment. That’s why we subsidize the education of all students. Each year, we spend far more per student than is covered by tuition and fees. We can do this because of the generosity of our impactful donors.
One of our top priorities is to ensure that our remarkable education is available to all our outstanding students regardless of their financial situations and backgrounds. That’s why the college provides $54.5 million per year in financial aid.
More than a third of this year’s tuition increase will fund financial aid. We will continue to meet full need for students with no change to our loan and work requirements for students. See our Financial Aid webpage for more information.
Even during the most challenging pandemic times, CC has continually looked forward, and this year is no exception. We are expanding the Student Opportunities and Advising Hub and other student support services. We will further develop our student advising work to provide students with more concrete pathways toward their curricular and co-curricular goals.
We are focusing on Project 2024, a process of listening, engaging, analyzing, and pursuing ways we can do what we do better. Students, staff, and faculty are having exciting conversations this year. Next year those ideas will be developed into an action plan, and in 2024, we will launch into the work to make CC even more impactful. Colorado College is an extraordinary residential liberal arts college, providing a depth of educational opportunities and experiences unlike anywhere else. Here, students innovate, learn from failure, develop resilience, grow into leaders, and make a difference in our world. Thank you for helping to make that possible.
Sincerely,

L. Song Richardson

President

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Tuition and Fees for 2022-23

This message was shared with returning (current first-year, sophomore, and junior) students and families today and we want to make sure you also have this update.

Dear Students and Families,


At CC, we provide transformational educational experiences for our students. Our immersive classes step out into the real world to sharpen understanding of concepts, issues, the arts, science, and the social sciences. Faculty weave creativity and innovation into every discipline so students exercise the muscles of problem-solving, reflection, risk-taking, and resilience. We foster dialogue, collaboration, action, and ideas. We commit ourselves to antiracism and enhancing fairness and equity. With an abundance of opportunities and a nurturing community, CC students develop into leaders who can apply their knowledge and skills to any challenge in our changing world.
This year, our remarkable faculty and staff continue to dedicate themselves to each student’s success, even in the face of COVID-19. They are creating new ways of engaging students that will endure beyond the present moment. Our new Yalich Student Services Center opened, with an enhanced and integrated focus on mental health and wellness. The new Ed Robson Arena launched as a community-building space for classes, gatherings, intramurals, free-skate sessions, and yes, opportunities to roar for the Tigers.
These exceptional living and learning experiences require significant resources in the best of times. Tuition and fees are the primary ways we cover these costs.
As you can imagine, it takes even more resources to provide the CC experience in the ever-shifting COVID-19 environment. While we could have backed away from our commitment to in-person learning, we chose instead to double down to reduce the spread of infection so we could continue to offer life-changing educational experiences to our students in and out of the classroom. We implemented rigorous testing, masks, isolation spaces, and other measures to respond to COVID-19.
Every year, our Campus Budget Committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, develops a budget recommendation for the Board of Trustees and the president. The board considers this recommendation and determines the college’s budget for the following academic year. Among their key priorities was funding COVID-19 costs; increasing food dollars so students have more money to purchase meals; and responding to inflation. For the 2022-23 academic year, the trustees set tuition at $64,554. For full details, visit our tuition and fees webpage.
We realize that a CC education is a significant investment. That’s why we subsidize the education of all students. Each year, we spend far more per student than is covered by tuition and fees. We can do this because of the generosity of our impactful donors.
One of our top priorities is to ensure that our remarkable education is available to all our outstanding students regardless of their financial situations and backgrounds. That’s why the college provides $54.5 million per year in financial aid.
More than a third of this year’s tuition increase will fund financial aid. We will continue to meet full need for students with no change to our loan and work requirements for students. See our Financial Aid webpage for more information.
Even during the most challenging pandemic times, CC has continually looked forward, and this year is no exception. We are expanding the Student Opportunities and Advising Hub and other student support services. We will further develop our student advising work to provide students with more concrete pathways toward their curricular and co-curricular goals.
We are focusing on Project 2024, a process of listening, engaging, analyzing, and pursuing ways we can do what we do better. Students, staff, and faculty are having exciting conversations this year. Next year those ideas will be developed into an action plan, and in 2024, we will launch into the work to make CC even more impactful. Colorado College is an extraordinary residential liberal arts college, providing a depth of educational opportunities and experiences unlike anywhere else. Here, students innovate, learn from failure, develop resilience, grow into leaders, and make a difference in our world. Thank you for helping to make that possible.
Sincerely,

L. Song Richardson

President

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on the Rise

Diversity on the Rise Among College Presidents

An article in Inside Higher Ed, written by Doug Lederman, discussing the rise in diversity among college presidents, features Colorado College’s own President Richardson.

“L. Song Richardson, who in early 2021 was named the first woman of color to lead Colorado College, doesn’t doubt that the pipeline of minority candidates has expanded, but she said that doesn’t come close to explaining the apparent upturn in hiring.

