News & Events: November 27, 2012

New study-abroad course in China offered for Maymester; Information Session Nov. 29
Wu named founding editor-in-chief of new journal
Pizano makes Denver B-cycle history
Save the Date: Fall 2012 Senior Design Competition
CU in the Community volunteer program
Looking for graduating student stories
FALL 2012 Graduation Dates/Deadlines and Instructions
Call for nominations: 2013 Thomas Jefferson Awards; due Nov. 30
Permanent parking lot closures on Auraria Campus, effective December 24

Have news or events you want to share with the college? Contact Erica Lefeave.

—————————–

New study-abroad course in China offered for Maymester; Information Session Nov. 29

Michael Tang, civil engineering, is offering a Study Abroad course to China for Maymester 2013: ENGR 3995, “Global Technology, Business and Culture.”  The course can be used to satisfy the international perspectives core requirement and may be used for a technical elective.  Graduate students are welcome.

An information session is scheduled for Thursday, November 29 (flier).

The website and application for the program can be located here. Click on CU Denver Programs and then select the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

–top–

Wu named founding editor-in-chief of new journal

Jonathan Wu, professor of civil engineering, has agreed to serve as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of a new journal, Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology. The Journal will be published quarterly by Springer, with whom more than 150 Nobel prize-winners have published their work.

Transportation infrastructure, including bridge abutments, retaining walls, embankments, foundations, roadways, railways, tunnels, culverts, airports, seaports, in many parts of the world are in dire need of repair, rehabilitation, and new construction. The need is fast approaching a state of crisis. The impending crisis is in part caused by decades of inadequate investments and poor rehabilitation of the infrastructure. The crisis is exacerbated by the seemingly more frequent occurrence of devastating natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tsunami, etc. Failure to provide sound and efficient transportation infrastructure will threaten services essential to enable, sustain, or enhance human societal living conditions. The U.S. Department of Transportation has recently implemented the “Everyday Counts Initiative” to accelerate implementation of innovative technology to revitalize the failing U.S. transportation infrastructure.

Over the past two decades, most new developments and innovations in transportation infrastructure have been in the area of geotechnology. Most notably, new construction materials (such as geosynthetics, chemical treated soil, and recycled materials) have been employed with increasing frequency in earthwork construction. Also, new construction techniques (including the use of innovative ground-improvement methods) have been developed, and much attention has been paid to sustainability of these geosystems.

The new journal, Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, aims at providing an up-to-date reference and an expeditious dissemination of new developments in transportation infrastructure geotechnology to researchers and practicing engineers engaged in geotechnical aspects of transportation infrastructure. The theme of this Journal will be on the geotechnical “technology” as applied to transportation infrastructure, and is not limited to the “mechanics” aspects. Articles reporting case histories, with satisfactory or dissatisfactory performance, are welcomed. Practicing professionals in the industry are especially encouraged to share their experiences.

The Journal will feature high-quality peer-reviewed articles on:

• geotechnical design and analysis of transportation infrastructure
• case histories in transportation infrastructure geotechnology
• construction, repairs, rehabilitation
• geosynthetics and applications
• ground improvement techniques
• geomaterials and recycled materials
• earthwork and performance evaluation of transportation facilities
• sustainability, risk assessment, and environmental issues
• geotechnics for pavements

The Editorial Board of the Journal consists of some of the world’s best academics and practitioners, including Fumio Tatsuoka (Tokyo University of Science, Japan), Junichi Koseki (University of Tokyo, Japan), Jean-Pierre Gourc (Grenoble University, France), Kenichi Soga (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom), Hai-Sui Yu (University of Nottingham, United Kingdom), Arne Instanes (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway), Buddhima Indraratna (University of Wollongon, Australia), Calvin VanBuskirk (Terratech Consulting, Canada), Hoe Ling (Columbia University, US), Michael Adams (Federal Highway Administration, US), and Robert Barrett (Soil Nail Launcher, US). The first issue of the Journal will be launched in January 2014.

