![\"\"](\"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pam-Shockley-Zalabak-brown-bag.jpg\" "\\"Pam")
<\/a>Shockley-Zalabak was quick in her responses to a question from Krista Farmer, administrative assistant, Admissions Services, about a bill nicknamed \u201cthe reverse transfer bill\u201d because it would allow a student who starts at a Colorado community college to apply credit earned at state universities toward an associate\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis could very well advantage some students \u2013 for example someone who is in the military or who otherwise had to transfer before completing their bachelor\u2019s degree,\u201d Shockley-Zalabak said. \u201cThat student is in the position of having enough hours to have an associate\u2019s degree but is empty handed. I will always support the concept of helping students but not if it\u2019s something we can\u2019t implement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shockley-Zalabak said she favored provisions in the bill that would allow students to decide whether to share transcripts between schools and emphasized that only a few students would be affected by the legislation if it passes.<\/p>\n
Others were interested in legislation that would give universities the option of providing multi-year employment contracts to instructors as a way of providing additional job security. Shockley-Zalabak said she expected the bill to\u00a0pass.<\/p>\n
Shockley-Zalabak also contrasted improved state revenue forecasts with recent negative publicity about salary raises at CU Boulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time since I\u2019ve been chancellor that the March revenue report was actually good news,\u201dshe said before explaining that Gov. John Hickenlooper\u2019s desire to reduce cuts to education was likely to face strong opposition from legislators who want to reduce taxes on seniors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a battle,\u201d Shockley-Zalabak said.<\/p>\n
She predicted\u00a0important discussions\u00a0before the CU Board of Regents when CU campus leaders bring forward tuition plans as well as salary increases at April 18 and 19 meetings.<\/p>\n
A draft of a new strategic plan for UCCS will also go before the CU Regents in April, something that Shockley-Zalabak took time to emphasize and to thank those who participated, noting more than 3,000 comments were gathered during fall and spring semesters. An update on the campus strategic planning effort is available at http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=6468.\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 Characteristically, Shockley-Zalabak was upbeat about progress, citing strong application numbers for fall enrollment, an April groundbreaking for new student housing, a June groundbreaking for the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences, and the likely August general election question of Memorial Hospital being leased to UCH as examples of forward movement and opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling confident \u2013 not without worry and without knowing there are challenges ahead \u2013 but confident about the university\u2019s future,\u201d Shockley-Zalabak said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"