Sociology Newsletter - October 2026

Looking for a way to challenge yourself and stand out academically without adding extra time or tuition to your degree? CU Denver’s Honors Scholars Certificate Program is a 15-credit honors certificate recognizing curiosity, critical thinking, and academic growth. You can earn your honors credit through honors contracts embedded within your regular coursework, an honors course section or 5000-level course, departmental thesis work, study abroad, internships, independent studies, and other learning experiences. Students with a 3.25 GPA who have completed fewer than 105 credits are eligible to apply. Who knows, you might already have completed the requirements for a certificate! Contact the Honors Scholars Program for more details!

The middle of the semester can bring up all kinds of questions about courses, graduation requirements, and what comes next. If you are an undergraduate student with questions about your Sociology major, minor, certificate(s), or whatever else, Undergraduate Advisor Dr. Maren Scull is ready to help! Graduate students can also reach out to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Adam Lippert, with questions about the MA program.

Campus Prep is once again offering its affordable, live online LSAT prep course this Fall. The comprehensive 27-hour course is taught by a top-scoring instructor and includes three proctored practice exams to prepare you for the upcoming LSAT. Students completing Campus Prep courses improve their scores by nine points on average. Courses cost $220–$255, depending on financial-aid eligibility, which is well below the cost of commercial LSAT programs. And payment plans are available. Weekend and evening schedules are available, with courses beginning in October and November. You can apply here or contact admin@campusprep.org for additional details.

Urban Peak is a Denver-based organization providing a range of services to youth ages 12 through 24 who are experiencing homelessness. The organization provides case management, health and behavioral health services, education and employment opportunities, crisis support, and housing. You can support youth in housing as they develop independent living skills by contributing the items listed on the Mothership and housing wish lists.

The United States Secret Service (USSS) National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) is currently accepting applicants for the Social Science Research Specialist (SSRS) Position. The National Threat Assessment Center conducts research, training, consultations, and information sharing in  behavioral threat assessment and the prevention of targeted violence. Applicants should have a master's degree or higher in behavioral or social sciences or in related disciplines appropriate to the position. The position is posted on USAJOBS.com under the following announcement number: NTAC-TK-13034830-26-DHA  and is open until 10/7/2026. Additional information is available here. 

CU Denver’s Basic Needs Center is partnering with the Food Bank of the Rockies to help students interested in applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP helps qualifying individuals and families purchase healthy food at local grocery stores and farmers markets. Students who would like to learn more or need help completing an application can stop by the Wellness Suite on the third floor of the Wellness Center from 12–3PM on Wednesday, October 7 or October 21. For more information, contact lynxbasicneeds@ucdenver.edu.

The Sociology Club is in its fifth year and continues to offer community, professional development, and opportunities to get involved with social justice issues. The Club meets biweekly in the library of the Sociology Department (Fourth Floor of the Lawrence Street Center) from 5:30-7:00PM. Snacks and soft drinks are provided. Come check us out at an upcoming meeting or event. And stay tuned to the department’s social media and email for Club updates!

Our very own Dr. Jennifer Reich will be giving a talk as part of the Health and Behavioral Science (HBS) colloquium series on “Vaccines, MAHA, and Government Regulation of Individual Choice” on Friday, October 9, at 2:30PM in North Classroom 1130. Americans have a long and complicated relationship with medical authority, and Dr. Reich will explore the social and political forces shaping modern medicine, vaccination, government regulation, and individual choice. Contact Dr. Jennifer Boylan for a Zoom link to attend virtually.

The Trump Administration and reactionary forces throughout the US are attempting to subvert and delegitimize the upcoming mid-term elections. What are the challenges facing free elections in this country, and what can individuals and communities do to protect their votes? Join students, faculty, election officials, and community organizations on Wednesday, October 14, from 5–6:30PM in Student Commons 1500 to find out. The Denver Elections Clerk, Common Cause, New Era Colorado, and a member of the CU System Denver Elections Advisory Council will offer remarks, with an open mic available to foster discussion. And yes! There will be food!

Hispanic Heritage Month runs through October 15, and Denver is keeping the celebrations going. At CU Denver, Noche Latina takes place on Wednesday, October 14, from 6–9PM in Tivoli Turnhalle. Noche Latina is CU Denver’s 4th annual celebration that brings together students and the broader Denver community for a night filled with culture, connection, and joy. The event features live performances, delicious food, community organizers, local businesses, and exciting giveaways. Around Denver, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Check out Denver’s Hispanic Heritage Month website and History Colorado for information on events celebrating the rich Hispanic roots and cultures of our campus, city, and state.

Want to feel more confident and in control of your money? As part of CU Denver’s Wellness Week, TIAA is offering a student-focused session on building a solid financial foundation. The workshop will cover five essential building blocks of smart money management to help you develop healthy financial habits as you prepare for your career and life after college. The hybrid session takes place Tuesday, October 13, from 3–4PM in Student Commons 1401, with a virtual option available. Register here.

Feeling overwhelmed by everything on that ballot you received in the mail? The Colorado Public Health Association is hosting its 2026 Ballots & Bites event on Tuesday, October 20 at 6PM at Hogshead Brewery in Denver. The event will provide nonpartisan information about ballot measures and their potential implications for public health and Colorado’s fiscal health.

How can words reproduce inequality? The Auraria Library is hosting two free screenings of Change the Subject, a documentary about Dartmouth students who challenged anti-immigrant language in Library of Congress subject headings. The film offers a fascinating look at how seemingly technical decisions about language and classification can reflect social biases. Screenings will take place in Auraria Library Room 116 on Tuesday, October 20, from 2–3:30PM and Wednesday, October 21, from 3:30–5PM. Refreshments will be provided!