“ ‘We were always here,’ said Richardson, who is Black and Korean American. ‘What I think has changed most is something about this current moment we’re in that allowed people, maybe forced people, to be far more intentional to consider and find leaders of color.’ ”

Gamelan Director Honored for Contributions, Excited About Performances This Year

Made Lasmawan, the artistic director of the CC Balinese Gamelan orchestra, is now in his 29th year at CC. Lasmawan is considered one of the foremost experts in both Gamelan performance and Indonesian music; he has been aiding the Indonesian consulate, acting as an ambassador to bring his knowledge of music and Indonesia into an American space. Lasmawan brings his love for Indonesia, his love for music, and his love for teaching into his work at CC and elsewhere.
Story by Sarah Senese ’23

Dolphins and Whales: Minds Beneath the Waves

The Harold D. and Rhoda N. Roberts Memorial Lecture in the Natural Sciences on March 2 will be presented by Lori Marino, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and expert in animal behavior, intelligence, and welfare. She is the founder and executive director of the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy, which focuses on bridging the gap between academic scholarship and animal advocacy efforts. She is also the president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, whose mission is to create the first permanent seaside sanctuary for captive whales in North America.
Marino is internationally known for her work on the evolution of the brain and intelligence in dolphins and whales (as well as primates and farm animals). She has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, and magazine articles on marine mammal biology and cognition, comparative brain anatomy, self-awareness in nonhuman animals, human-nonhuman animal relationships, and the evolution of the brain and intelligence. She has appeared in several films and television programs, including the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” about killer whale captivity.
Dolphins and Whales: Minds Beneath the Waves
March 2, 2022, 7-8:30 p.m.
Richard F. Celeste Theatre, Cornerstone Arts Center

If you cannot attend in person, there will be a Zoom webinar. Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Colorado College Psychology Department.

CC’s First African-American Alumnus: William Braddan

William S. Braddan, an African-American clergyman born in 1871, attended Cutler Academy from 1891-1892, a preparatory school that was attached to Colorado College between 1889-1914. Braddan went on to serve as chaplain of the 370th Infantry, an African-American army unit, during World War I. He later wrote of his experiences in a 1928 memoir, “Under Fire,” the only first-person account of an African-American soldier serving in France.
Through the month of February, communities across the nation celebrate the achievements of and by Black Americans in recognition of their central role throughout U.S. history. Colorado College is committed to telling these stories year-round.

Cynthia Chavez Lamar ’92 New Director of  National Museum of the American Indian

Photo by Walter Lamar
Cynthia Chavez Lamar ’92 has been named the new director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She is the first Native woman to be named a Smithsonian museum director. Chavez Lamar is an accomplished curator, author, and scholar whose research interests are focused on Southwest Native art and the methodologies and practices involved in collaborating with Indigenous communities. She is also a member of the advisory board at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College.

Farewell to SARC Anna Thompson

Please thank Anna Thompson, sexual assault response coordinator, for her service over the last three years. During that time, she has provided support and advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence, helped members of the community build their own skills in supporting survivors, provided training for incoming students and the community at-large, and was a collaborative, caring, and kind colleague to many. Today is her last day at CC. She will be missed. 

Until a new SARC can be hired, Heather Horton will serve as interim SARC. In this role she will serve as a confidential campus advocate for anyone harmed or affected by sexual and other gender-based violence and can be reached at sarc@coloradocollege.edu, (719) 227-8101 (office), and (719) 602-0960 (on-call).

Additional campus resources for anyone affected by sexual and other gender-based violence include:

Photo of the Week

Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/Jazzphoto.com

World-renowned and Grammy-winning saxophonist Bobby Watson All-Star Sextet performs on Friday, February 4, 2022. 

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Greek Life Commission Focus Groups

Dear Campus Community,


President L. Song Richardson and the Board of Trustees have requested a commission to explore the future of Greek Life on the Colorado College campus.  I am pleased to head this commission. The last commission on Greek Life took place in 2011 and provided recommendations on the future of Greek Life at CC.

The focus groups will explore questions including:

  • Is Greek Life keeping pace with what students want?
  • How does Greek Life align with the college’s antiracism commitment?
  • Is the term “Greek Life” broad enough?
  • What are the benefits of Greek Life at Colorado College?
  • What are the perceptions and realities of Greek Life?

Over the next few blocks, focus groups will be conducted for students, staff, faculty, and alumni, facilitated by Kyndra Wilson ’94, who has worked with us on several focus groups in the past. These groups covered a wide range of topics and have yielded valuable information which shaped the direction of the Butler Center and wellness initiatives, and resulted in the creation of the food pantry, to name just a few results.

Please look for email invitations from Dean of Students/VP for Student Life Rochelle T. Dickey, who is a part of the Greek Life Commission. Anyone interested in participating can reach out to the dean at DeanOfStudents@ColoradoCollege.edu to receive an invitation. Thank you in advance for your participation in these important focus groups.

 

Kyle Samuel ‘92

Colorado College Board of Trustees

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No Need for Second Screening Test This Week

Students, 

Thank you for participating in our ongoing COVID screening testing. Because the results of students’ Sunday/Monday screening testing showed lower positivity rates than previous weeks, there is no need for a second test this week.

We will be in touch with additional information about screening testing needs later this week. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our community healthy!

Sincerely,

Andrea Bruder 
Chief Public Health Advisor to the President
    
Mateo Muñoz 
Chair, COVID-19 Policy and Implementation Committee

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