May 09, 2017
Halle Thornton
It’s your first year of college, and the amount of opportunities on campus can be overwhelming.
Through orientation and tours, students are introduced to many departments and resources on campus, but it can hard to keep track of it all.
The Scribe has complied a list of places and resources to consider visiting at our school. Here are a few “ins and outs” of what UCCS can offer students.
Take advantage of at least some of the resources offered to you, because four to five years will fly by.
Library loans and rentals
Obviously you can check out books, but the Kraemer Family Library has more to offer than just a good read.
The library offers loans on bike locks and media equipment such as CD and cassette players (if you still use those), DVD players, and mobile phone and other electronic device chargers.
If it is rainy and cold, the library has you covered. Borrow an umbrella and make your walk to class that much more pleasant.
UCCS also uses Interlibrary Loan so students can check out materials from other libraries. Services available through this include books, journals and research materials not available in the library or through Prospector.
Requests usually take one to two days to process, and all you need to access these services is a valid UCCS ID.
For more information about loan policies, visit the circulation desk in the library or go online at uccs.edu/ library/services/circulation. html#media.
Coffee shops
If you are in need of a pick me up, there are multiple coffee shops on campus. Columbine Coffee is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the main level, also known as the second floor of Columbine.
If you find yourself taking several business courses, the coffee shop in Dwire Hall is a great place to stop by between your classes or during your class break.
Hours for Monday through Thursday are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. When you sign up for your first class in University Hall, it may be a challenge to find where the building is if you’re used to being on the central part of campus.
For nursing and theater students, or any students who take a class in University Hall, there is a coffee shop that is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Finally, for students who want to hang out, lounge around or have a meeting in University Center, Sanatorium Grounds’ central location is outside of the library inside the UC.
This shop also sells baked goods and has a variety of drink and on-the-go options that students can choose as well.
Hours for this coffee shop are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The only downside is that UCCS coffee shops do not accept cash, so make sure you bring a credit card or have Flex-dollars ready to go.
Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center
The freshman fifteen is all but real, and the UCCS Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center offers a multitude of ways to stay healthy during your first year of college.
Besides access to the gym the remainder of your time as a UCCS student, the Rec Center offers other perks like a pool, fitness classes and the SOLE Center where you can check out and rent camping equipment.
The SOLE Center also offers snowboard and ski waxes, and the staff will even walk you through how to do it yourself. The first time is free, and it is $5 for the semester.
The Wellness Center is where you can attempt to stay on track of your health, both mental and physical. The center offers counseling, health check-ups, physicals and even chiropractic needs.
To schedule an appointment, call 255-4444.
The Bluffs
College can be boring at times, but UCCS is located on one of the more scenic parts of Colorado Springs.
Take a break from studying or the stresses of life, and hike up the bluffs for a view of the city.
There are various trails you can take out and around campus, and it is the perfect refreshing getaway literally right in your backyard. There is beautiful wildlife on the bluff as well. But be careful, there have been rumors about mountain lion sightings.
For more information about the trails, visit uccs.edu/ recwellness/campus-rec/trails