CSU Writes: Facilitating scholarly writing productivity — and community
Kristina Quynn radiates positivity, especially when discussing CSU Writes, a program that facilitates scholarly writing productivity for faculty and graduate students.
Tag: "Ripple Effect"
Women’s bike rides encourage connections, health
Parking and Transportation Services is launching a series of women’s only lunch-time bike rides
On-Campus Programs for Faculty and Staff
Resources and Programs for employees including SafeWalk, campus tours, heart disease prevention program, nutrition services, ombuds / employee assistance program, nursing moms accommodations, parking permits for 30-year employees, RamCard, Ram Gear, the Ripple Effect, University Club, University Libraries, USA Today and veterinary care.
WE LEAD inaugural conference inspires young women
What happens when young women come together to be inspired to reach for higher education and career goals?
Ripple Effect offers DIY plumbing and electrical classes
Stumped by clogged sink? Perplexed when you plug in because an outlet won’t work?
CSU employees and the Ripple Effect are teaming up on a series of classes to introduce the basics of home repair. The classes, funded in February through the first Ripple Effect grant process, aim to help CSU employees safely tackle common problems around the house and provide education about when to contact a licensed professional.
“More than half of America’s adults are single, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” said Scott Baily. Baily is director of Academic Computing and Networking Services at CSU, and he proposed the classes to the Ripple Effect grant process. “In many cases, single women do not have the knowledge to do simple repairs around the house; these classes provide a means for women to become more self-sufficient.”
Series of classes cover basics
The series of classes includes two sections. One three-part series of classes will focus on plumbing. Matt Markle, a Facilities Management employee, will teach the section. Markle has been at CSU for 16 years and has been a pipe fitter and plumber since 1991.
“I want to teach this class because I think of my grandmother and mother, who depend on me to make repairs on plumbing, electrical, etc.,” said Markle. “They don’t have the experience or knowledge to perform these tasks. I know what it costs to have someone come out and that can have quite the impact on your wallet. With some basic knowledge, someone can make an attempt to fix their plumbing on their own.”
The plumbing classes will help participants learn to perform routine repairs such as finding the main water line in a house and closing the main water valve properly, unclogging a drain, and fixing a leaky toilet. Markle will also share tips for when to call a professional plumber, as well as recommend resources about plumbing repairs. Plumbing classes will be held from 6:30 – 8 p.m. July 8, 15 and 22, in GSB 303. Participants should plan to attend all three to complete the section.
The second section of repair classes will focus on electrical repairs and will be held on Aug. 5, 12, and 19. Participants will gain an understanding of electrical panels, and learn how to identify and turn off a breaker before doing electrical work, as well as how to replace a faulty wall switch or outlet. These classes, taught by Pat Demchok, will also provide context for when to call a licensed electrician and additional resources.
Demchok has been involved in the electrical industry for more than 40 years and currently works in CSU’s Telecom office. Before working at Telecom, Demchok worked for Facilities Management. He’s an experienced instructor, having taught electrical apprentice classes in the past.
Registration info
Participants should plan to attend all three classes to complete the section.
- More information about these classes and to register.
- More information about the Ripple Effect grants.
Second Leadership Book Club meeting scheduled
The second Leadership Book Club book has been selected, with a book club meeting scheduled for Monday, May 4.
Leadership book club launched via Ripple Effect grant
As a result of the recent Ripple Effect grant awards, a Leadership Book Club for Women is being launched in March, to help women hone their leadership skills and network. The book club proposal was submitted by Lindsay Mason, a program coordinator in Off Campus Life.
The Ripple Effect grant provides an opportunity to purchase books from the CSU Bookstore featured by the book club at a steeply reduced price.
What’s the book club all about?
The Leadership Book Club will meet every 6 weeks to discuss the current book. Each book will have a leadership theme or focus. The book will be available at the CSU Bookstore, and a $15 discount will be given to the first 30 women who purchase the book at the CSU Bookstore. The meetings will include large and small group discussions with the hope that each participant can reflect on lessons and take-aways from each book.
Who can participate?
Anyone staff or faculty member at CSU who identifies as woman can participate in the Leadership Book Club.
When: First book chosen and first meeting scheduled!
The first book the Leadership Book Club will be discussing is Yes, And: How Improvisation Reveres “No, But” Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration – Lessons from the Second City by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton. It is available at the bookstore now! This first book will only cost $4.59 +tax for the first 30 women who buy it at the bookstore, thanks to Ripple Effect grant money in support of the club. The discount is meant only for women who can commit to attending this Leadership Book Club meeting; those who do not plan to attend the meeting, please do not take advantage of this discount. The Leadership Book Club will discuss this book from noon-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, in Lory Student Center Room 372-374. Light refreshments will be provided.
RSVP for this meeting by emailing Lindsay Mason, Lindsay.mason@colostate.edu, by Friday, March 13. If you have any questions, contact Lindsay via email or (970)491-6191.
More information about the Ripple Effect.
