May 09, 2017
Jasmine Nelson
Sometimes it seems like UCCS doesn’t have much going on. That is true if you aren’t informed.
But if you pay attention to what is happening at UCCS, changes are constantly taking place, and the administration is always making new decisions.
If you missed any of the happenings that occurred on or off campus, here is a summary of UCCS’ most newsworthy events during the 2016-17 academic year.
Chancellor-emerita Pamela Shockley-Zalabak retired from UCCS on Feb. 15 after serving the university for 15 years as chancellor. ShockleyZalabak’s career spanned 40 years in total at UCCS.
Venkat Reddy, dean of the College of Business, has served as the interim chancellor since her retirement and is one of the final three candidates for the permanent position, to be chosen this summer.
CU Regent Kyle Hybl and his wife, Sally, raised $1.5 million to name the main stage theater in the Ent Center for Performing Arts in honor of Shockley-Zalabak.
The Ent Center, which is intended to be a Colorado Springs hub for the arts, will open January 2018. A dedication for the main stage theater is scheduled one month later in February.
The lobby will be dedicated to the late founder and artistic director of Theatre-Works, Murray Ross, and his wife, Betty. Ross passed away on Jan. 3.
Brian McPike, chief of police, retired Aug. 23, 2016. McPike was replaced by officer Marc Pino, who has served as the interim executive director of public safety and chief of police since McPike’s retirement.
Pino, along with Catherine Buckley and Joseph Riberio, have been selected the three final candidates for the permanent position of chief of police.
The seventh annual significant speaker event at UCCS featured Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas, 2010 U.S. national champion in figure skating, along with figure skater Rachel Flatt and two-time world champion triathlete Allysa Seely in the Elite Athlete Panel.
The event, which was held on April 25, allowed for audience questions.
UCCS earned its re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission on March 6 after a team of evaluators visited the campus in November.
UCCS tuition has also increased by about 4 percent from the 2016-17 academic year. The final budget for the campus will be decided by the CU Board of Regents in June.