Congratulations, Jonathan!

–top–

Pizano makes Denver B-cycle history

Roxanne Pizano, administrative assistant for civil and mechanical engineering, was featured on the Denver B-cycle news page when she took the program’s 500,000th ride on Nov. 12, less than three years after the organization’s opening.

Read the entire story here.

–top–

Save the Date: Fall 2012 Senior Design Competition

It’s that time of the semester again! Mark your calendars for the Fall 2012 Senior Design Competition, scheduled for Friday, December 14. Judging begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 11:30 a.m. The winners will be announced sometime around 12:30 p.m.

Student team registrations are due November 28, so stay tuned to engineering.ucdenver.edu/seniordesign for project descriptions beginning in early December. We expect participation from all undergraduate disciplines. Come see what our students are working on and how they’re making the world a better place.

We hope to see you there!

–top–

CU in the Community volunteer program

On November 5, Chancellor Elliman announced the launch of this year’s CU in the Community program, formerly the Giving Back Campaign. The program allows you to take a half-day of work time to volunteer with the group of your choice.

The program is now in its fourth year. This year, the university’s highlighted partner is Habitat for Humanity, a homeownership program that builds and sells homes to families in need of decent and affordable housing.

Last year, a group of staff from the college volunteered an afternoon at Food Bank of the Rockies, sorting and packaging food for local churches and homeless shelters. This year, we’d like to get a larger group from the college—including faculty, staff and students—to volunteer. Erica Lefeave will be coordinating the effort and is open to suggestions for organizations or charities with which we can volunteer. If you have an organization that is near and dear to your heart or if you’re interested in participating, please email Erica Lefeave.

The campaign will run through February and includes faculty, staff, students and alumni.

–top–

Looking for graduating student stories

University communications is looking for stories about students graduating in December. If you know of any students who are graduating and may have an interesting story, please send their contact information and potential story to Erica Lefeave. This is a great way to showcase the college as the semester comes to a close.

–top–

FALL 2012 Graduation Dates/Deadlines and Instructions

Here are some very important dates regarding the FALL 2012 Graduation list:

• Saturday, December 15, 2012 – End of Semester. Commencement Ceremonies held 9:00am at the Denver Convention Center.
• Thursday, December 20, 2012 – ALL GRADES DUE BY ALL FACULTY who are teaching courses in the FALL 2012 semester.
• Thursday, December 20, 2012 – ALL IP/I GRADES MUST BE CHANGED AND SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION FOR ALL INCOMPLETE/IN PROGRESS COURSES ON STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS. GRADE CHANGES ARE ONLY ACCEPTED THROUGH THE PROPER COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF A “CHANGE OF RECORD FORM.”
• Monday, December 24, 2012 – Grades available to students/faculty/staff on the web. Departments should verify all grades are recorded on student transcripts and investigate any/all missing grades which may prevent a student being approved for graduation.
• Monday, December 24, 2012 – Tuesday, January 8, 2013 – Departments responsible for determining, resolving and notifying students of any/all administrative issues that may prevent a student from graduating in the SUMMER 2012 semester.
• Wednesday, January 9, 2013 – ALL COMPLETED FALL 2012 GRADUATING STUDENT FILES TO ME FOR FINAL REVIEW.
• Wednesday, January 9, 2013 – Departments responsible for notifying/advising ALL student(s) who have been denied FALL 2012 graduation. THIS IS AN ADVISING FUNCTION AND IS NOT PERFORMED IN THE DEAN’S OFFICE.
• Thursday, January 31, 2013 – Degrees posted on official student transcripts. Official transcripts showing degrees posted available to students.
• Friday, September 22, 2013 – Diplomas mailed to students. (Diplomas mailed to addresses on ISIS and provided by students.)

