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The University of Colorado at Boulder received more than $214 million in sponsored research awards for the 1999-2000 fiscal year, a record amount for the campus. Of the thousands of grant proposals made by CU-Boulder faculty, researchers and students in the past decade, roughly half have been funded, said Larry Nelson, director of the CU-Boulder Office of Contracts and Grants. "This has been a remarkably stable percentage over the past 10 years, which I think is indicative of the health and stability of our enterprise," Nelson said.

The University of Colorado at Boulder will hold its annual Fall 2000 convocation ceremony on Thursday, Aug 24, at 5:30 p.m. on the Norlin Quadrangle. In the event of rain, the convocation will be moved to the Coors Events/Conference Center. CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard L. Byyny is encouraging students, faculty and staff to attend. "Aside from commencements, the Boulder campus has few official gatherings for the entire campus," Byyny said. "Welcoming our students into this great university is one of those important occasions.

New student activities kicking-off the Fall 2000 semester will begin on the CU-Boulder Campus following the ChancellorÂ’s convocation on Thursday, Aug. 24th. Students are encouraged to take part in the "UMC Crawl," an annual party at the University Memorial Center student union that is aimed at welcoming new students, said Bhadra Mitchell, UMC marketing manager. "The goal of the party is to acquaint new students with their student union and to show them a good time."

Steve Thweatt, director of design, engineering and construction services for CU-BoulderÂ’s Facilities Management department, has been named interim director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction for the department, according to Jeff Lipton, executive director of Facilities Management. ThweattÂ’s appointment is effective immediately. Although construction and engineering services will continue to report to Thweatt, his primary initial focus will be in the facilities planning area, Lipton said.

Editors: Photographers are invited to campus move-in as volunteers help students get situated. Kittredge Complex (south of Fiske Planetarium and Regent Drive) is expected to be very active. Campus administrators also will greet students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Aug. 22 and 23. A small army of volunteers will be on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus Aug. 22-23 welcoming new students, helping them move in and giving directions in an effort to ease them into their new homes away from home.

Ofelia Miramontes, interim associate vice chancellor for diversity and equity at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been appointed to the position on a permanent basis, according to Phil DiStefano, vice chancellor for academic affairs. The appointment was approved by the Board of Regents on Aug. 3. Her salary will be $101,260.

James Avery, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been named associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Engineering and Applied Science. A CU-Boulder faculty member since 1982, Avery has been one of the leaders of the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory and initiative, an innovative, nationally recognized program that led a reform of the engineering curriculum focusing on interdisciplinary, hands-on learning. Avery has served as ITLL technical director since the program was initiated in 1993.

Mary Banks has been appointed director of the CU-Boulder College of Business Career Center by business Dean Steven Manaster. The Board of Regents approved her appointment at its Aug. 3 meeting. "MaryÂ’s extensive experience makes her a great fit with our needs and goals," Manaster said. "Her strong background working with the business community and students made her an outstanding candidate."

A $2.6 million National Science Foundation grant to the University of Colorado at Boulder will allow scores of students from the natural sciences, social sciences and journalism fields to join forces and explore novel solutions to environmental problems.

Arctic temperatures in the late 20th century, which were the warmest in four centuries, have been accompanied by a variety of other environmental changes, according to a review paper published in mid-July by a group of the worldÂ’s leading Arctic researchers.