Celebrations and Announcements

SWIVL units donated to school district

Some of the SWIVL units that Regis employed during the height of the pandemic were recently donated to the Garfield School District No. Re-2 (near Rifle, CO). Simone Richardson, Elementary Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Student Success came to campus to pick them up and expressed the district’s gratitude for Regis’ generosity. “We look forward to increased student achievement and a higher level of potential parent involvement as we increase our capacity to use the SWIVLS in our schools.” 

Winterrrowd chosen as visiting scholar

Erin Winterrowd was chosen to be a 2022-2023 ARC Virtual Visiting Scholar. The ARC Network is a collaboration between the National Science Foundation and WEPAN (Women in Engineering Proactive Network), focusing on achieving gender equity for faculty in academic STEM. The program comes with an individual stipend of $20,000. Erin will spend the year completing her proposed project entitled, “Academic motherhood: A mixed-method review of the ‘child penalty’ for women of color in STEM.”  

Extending our congratulations

Congratulations to Melissa Bosworth and several colleagues who were involved in the submission of a grant to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Melissa was the primary writer, Patsy Cullen served as Project Director, and several other Regis faculty and staff contributed: Megan Galaviz, Tristen Amador, Linda Osterlund, Cathy Witt, Kari Goerke, Laurel Petralia, and Mike Fisher. Although the grant was not ultimately awarded, we want to celebrate and acknowledge the tremendous undertaking involved in submission of a grant. They scored 95/100 by an external panel of reviewers. A new HRSA offering may allow them to re-submit much of what has already been prepared.  

Coronavirus update 

The University will recommend– rather than require – students, faculty and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster for the 2022-2023 academic year. This decision reflects several variables:

• Current case rates:  The reduced threat the coronavirus and its variants pose in terms of the current rate of infection and hospitalization. Cases in Colorado have been declining all summer and the current daily case rate of 25 per 100,000 people is forecast to decline below 18 by the time the traditional undergraduate semester begins Aug. 22. 
• Increased vaccine availability: COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available at pharmacies and health departments.  Additionally, Regis will be offering an on-campus influenza/COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Sept. 21. The state Department of Public Health and Environment reports 80.2% of adults are fully immunized. Regis will continue to encourage the University community to stay up to date on all vaccines.  

• Healthcare and testing services: COVID-19 testing is also widely available and our Student Health Services office can do PCR testing with results in less than 60 minutes. The University will be providing the rapid, at-home COVID tests in its residence halls and elsewhere on campus. Masks will also be available and recommended for anyone who has been exposed or recovering from COVID. Anyone who tests positive is expected to report their case to the University and self-isolate per current CDC protocols. 

Scientists and public health officials believe that COVID-19 is transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic, which means the virus will remain present but with more predictable spread and infection rates. The common variant now circulating is more transmissible but has milder symptoms and quicker recovery without hospitalization. The vast majority of complications due to COVID-19 are primarily in the unvaccinated population. As with all communicable diseases, we encourage everyone in the Regis community to practice good hygiene and be respectful to each other by staying home when feeling ill.   

The university continues to monitor all infectious diseases in our community and will change recommendations or requirements as necessary in accordance with the CDPHE and CDC guidelines.

Join the next Town Hall

Join Interim President Cody Teets and Board of Trustee chair Derek Scarth at the Town Hall, starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, in Claver Hall’s Mountain View Room, or watch via a live stream at https://www.regis.edu/ru-events/2022/08/town-hall.

Speakers will include Provost Karen Riley, Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Nicki Gonzales, Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Wilcots and Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs Stephanie Morris.

You may submit a question in advance at https://form.jotform.com/220346093982055.

Ignatian Welcome Orientation Experience for affiliate faculty 

Beginning this Fall, a new program is being offered for affiliate faculty: the Ignatian Welcome Orientation Experience. As part of an Ignatian Faculty Fellow project through the Office of Mission, this orientation experience seeks to build community and connections for affiliate faculty at Regis. It will offer a deeper introduction to the mission and how the mission influences teaching and student engagement.  

More information will be shared directly with affiliate faculty, but an in-person gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 3-5pm, and a virtual option will take place on two Wednesdays: September 14 & 21 from 12-1:15pm MST via Zoom.  Affiliate faculty wishing to register are asked to RSVP here by September 2. Please reach out to Suzanne Holm with questions: sholm001@regis.edu.  

Highlights from RHCHP Service Learning and Global Health Pathway from academic year 2021-22: 

More than 1,800 RHCHP students participated in a service learning course; 85 courses within the college offered an opportunity. The 17,000+ volunteer hours, when translated using the independent sector’s “value of volunteer hour”, equates to more than a $500,000 donation of time. Some programming and opportunities went back to pre-pandemic status, while others remained virtual or hybrid. RHCHP service learning is doing an admirable job of assessing both student outcomes as well as the impact to partner organizations. 

The RHCHP service learning staff and students provided 7 gear distribution (backpacks, tarps, etc.) and wellness/health education fairs for those experiencing homelessness at Haven of Hope and Colorado Village Collaborative Safe Outdoor Spaces during the 2021-22 academic year.  

The RHCHP Global Health Pathway (GHP) is a concentration available to selected students in RHCHP who seek a rich, transformative experience learning about and working with diverse populations, whether locally or abroad. By integrating knowledge with action, GHP students gain invaluable insight into contemporary global health issues through course work, service and clinical experiences in both local and/or international areas—all while satisfying their primary degree program requirements. The Pathway is built on student experiences framed with three pillars: Service, Education and Clinical Practice. Forty students participated in the GHP during 2021-22; 10 graduated with the concentration. Nine were Physical Therapy graduates and one was a Family Nurse Practitioner.