Directions for FALL 2012 GRADUATION files are below:

• ALL STUDENT FILES MUST CONTAIN THE MOST CURRENT  (FALL 2102) TRANSCRIPT which indicates ALL grades including FALL 2012 grades. If a student’s transcript shows a missing grade for any course that is needed for graduation, the department should immediately investigate the missing grade to determine the reason and resolve any administrative issues.
• ALL  incomplete (I), in progress (IP) grades MUST have a letter grade on the transcript for ALL semesters including FALL 2012. (Remember CAND 5940 does not ever display a grade only the distinction ****).
• DO NOT PLACE ANY FORMS THAT ARE IN NEED OF PROCESSING IN THE STUDENT’S FILE OR STAPLE THEM TO  THE OUTSIDE OF THE FILE. All forms that need processing must be completed by following the proper college procedures set forth by Associate Dean, Bruce Janson. PLACING FORMS THAT NEED PROCESSING IN A STUDENT’S FILE WILL DELAY THE PROCESS FOR GRADUATION APPROVAL.
• ALL transfer credit(s) must appear on ISIS and verified/applied correctly to the students program sheet (BS) or Application for Admission to Candidacy(MS, MENG). Each department is responsible for verifying that transfer credit appears on ISIS and  is appropriately applied to degree requirements. Department Signatures indicate this function has been appropriately verified.
• ALL Program Sheets, Application for Admission to Candidacy forms, Green Sheets (for graduate students only) and any other applicable paperwork MUST be correctly verified, approved and SIGNED by all appropriate individuals in each department. Incomplete files or files that are missing signatures or information will be returned to the departments jeopardizing the student’s ability to graduate. USE THE ATTACHED GREEN SHEET FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS. DO NOT USE OLD GREEN SHEETS.
• When you have properly assembled and verified all files are complete, PLEASE SEND ALL FILES TO PAUL INCLUDING FILES OF STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT APPROVED TO GRADUATE. Paul needs ALL files including students who are not graduating for auditing purposes.
• Please DO NOT deliver files to me as you process them. It makes it very difficult to keep track of where files are. Collect all files and deliver all of them to me at one time.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Paul Rakowski.

–top–

Call for nominations: 2013 Thomas Jefferson Awards

The University of Colorado is looking for nominations for the 2013 Thomas Jefferson Awards. The CU Thomas Jefferson Awards are awarded to those persons who advance the ideals of Thomas Jefferson, which include:

• broad interests in literature, arts and sciences, and public affairs;
• a strong concern for the advancement of higher education;
• a deeply seated sense of individual civic responsibility; and
• a profound commitment to the welfare and rights of the individual

Nominations must be received by Nov. 30. Learn more at www.cu.edu/jefferson-award.

–top–

Permanent parking lot closures on Auraria Campus, effective December 24

Effective December 24, 2012, two parking lots will be permanently closed:  Redwood Lot, located at Larimer Street across from the North Classroom; and Cottonwood Lot, located off Old Colfax along Cottonwood Street.

The Redwood Lot, with 404 parking spaces, will be closed due to the start of construction of the new CU Denver Academic Building One.  The Cottonwood Lot, with 185 parking spaces, will be closed to allow MSU Denver to begin construction of new tennis courts and athletic fields.  The elimination of these two parking lots will result in the loss of nearly 600 parking spaces on the Auraria Campus, an almost 10% decrease in available parking capacity since the Fall of 2012.

While daily fee parking will be at a premium during the Spring Semester, Auraria Parking & Transportation Services offers parking permits, with guaranteed parking availability, in four campus parking lots:  Dogwood, Ginkgo, Juniper and Maple.  In addition, the Campus Passport provides non-guaranteed parking at a discounted rate as well as the convenience of never having to obtain a daily fee parking receipt to display on your car dashboard.  For more information on these parking programs and their benefits, contact Auraria Parking & Transportation Services at (303)-556-2003 or visit www.ahec.edu/parking.

Parking updates and lot closures will be provided via Twitter leading up to and during the first weeks of the Spring 2013 semester.  Please follow us @AurariaCampus for the latest information.

–top–