Take Back the Power (Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute nation), 2020), East-facing wall of 3 N. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs (Photo: Gregg Deal)

The department is shouting out Dr. Jennifer Reich for her piece in The Conversation examining a federal proposal to separate the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into individual shots. Dr. Reich’s article considers how a change intended to provide greater choice could also make vaccination more difficult to access, particularly for rural Colorado families facing provider shortages, travel costs, and multiple appointments. The article puts sociological imagination to work on medical care, families, health inequality, and the complicated relationship between individual choice and institutional constraints. Great job, Jennifer!

The department is shouting out Dr. Esther Sullivan too. Dr. Sullivan guest-edited the August 2026 special issue of Urban Studies with Zachary Lamb and Andrew Rumbach. Titled “Manufacturing the Urban: Manufactured Housing and Manufactured Home Parks”, the special issue examines housing regulation and finance, eviction and inequality, residents’ experiences, and climate vulnerability. Awesome work, Esther!

Dolores Huerta (born 1930) is an American labor leader, feminist activist, and one of the most influential organizers in the history of the farmworker movement. Together with César Chávez and Gilbert Padilla, she helped establish the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers. Huerta is also credited with creating the union’s famous slogan, ¡Sí se puede! (“Yes, we can!”). Reflecting on another source of power for enacting change in society, Huerta has observed, “If people don’t vote, everything stays the same. You can protest until the sky turns yellow or the moon turns blue, and it’s not going to change anything if you don’t vote.” As November’s elections approach, Huerta’s words offer something to think about concerning the relationship between protest, organizing, political participation, and social change.

The Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URCA) is your connection to research opportunities at CU Denver. URCA helps students jump-start their research careers through its Education through Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (EURēCA) program, which offers research assistantships and grant opportunities for undergraduate students. Want to get involved? URCA holds drop-in advising every Wednesday from 12–3:30PM, either in person at LynxConnect in Tivoli Annex 439 or on Zoom. October drop-ins are October 7, 14, 21, and 28. No appointment is necessary! Stop by to learn about research opportunities, funding, and how to get started. Individual advising appointments are also available through Handshake.

The Learning Resources Center (LRC) offers CU Denver students a full lineup of free services, both virtually and in person, including peer tutoring, the writing lab, supplemental learning, individual coaching, study-skills workshops, 24/7 virtual tutoring through Brainfuse, and asynchronous workshops through Student Lingo. LRC also offers weekly Study Jams and monthly Trivia Nights for study support, coffee, and prizes. Check out the LRC website for current hours and services!

Presenting at a conference or finishing up your thesis or dissertation? The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) offers competitive travel awards of up to $500 per academic year to help cover research-related travel costs. Graduate students in STEM fields should also check out the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which provides three years of funding, including an annual stipend, for students pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees. ORCA provides application information, eligibility details, workshops, and other resources to help students pursue funding opportunities.

Alpha Kappa Delta continues its workshop series for Sociology graduate students: the Graduate Student Lounge. Sponsored by AKD, the Lounge supports graduate students’ professionalization, well-being, and peer networking. It meets monthly to discuss topics of interest to graduate students in Sociology and provides a grad-only space for sharing tips, ideas, and recommendations. Graduate students can sign up to be invited using the registration link.

Alpha Kappa Delta provides funding to AKD student members who present at regional Sociology conferences. Awards are up to $500 per student, although no more than $1,500 may be awarded per chapter. For more information about AKD, contact Dr. Jenny Vermilya.

Milo’s Market is CU Denver’s grocery spot, helping students, staff, and faculty access free food and hygiene items. All students are allocated goods each week, whether it’s a snack for the day or ingredients for a meal. All you need is your LynxCard and a reusable bag. Milo’s Market is located on the 3rd floor of the Wellness Center.

The Office of Equity (OE) works to advance an inclusive environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination and to foster a community where all identities are respected, and everyone has equitable access to education and employment opportunities. More information about OE offerings, including how to make an equity report, is available through the Office of Equity.

It’s election season! This year’s midterms include races for governor, US Senate, and US Congress, among other offices. And then there’s a number of critical statewide and local ballot questions on congressional redistricting, penalties for trafficking minors, housing and affordability, statewide rules requiring participation in school sports based on a student’s biological sex, tax increases to pay for passenger train services, and tax reform to pay for K-12 education, among others. This is the stuff we talk about every day as sociologists. Stay informed about the candidates, ballot measures, and issues on this year’s ballot with the voter guides from The Colorado Sun, Denverite, and Colorado Public Radio.

The results of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were recently published. And US student performance continues to raise concerns, with more than a quarter of American 15-year-olds now failing to reach a basic level of reading proficiency. Math scores remain at a decade-long low. But the story is not the same everywhere. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. have made gains, challenging the notion that poorer states and cities will perform worse. How did they do it? The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Washington Post, and The New York Times have the coverage.

El Niño is back with a vengeance, and it is sticking around (until February, at least). In the United States, much of the attention has focused on California, where El Niño-powered storms and unusually warm Pacific waters are accelerating coastal erosion and damaging homes and infrastructure. But the consequences extend far beyond California. El Niño is bringing and will continue to bring extreme heat, drought, flooding, and wildfire risks to communities across multiple regions of the world. The uneven effects of this weather phenomenon are a reminder that environmental events do not affect everyone equally. Check out recent reporting and analysis from The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Atlantic to learn more about what this powerful climate event means for communities in the US and around the globe.