Announcements & Deadlines

Open enrollment: Greater CU contributions prevent rate increases for 3 of 4 medical plans

Megan Maneval — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:14:46 +0000

Open enrollment: Greater CU contributions prevent rate increases for 3 of 4 medical plans Megan Maneval Fri, 04/18/2025 - 10:14

The University of Colorado is increasing its investment in quality health care for CU’s workforce by 5.9% overall for the new benefits plan year. It’s important for employees to examine plan premiums and cost structures, coverage and networks before choosing plans.

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Call for nominations: 2025–26 Distinguished Research Lectureship

Megan Maneval — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:09:04 +0000

Call for nominations: 2025–26 Distinguished Research Lectureship Megan Maneval Fri, 04/18/2025 - 10:09

The Distinguished Research Lectureship is among the highest honors bestowed by the faculty upon a 51�Թ�� colleague. The deadline for nominations is June 2.

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Abby Hickcox wins award for inspirational instruction

Megan Maneval — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:34:24 +0000

Abby Hickcox wins award for inspirational instruction Megan Maneval Thu, 04/17/2025 - 14:34

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

Abby Hickcox, a teaching associate professor of geography and associate director of the Arts and Sciences Honors Program, has been named this year's Cogswell Award winner for her inspirational instruction.

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2025 Concerto Competition winners announced

Megan Maneval — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:52:07 +0000

2025 Concerto Competition winners announced Megan Maneval Thu, 04/17/2025 - 12:52

College of Music

Undergraduate violist Finn Cruit and graduate pianist Ohad Nativ were awarded first prizes in the College of Music’s annual Concerto Competition.

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51�Թ�� student lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Megan Maneval — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:54:42 +0000

51�Թ�� student lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Megan Maneval Thu, 04/17/2025 - 08:54

51�Թ�� student Arianna McCarty is among 441 college students from across the United States in 2025 to be awarded Goldwater Scholarships, which reward sophomores and juniors who are actively conducting research in math, science and engineering.

McCarty, a junior from Lafayette, Colorado, majoring in chemical and biological engineering, joins 51 previous 51�Թ�� Goldwater Scholars and will receive up to $7,500 for the 2025–26 academic year.

“It’s so exciting to see Arianna’s work recognized,” said Deborah Viles, director of the Office of Top Scholarships. “Beyond the significant contributions she is making to her field, her work underscores the value of strong collaborations across our campuses and with the Boettcher Foundation. We all benefit from these relationships.”

McCarty's work in the Clark Lab, located at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, explores interactions between respiratory pathogens and the airway microbiome. Her research seeks to understand the role of Prevotella bacteria in reducing infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. By harnessing these interactions, the lab aims to identify new approaches to treating respiratory infection and inflammation.

“I would like to thank Dr. Sarah E. Clark for her invaluable mentorship and consistent encouragement in pursuing new ideas,” McCarty said. “I am also grateful for support from the Boettcher Foundation, Dr. Wendy Young, my labmates, and my brother Bryan McCarty."

Learn more about McCarty and her research.

How did you choose 51�Թ�� for your studies?

I was fortunate enough to receive a Boettcher Scholarship fully funding me for four years of undergraduate study at a Colorado university. Having already been involved in high school with the Layer Lab at 51�Թ�� researching computational genomics, I aimed to continue my work at CU.

Beyond research, I fell in love with the Engineering Honors Program (EHP) and waking up to the Flatirons each morning!

How did you become interested in studying respiratory pathogens?

The Boettcher Foundation has a collaboration grant program that matches Boettcher Scholars with Boettcher Webb Waring Biomedical Research Investigators (an award the foundation offers to early-career investigators). Having always been interested in the microbiome, I was overjoyed to see a project with Dr. Clark's lab studying the respiratory microbiome and joined the lab in the summer of 2023.

Throughout this time, I learned so much about the potential of the respiratory microbiome and how its interactions with pathogens can inform future therapies with genuine clinical impact. Falling in love with this work, I signed on to join the lab throughout the school year and eventually to a thesis work!

For a student who might be interested in applying for a prestigious scholarship or internship, what advice would you offer them?

Be yourself! Prestigious scholarships and internships are interested in investing in you and your potential—tell them who you are, what motivates you and what sets you apart. Spend some time really thinking about who you are and what narrative of yourself you want to focus on (I've found talking to friends and family very helpful). For me, this meant highlighting how much I value interdisciplinary research and its potential for clinical impact and showing how I plan to be effective in those spheres.

I'd also definitely recommend connecting with the Top Scholarships Office at your university—Deb Viles has been a wonderful source of support and feedback through the application process.

What has been your favorite thing(s) about going to CU?

