gives campus report to CU Board of Regents
Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak traced the history of UCCS from fledgling outpost to a robust institution with more than 11,000 students and an annual economic impact of more than $400 million Wednesday.
As part of her host campus report to the CU Board of Regents, Shockley-Zalabak traced the origins of UCCS beginning with community support supplemented by Bill Hewlett and David Packard’s request that colleges of engineering and business be created in Colorado Springs in exchange for robust HP presence.
“You, the regents, had a major part in making this campus possible,” Shockley-Zalabak said.
With a montage of historic and current pictures, Shockley-Zalabak traced the growth of the campus as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Numerous events are planned for the coming year.
“The campus DNA is encoded with economic development and education to our community,” Shockley-Zalabak said.
In addition to preparing the regents for 50th anniversary celebrations, Shockley-Zalabak updated progress on the campus strategic plan. Since 2011, UCCS enrollment has increased by 19 percent and is 3.2 percent above planned expectations.
Shockley-Zalabak said she was proud of the campus efforts to boost enrollment and to build a robust enterprise, a change that has resulted in an increase in the in participation rates in higher education among southern Colorado residents.
Regent Steve Ludwig, a UCCS alum, complimented Shockley-Zalabak and focused on the statistic that 46 percent of last year’s graduating class became the first in their families to earn a college degree.
“I’m stunned,” Ludwig said. “Earning a college degree is life-changing for the current generation and the generations who will follow. Hearing that statistic reminded me of why I wanted to be a member of the CU Board of Regents.”
— Photo by Philip Denman
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