UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet, together with UCCS Police Chief Dewayne McCarver, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nancy Marchand-Martella, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Kathy Kaoudis, Student Government Association Vice President Aidan Clark, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Carlos García, Dean of Students Amanda Allee, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health and Wellness Stephanie Hanenberg, and Executive Director of the Lyda Hill Institute of Human Resilience Charles Benight convened for a Faculty and Staff Virtual Forum on Tuesday, February 20 to share updates as well as answer questions from the student community.
To view the Faculty and Staff Virtual Forum recap, please click here.
Chancellor Sobanet opened the forum with a few brief sentiments.
“My heart weighs heavy with the loss of Mia Brown, for Sam Knopp, and for Celie Montgomery,” she said. “I am heartbroken and join in grieving with the friends and family who knew and loved them.”
After her statements, Chancellor Sobanet turned the forum over to Police Chief Dewayne McCarver.
Chief McCarver’s update included a summary of the events, from Friday morning when the police department received a shots fired call to how the investigation unfolded to the arrest of the suspect.
Chief McCarver also reiterated that the university’s timeline of communications was subject to the instruction of the Colorado Springs Police Department and that, although it was difficult for everyone at UCCS to not have all of the information right away, this strategy did ultimately result in the arrest of the suspect.
Chief McCarver then turned the forum over to Dean of Students Amanda Allee and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health and Wellness Stephanie Hanenberg.
Dean of Students Amanda Allee and Assistant Vice Chancellor Stephanie Hanenberg
Allee and Hanenberg gave a brief update about resources available to the campus community.
The forum was then turned over to Student Government Association Vice President Aidan Clark.
Student Government Association Vice President Aidan Clark
“I wish we were gathering for a different reason, but it is difficult moments like this that show just how strong our UCCS community truly is,” said Clark. “It’s a strength I have seen and known long before this tragedy, and now I am so grateful for it. I’m grateful for each one of you.”
The forum then transitioned to a question and answer format.
Questions
How can student safety be improved at UCCS?
How are the UCCS Day of Healing events predicted to make a tangible impact on our community?
Why weren’t classes canceled for the entire week?
How can you have deemed the campus safe for students when you didn’t know where the suspect was?
How can withholding details at this point help with investigation?
Are there plans to extend mental health services outside of just this week?
Who can help me sign up with alerts? Why are the alerts an opt-in system and not an opt-out system?
Why are guns permitted in some dorms?
Will there be a withdrawal process and appropriate conversation for students who decide to withdraw?
To view the Faculty and Staff Virtual Forum recap, please click here.