While there are many things that have been wonderful, my favorite part of CU has to be the community. Everywhere I go I've been met with strong communities and incredible support. The chemical and biological engineering community (peers and professors alike) have been instrumental throughout my degree, and my closest friends have been found as part of the Boettcher and EHP communities.

I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of those around me, I really can't thank them enough.

What's next for you once you complete your studies?

After completing my studies, I plan to pursue a doctorate emphasizing tissue engineering and immunoengineering prior to a career in academia as a research professor at an R1 university. I've always loved the fields of tissue engineering and immunoengineering and hope to leverage the systems biology and immunology perspective I've gained with the Clark Lab toward engineering better tissues and biomaterials for the future.

Applying for the Goldwater Scholarship

Students who will be sophomores or juniors in the fall and who are engaged in research in math, science and engineering are encouraged to apply next year. Contact viles@colorado.edu and visit the Goldwater Scholarship website for more information.

The Goldwater Foundation was established in 1986 in honor of Sen. Barry Goldwater. The scholarship program is designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

Arianna McCarty is among 441 college students from across the U.S. in 2025 to be awarded Goldwater Scholarships, which reward sophomores and juniors who are actively conducting research in math, science and engineering.

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Celebrating World Quantum Day at the Colorado Capitol

Megan Maneval — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:14:59 +0000

Celebrating World Quantum Day at the Colorado Capitol Megan Maneval Mon, 04/14/2025 - 13:14

Dignitaries from 51�Թ�� joined the Colorado General Assembly at the State Capitol on Monday, April 14, to celebrate World Quantum Day. Pictured here, Chancellor Justin Schwartz and Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, speak to Colorado State Senator Mark Baisley.

World Quantum Day, which was launched in 2021 by a group of international scientists, is a global event celebrating quantum physics—and how insights into the universe at its smallest scales have transformed the lives of humans around the globe. This year’s events take on a special meaning as UNESCO has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

To mark the occasion, a proclamation from Gov. Jared Polis in support of World Quantum Day (PDF) was read on the House and Senate floors of the General Assembly. 51�Թ�� was recognized for its contribution to the quantum industry.

“The collaborative efforts of higher education institutions, industry, and government agencies have played a pivotal role in nurturing Colorado's quantum technology ecosystem, fostering an environment conducive to research advancements, technology deployment to improve quality of life, and economic prosperity for Colorado and our global community,” the proclamation states.

Today, Colorado’s quantum industry employs about 3,000 people, and the state estimates that the number could grow to 10,000 within the next decade. In 2023, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) named Elevate Quantum, a coalition of 120 organizations in the Mountain West, as an official tech hub for quantum technology. 51�Թ�� is a prime contributor to Elevate Quantum, which has secured more than $120 million to fuel the quantum industry in the region.

To begin the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in January, 51�Թ��—alongside Colorado State University, the Colorado School of Mines and Elevate Quantum—announced the launch of a new quantum incubator in 51�Թ��.

51�Թ�� Chancellor Justin Schwartz and other dignitaries joined the Colorado General Assembly in marking the rapid growth of the state's quantum industry.

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Campus releases latest Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey results

Megan Maneval — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:36:11 +0000

Campus releases latest Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey results Megan Maneval Mon, 04/14/2025 - 12:36

The newly released 2024 Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey results show students reporting a slight increase in sexual assault compared to 2021, though the rate remained substantially lower than in 2015 when 51�Թ�� first conducted the survey. The latest survey shows a slight decrease in stalking and no statistically significant changes in sexual exploitation from 2021 to 2024, with rates for each of those metrics also remaining lower than in 2015.

51�Թ��’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) administered the survey during the fall 2024 semester to gather data about the prevalence of misconduct experienced by students on and off campus during their time at the university. It focused on sexual assault, harassment, exploitation, stalking and intimate partner abuse.

While a few of the main categories saw rates increase slightly from 2021 to 2024, the rates for four of the five remained significantly lower than in 2015. The slight increases from 2021 were not unexpected given that multiple factors—particularly COVID-19 pandemic-related influences such as campuses going remote, stay-at-home orders and general trends toward less socialization—contributed significantly to the large decreases in rates seen in the 2021 survey.

51�Թ�� first surveyed in 2015 and then again in 2021. The university plans to administer the survey every four years going forward.

“While we’re encouraged that the results for most categories continue to trend lower than in 2015 and indicate that our campus prevention efforts since then have made a positive impact, we recognize that there is still much work to be done,” said Llen Pomeroy, vice chancellor for OIEC and the campus’s Title IX coordinator. “The data gathered in the latest survey will enable our campus experts to better understand current trends affecting our students so we can enhance and expand existing prevention practices and student support services.”

OIEC will continue to analyze the 2024 data throughout the coming months. OIEC will collaborate with the Office of Victim Assistance and the Sexual Misconduct Task Force, a representative advisory group, to identify opportunities for strengthening campus prevention and response efforts.

