Dear Rams,

We hope you are settling into campus life and discovering your routine as a Ram. You belong here!

The start of fall always is an exciting time at Colorado State University, and it’s not unusual to have some anxiety in navigating a new slate of classes, friends, and experiences. Focusing on a strong start to the semester can help you ease your academic stressors, and help you build a sense of belonging.

Did you know the First Four Weeks of every semester are especially critical to a strong start and your success as a student? How well you are doing in your classes the first four weeks is a good indication of your success for the rest of the semester. Here’s what you can do to best position yourself:

• Complete assignments, even the low-point assignments, mini-tests, short writing assignments, reading quizzes, and practice tests offered by your instructors. These “low-stake” activities give you feedback about your progress and can improve your performance later as you have assignments and tests worth a greater number of points.
• Read, review, and learn about Canvas and your assignment rubrics so that you know what is expected. If you are unsure, contact your instructor.
• Attend your instructor’s office hours. Office hours are a great time to connect with faculty and build relationships, ask questions, and check your understanding of course content.
• Ask questions in class and share your insights and listen to the insights provided by your peers. This will allow you to check your grasp of the material and it also will likely help your classmates!
• Set a goal for each class period such as, “I will stay focused and avoid multi-tasking,” or “I will write down/highlight any concept that I need to look at again after class.” Update your goals weekly or bi-weekly.
• Anticipate challenges that you may have (e.g., childcare, transportation, working a lot of hours, no computer at home, etc.) and ask for help when you need it.

If you need help, tell someone. Talk to your resident assistant, graduate teaching assistant, lab instructor, faculty, or peer mentor. We are all here for you and care about your student experience. See the list of campus resources below.

We hope you join us in looking forward to a great academic year!

Sincerely,

Janice Nerger, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Blanche Hughes, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

CAMPUS RESOURCES

We encourage you to use these campus resources to help you address challenges as they come up:

Student Support Resources: https://studentaffairs.colostate.edu/resource/students/student-support/

TILT Academic and Tutoring Support https://tilt.colostate.edu/undergrad/

Reserve a Study Room at the Library: https://lib.colostate.edu/services/reserve-a-room/group-study-rooms/

CSU Health Network Groups and Workshops: https://health.colostate.edu/groups-and-workshops/

Get Involved with a Student Organization: https://ramlink.campuslabs.com/engage/

Childcare Resources: https://alvs.colostate.edu/student-parent/rkv/

Find a Job or Internship On or Off Campus: https://career.colostate.edu/job-internship-search/

Dear Colleagues:

The launch of the fall semester at Colorado State University is a time that brings us all back together in a shared sense of Ram pride, and renewed energy for a new academic year. The return of students creates an excitement that inspires all of us.

That excitement and our reputation as an exceptional institution of higher education are thanks to the excellence you consistently exhibit on behalf of our mission. Your commitment to our students is reflected in a potential record enrollment and incoming class this fall. We have been pulling out all the stops to get ready for students and provide our new Rams with a robust week of activities starting Monday.

Move-In Week

As you likely have heard, CSU’s strong recruitment efforts, high-quality academics, and desirable student experience as a residential campus have led to a record demand for housing for Fall 2022. Some students will be placed in temporary housing, and moved into permanent housing as soon as possible. Given the size of the incoming class, main campus will be very busy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as students move into residence halls.

You can support Move In by leaving the parking areas West of Meridian and around the halls open for students and their families and avoiding Hughes Way and Plum Street as they will be used as unloading zones. Utilizing alternative transportation options next week or speaking to your supervisor about teleworking options is also appreciated (if these options are feasible for you).

Thank you to all who have volunteered to support move-in efforts and shifts are still available, if you’d like to participate.

Ram Welcome

Ram Welcome kicks off next week and is returning full steam this year with several new programs and activities to help students transition to college life. From We are CSU to College Welcomes to the Carnival, Ram Welcome is a CSU tradition and signature event that engages students, faculty, staff, parents, and families. Convocation on Friday officially marks the beginning of a student’s academic journey at CSU, and we are thrilled it is returning to Moby Arena this year with all the pomp and circumstance this tradition deserves.

Fall Address – Save the Date

On a closing note, we encourage you to join the Ram community for the President’s Fall Address on the Oval followed by a picnic: Thursday, September 29, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Like the start of the fall semester, this is an important time to bring our community together. More information will be shared by the President’s Office in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your hard work in preparing to welcome returning and new students, and for supporting them throughout their CSU experience.

Go Rams!

Jan Nerger and Blanche Hughes

Janice L. Nerger, PhD
Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Blanche Hughes, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs

 

Dear Rams:

This is a message we like to share with students each spring as you turn your focus to finals week: Remember, you’ve got this!

Think of all the challenges you’ve met and overcome to get here and give this final push all you’ve got. We know that this week creates both excitement and anxiety for you. So, take good care of yourself. These simple steps can make a big difference:

• Get plenty of sleep and eat well – pulling an all-nighter to cram for an exam can diminish performance
• Exercise to help manage stress (even if it’s short walks during study breaks)
• Lean on your faculty, advisors, and friends for support (Rams Take Care of Rams)
• Seek out CSU student resources if you feel overwhelmed or anxious – it’s ok to ask for help, and that’s why these resources are available (https://health.colostate.edu/mental-health-resources/)

For those of you graduating, congratulations! We are so very proud of you, and we know you are ready to celebrate with your families and loved ones. For those of you returning this summer or in the fall, we look forward to having you back!

Once your finals are over and your grades are in, reflect with a sense of pride for what you have achieved and be forgiving if you feel you could have done better. Life is a journey, and this semester is one step along the way.

Fight on stalwart Rams. Remember, You’ve got this!

Sincerely,

Mary Pedersen
Provost and Executive Vice President

Blanche Hughes
Vice President for Student Affairs

Dear Rams,

Yesterday, a Colorado state bill was signed into law to officially establish Juneteenth—June 19—as a legal state holiday in Colorado.

Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, many people were still enslaved throughout the states.

On June 19, 1865, as the Civil War came to an end, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all enslaved people had been freed. Enslaved Texans were the last people within the Confederacy to officially learn of their freedom – two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Juneteenth – also sometimes called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day – has since commemorated that historic occasion, but until now has not been recognized as an official Colorado holiday.

Because Juneteenth falls on a Sunday this year, Colorado State University will observe the holiday by closing on Monday, June 20. All classes on June 20 will be canceled and university offices will be closed in observance of the holiday. Summer conferences, summer school housing and dining, and some summer activities will continue as scheduled.

Juneteenth provides our Colorado State University community an opportunity to mark this important date in United States history by acknowledging our country’s painful past of slavery, and reflecting upon and honoring the countless ways our students, faculty and staff bring a rich heritage and diverse perspectives to our university, our community, and our country.

We invite you to learn more about university and other regional activities celebrating Juneteenth, including Fort Collins Juneteenth, and other ways you can observe and support this historic first holiday for Colorado.

Sincerely,

Joyce McConnell
President

Kauline Cipriani
Vice President for Inclusive Excellence

Blanche Hughes
Vice President for Student Affairs