Deans Notes - December 9, 2021

Consider Volunteering at Commencement and Signing up for CLAS READS!

As we come to the end of the semester and the conclusion of this challenging year, we have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to. With the exception of limited transmission events, our vaccinated campus was able to return safely to classrooms and offices, and by using our public safety protocols we kept ourselves and each other safe. Moving forward, vaccinations are going to remain as important as ever. Before traveling or gathering with those you love over the break, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the Health Center at Auraria’s free COVID-19 booster shots. All Colorado adults are eligible to receive them, and it couldn’t be easier to get your booster on campus – it takes 15 minutes or less for most folks. Use this link to schedule an appointment, then bring your proof of vaccination card to the Plaza Building Room 111. It’s that simple.

Of all the events that COVID has changed or made impossible over the past two years, perhaps the most keenly missed for our CU Denver Community has been Commencement. The university put on really remarkable virtual ceremonies, but nothing can compare to the pomp and circumstance of celebrating together. I personally am so looking forward to celebrating our graduates in-person on the 18^th at the convention center (see more information below in the Events section). While every commencement honors the achievement of our students’ academic goals and commitment to overcoming the obstacles, this ceremony will be unlike any other as summer and fall graduates have been invited to participate as well. This means this ceremony is going to be big, and it’s going to take a lot of help to pull it off. The events team is in need of more help than usual, so if you are a fan of the electric energy and emotional poignancy of this very special day please consider signing up to volunteer. Additional information about the ceremony is on the commencement website, and the page to sign-up to volunteer is available here.

As we look forward to all the new projects and possibilities 2022 has to offer, I hope the university-wide reading Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist is on everyone’s list. I spoke recently with members of staff, faculty, and students about why this initiative is so important, and everyone can see video of this quick conversation on the CLAS YouTube channel. Many of you have signed up to participate as part of a group, and these reading groups will be a meaningful way to make connections and build trust with your peers in talking about race and racism. We also encourage those who can’t make time to join one of the college’s organized groups to read on your own or form a less formal discussion group among your colleagues. If you do choose one of these less-organized options, we would be grateful if you could let us know about it on the registration form. A reminder of the timeframe for reading:

• January 2022 - Review and discuss chapters 1-5
• February 2022 – Review and discuss chapters 6-10
• March 2022 – Review and discuss chapters 11-14
• April 2022 – Review and discuss chapters 15-18
• May 2022 - End of Reading Event 

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and well-deserved break,

Pam

This month we’re launching a new addition to the Deans' Notes, called the Inclusive Teaching Practices Journal Club.  Each contribution will offer a summary of a recent publication that highlights how inclusive teaching practices can improve student success. The inaugural contribution is provided by Dr. Kelsey Funkhouser, a post-doctoral fellow in CLAS who collaborates on student success efforts through her work in the Office of Inclusive Excellence in STEM.

Each contribution will include a summary of findings and link to the original research article.  We will collect these summaries on the Journal Club section of our Office of Inclusive Excellence in STEM website. We hope you will use this as a resource for reflection and community. If you’d like to schedule time to meet with Kelsey or another member of the office, reach out!  We’ll bring the cookies!

Professors’ fixed mindset beliefs negatively impact the belonging of all students, and undermine the performance of women in STEM courses.

In a paper by Canning et. al. two studies are presented both looking at the professor’s perceived mindset beliefs (intelligence as fixed versus malleable, fixed vs growth mindset) and their impact on students’ sense of belonging and performance. The first study was completed in an experimental setting. The students reviewed a syllabus with fixed or growth mindset cues, they were surveyed on anticipated belonging in the course and professor’s perceived mindset, and completed a math placement test. The second study was done with students in their STEM classes. Early the semester students were surveyed about the professor’s perceived mindset beliefs as well as their own. Then near the end of the semester they reported their own sense of belonging in the course, and their final course grades were collected. Both studies found that if students perceived their professors to have fixed mindset beliefs they felt that they belonged less and women’s performance was negatively impacted.

AnQuanette Murray-Cawthorn, HR Senior Professional, has spent much of her career in the CLAS Dean’s Office. She was first hired as a Peer Advisor in the Financial Aid Office and shortly after got a second job as a Student Assistant in the CLAS Dean’s office in 2015. Upon graduating from CU Denver, she was hired in a permanent staff role in the CLAS Dean’s office and started her HR position in 2017. AnQuanette didn’t originally plan to go into HR as a career. When she was in her student position, she expressed interest in the Human Resources work she observed in the Dean’s office and was given a chance to try it out. A new path led from there.

AnQuanette says, “What I enjoy most about my position is working with the staff and faculty in the Dean’s office. Everyone is so passionate about their roles and it is reflected in the work that they do.” Of her colleagues on the Human Resources and Finance team she says, “We are so collaborative and I appreciate that everyone is so open to help and work together.”

In addition to handling the daily tasks required of her position, AnQuanette keeps abreast of the latest developments in the field of Human Resources. She is detail-oriented and enjoys assisting colleagues with projects. She is collaborative in nature, valuing the working relationships she has built in the CLAS Dean’s office. AnQuanette is thankful for the “opportunity for growth” in her position since joining CLAS.

Megan Jorgensen, Director of HR in the CLAS Dean’s Office says “AnQuanette is an asset to the CLAS HR team. She is extremely organized…I’m so proud of everything AnQuanette has learned and accomplished from her time as a student assistant to her current role as HR Senior Professional. AnQuanette is always willing to help out with different projects... She’s a very quick learner and is very resourceful – she’s able to figure out a lot of stuff on her own. We are lucky to have AnQuanette on the CLAS HR team!”

Carri Boothe, HR Program Manager at CLAS Dean’s Office adds that AnQuanette “has demonstrated a strong commitment to her job and has always gone above and beyond to make sure that she does that job well. I’m continually impressed by the thoroughness of her work, her ability to take on and learn new tasks, and her willingness to help others. As a coworker, AnQuanette is supportive and encouraging and always willing to lend a helping hand… She is a tremendous asset for our HR Team and CLAS!”

We salute AnQuanette Murray-Cawthorn for her accomplishments and appreciate her contributions to CLAS and to the Lynx Community. We anticipate a long and prosperous career ahead for AnQuanette.