High participation, donations

Nearly 30% of all 51�Թ�� students participated in the 2024 Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey, and students came through in a big way for important causes.

Students were offered a $10 incentive to participate in the survey, with an option to donate that incentive instead. Undergraduate student participants donated $12,300 to the Basic Needs Center, and graduate student participants donated $5,100 to the Graduate Student Emergency Aid Fund.

About the survey

A total of 9,119 undergraduate and 2,383 graduate students completed the 2024 Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey, with respective response rates of 28% and 29%. OIEC leads the survey design and implementation and is responsible for educating the 51�Թ�� community about, and addressing incidents of, discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct. OIEC also monitors prevalence by administering smaller-scale surveys focused on first-year undergraduate students, who are impacted the most, between the years when the full student body is surveyed.

Survey participants were asked whether they had experienced sexual assault and related harms since becoming a student at 51�Թ��. The survey respondents were demographically representative of the student population, including in terms of participants’ race and ethnicity and their school or college.

The findings compiled in the new report compare prevalence rates from previous surveys in 2015 and 2021 to the 2024 results.

“Our goal has been to track where the campus has improved and where problems persist,” Pomeroy said. “Unfortunately, sexual assault and other gender-based harm are deeply entrenched social ills that disproportionately impact young people in the United States, making it difficult to eradicate these issues in the college environment. This underscores why tracking this data is so important in directing the strategies we deploy to prevent sexual misconduct.”

Survey data

The 2024 survey data indicates that 18% of undergraduate women reported being sexually assaulted since coming to 51�Թ��, up from 15% in the 2021 data but still down from the 28% reported in 2015. Similar to 2015 and 2021, undergraduate men, graduate women and graduate men reported lower rates of sexual misconduct than undergraduate women for all categories.

Rates of sexual exploitation saw no statistically significant changes from 2021 to 2024 and remained lower in 2024 than in 2015 for all groups.

Stalking, which had stayed largely flat from 2015 to 2021, decreased in 2024 for undergraduate women by 5 percentage points, along with slight decreases for other groups.

OIEC will continue analyzing the data to understand how these issues impact our many university communities, including gender identity beyond the categories of women and men, sexual orientation and other key demographics like race and disability status.

New questions, new findings

The 2024 survey incorporated additional behaviors into the definitions of sexual harassment and intimate partner abuse based on new research and student feedback following the 2021 survey.

“We are constantly evolving the survey to capture a broad range of harms based on students’ lived experience,” said Julie Volckens, senior director of assessment and prevention for OIEC. “This included adding public behaviors such as catcalling to the sexual harassment section and expanding intimate partner violence to include academic, economic and technology-based abuse.”

Except for graduate men, compared to both 2015 and 2021 results, in 2024 there was a meaningful increase in reports of sexual harassment, especially among undergraduate women. Intimate partner abuse, meanwhile, saw increases from 2021 to 2024 but remained lower than in 2015 for all groups.

“Expanding the questions increased our ability to capture problematic behaviors that may have been occurring previously but weren’t detected in past surveys,” Volckens said.

Key trends

For those who indicated they experienced sexual assault, the survey asked questions about when the incident occurred, where it occurred, the characteristics of the perpetrator, whether the survey participant officially reported the incident, as well as personal consequences they may have experienced as a result of the incident.

Timing/characteristics

For undergraduates, the majority of assaults occurred in the fall semester.
For the majority of undergraduate and graduate students, the perpetrator(s) of sexual assault was someone they knew (a friend, casual dating partner or hookup, acquaintance or someone they just met, current or former dating partner).
As compared to 2021, there was an increase in the prevalence of a casual dating partner or hookup being indicated as the sexual assault perpetrator for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Resources

Location

For both undergraduate women and men, the majority of sexual assaults occurred in the same three locations in 2024 as compared to 2021: a Greek chapter house, someone else’s off-campus residence, and the student’s campus residence.

Although a Greek chapter house remained the most common location in 2024 (18% of sexual assault incidents among undergraduate women), this represents a substantial drop from the 2021 rate of 30%.

Consequences

Among undergraduate women, the majority indicated that they had experienced negative consequences from the sexual assault in addition to the incident itself. This included impact to their mental health (76%), intimate relationships (66%), feelings about their body (66%) and confidence in their abilities (52%). Almost half (46%) also reported that the sexual assault had made them less productive in their academic work.

Compared to 2021, a meaningfully smaller percentage of the 2024 survey participants reported experiencing negative outcomes from a sexual assault across all types of consequences measured in the survey: health, social, college and career, and academic. One reason for this could be that rates of students disclosing their experiences to another person—be it a roommate, friend or family member—remained high. Research has shown that receiving support can reduce the negative consequences experienced by survivors of sexual and interpersonal harm.

Peer institutions

Compared to AAU peer institutions that collected data pre- and post-pandemic, 51�Թ�� saw lower rates of sexual assault and a larger decrease since before the pandemic. AAU peer institutions saw pre-pandemic rates of sexual assault for women decrease from 32% before the pandemic to 24% in 2024, compared to 51�Թ��’s decline from 28% pre-pandemic to 18% in 2024.

Looking forward, using the data

The Sexual Misconduct Task Force was formed after the 2021 survey was administered to thoroughly review and understand campus data and peer-reviewed research and help develop broad-based practices for reducing sexual harm against students.

The task force, guided by OIEC prevention staff, developed promising prevention strategies for students, faculty and staff to improve protective factors for the campus community and reduce harm.

The task force will continue its work in response to the survey analyses to support the implementation of comprehensive prevention practices.

While increasing slightly from 2021, rates of reported sexual assault remain substantially lower than in 2015, the first year 51�Թ�� conducted the survey. Stalking, meanwhile, continued to decline in the 2024 survey.

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Professor John Cumalat wins 2025 Hazel Barnes Prize

Megan Maneval — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:14:52 +0000

Professor John Cumalat wins 2025 Hazel Barnes Prize Megan Maneval Mon, 04/14/2025 - 09:14

Cumalat, a professor of distinction in the Department of Physics, "literally re-shaped our understanding of the fundamental particles making up the known universe," colleagues note.

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Get your game plan going for open enrollment

Megan Maneval — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:56:33 +0000

Get your game plan going for open enrollment Megan Maneval Mon, 04/14/2025 - 08:56

This year’s open enrollment period runs April 21–May 9. All benefits-eligible employees will have the opportunity to change their health plan enrollments, modify optional insurance policies and add or remove dependents.

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Jazz swings forward at 51�Թ�� thanks to Thompson endowment

Megan Maneval — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:17:06 +0000

Jazz swings forward at 51�Թ�� thanks to Thompson endowment Megan Maneval Thu, 04/10/2025 - 13:17

In the fall, alumni and longtime donors Jack and Jeannie Thompson expanded their endowment, adding a vocal jazz degree option to the Thompson Jazz Studies Program in 51�Թ��’s College of Music.

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Announcements & Deadlines

Open enrollment: Greater CU contributions prevent rate increases for 3 of 4 medical plans

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Call for nominations: 2025–26 Distinguished Research Lectureship

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Abby Hickcox wins award for inspirational instruction

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2025 Concerto Competition winners announced

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51�Թ�� student lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

How did you choose 51�Թ�� for your studies?

How did you become interested in studying respiratory pathogens?

For a student who might be interested in applying for a prestigious scholarship or internship, what advice would you offer them?

What has been your favorite thing(s) about going to CU?

What's next for you once you complete your studies?

Applying for the Goldwater Scholarship

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Celebrating World Quantum Day at the Colorado Capitol

Related Articles

Campus releases latest Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey results

About the survey

Survey data

New questions, new findings

Key trends

Timing/characteristics

Location

Consequences

Peer institutions

Looking forward, using the data

Related Articles

Professor John Cumalat wins 2025 Hazel Barnes Prize

Related Articles

Get your game plan going for open enrollment

Related Articles

Jazz swings forward at 51�Թ�� thanks to Thompson endowment

Related Articles

Announcements & Deadlines

Open enrollment: Greater CU contributions prevent rate increases for 3 of 4 medical plans

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Call for nominations: 2025–26 Distinguished Research Lectureship

Related Articles

Abby Hickcox wins award for inspirational instruction

Related Articles

2025 Concerto Competition winners announced

Related Articles

51�Թ��� student lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

How did you choose 51�Թ��� for your studies?

How did you become interested in studying respiratory pathogens?

For a student who might be interested in applying for a prestigious scholarship or internship, what advice would you offer them?

What has been your favorite thing(s) about going to CU?

What's next for you once you complete your studies?

Applying for the Goldwater Scholarship

Related Articles

Celebrating World Quantum Day at the Colorado Capitol

Related Articles

Campus releases latest Sexual Assault and Related Harms Survey results

About the survey

Survey data

New questions, new findings

Key trends

Timing/characteristics

Location

Consequences

Peer institutions

Looking forward, using the data

Related Articles

Professor John Cumalat wins 2025 Hazel Barnes Prize

Related Articles

Get your game plan going for open enrollment

Related Articles

Jazz swings forward at 51�Թ��� thanks to Thompson endowment

Related Articles

51�Թ�� student lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

How did you choose 51�Թ�� for your studies?

Jazz swings forward at 51�Թ�� thanks to Thompson endowment