Ripple Effect announces grant recipients
Sharing success stories, mentoring programs, polishing up writing skills, and a leadership-focused book club are examples of the eight employee-generated ideas funded by the Ripple Effect at Colorado State University.
“We are so pleased by the innovation and creativity shown in the proposals we received,” said Amy Parsons, vice president for University Operations, who oversees the Ripple Effect project. “Hearing directly from our colleagues and embracing their ideas is key to moving us toward our goal of making CSU the best place to work for women. I’m looking forward to seeing these ideas implemented and becoming part of the fabric of our university.”
Funding the proposals was made possible by a gift from an unnamed donor in support of giving good ideas seed funding. In addition, CSU President Tony Frank and Provost Rick Miranda supported the effort with additional funding because of the number of quality proposals submitted.
Nearly 50 proposals were submitted by male and female faculty and staff from across campus, representing a diverse array of departments and collaborations.
Funded grants are:
- Stories ‘n’ Steps: A project that showcases stories of challenge, revelation and strength of CSU students, staff, faculty and alumni through photos and stories. The stories center on the impact of gender on experiences learning and working at CSU.
- CSU Writes: Structured support for women to write for publication, degree completion and personal growth through writing groups. This project will foster writing groups and offer workshops and presentations, establishing long-term, sustainable commitment to writing groups on campus.
- Leadership book club for women: Fostering leadership success through a book club for individuals who identify as women, with discussion about the book, takeaways and how lessons from the book can be implemented at CSU. A new book will be selected every six weeks and a $15 discount on featured books will be offered to the first 30 women who buy each book.
- Mentoring women: Creating networks that bring together senior men and women who are recognized as fantastic mentors for women, including men in current or future positions of leadership who want to be great mentors for women. Potential mentors will be trained through workshops and meetings to develop a cadre of men and women who are committed to exceptional mentoring for women and enthusiastic about spreading knowledge to the rest of campus.
- Financial literacy: A series of presentations to help women better manage personal finances will cover creating and sticking to a personal budget, developing and tracking financial goals, selecting a financial advisor, balancing bank accounts, managing credit card debt, safe e-commerce and avoiding identity theft. The series will be presented in partnership with First National Bank and will be free.
- Women’s recreation ride: Bicycle safety and group rides for women hosted by Parking and Transportation Services, including monthly lunchtime rides, educational classes for women who want to polish up their bicycle skills, and lunch-and-learn presentations every other month. The interactions created by this project would help women overcome barriers to bicycling including demands of childcare, and to provide positive social and physical experiences for women on campus.
- Home repair and maintenance series: A series of home-repair classes, taught by knowledgeable volunteers, will introduce the basics of home repair, arming participants with the background to safely tackle common household repairs while helping them identify jobs best left to professionals. Initial classes will focus on electrical and plumbing repairs including finding the main water line in a house and closing the valve, unclogging a drain, fixing a leaky toilet, understanding electrical panels and identifying and turning off proper breakers before doing electrical work, and replacing a wall switch or outlet. The classes also will provide tips for selecting a professional contractor for bigger jobs and resources for more information.
- We Lead: Develop an institute for underrepresented, high-school aged women to help them explore career possibilities as well as network and develop self-esteem. The annual, three-day, interactive program would help encourage a greater number of Colorado students to attend college and provide a framework for CSU women and men in sharing their stories, strategies and disciplines with young women to develop their leadership potential through relationships, experiential activities and mentoring. CSU students will also provide support and encourage participants’ academic and personal growth.
Panels explore gender in science
A two-part panel series on Nov. 6 and 13 will examine the experience of female scientists, especially those working in environmental science, at Colorado State University. The "Exploring the Influence of Gender in Science and the Environment" panels will be held at Avogadro's Number, 605 S Mason St., Fort Collins. The first in the series, Nov. 6, 5-6:30 p.m., is “Gender in professional arenas: Striking a balance for success in scientific careers.” Panelists Gillian Bowser, a researcher in the Natural Resources Ecology Lab at CSU; Paula Cushing of the Bioagriculatural Sciences and Pest Management Department; Emily Fischer, assistant professor of atmospheric science; and Sara Rathburn, associate professor of geosciences will discuss their experiences as women in scientific fields. The panel will be moderated by Ellen Wohl, CSU professor of geosciences. On Nov. 13, 6-7 p.m., the topic will be “Gender in global water issues: The nexus of women, water, and environmental governance.” Panelists Ruth Alexander, CSU professor of history; Suzanne Kent, instructor of anthropology; Michele Koons from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; and Ellen Wohl, professor of geosciences, will share their insight on women in global environmental issues. This panel will be moderated by Kate Wilkins, doctoral candidate in ecology. The panel series, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES), the Center for Women's Studies & Gender Research (CWSGR), the Ripple Effect, CSU’s Women's Initiative, and the Global Women Scholars Network. The newly established Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) Northern Colorado Chapter and Gillian Bowser helped the sponsors put together these remarkable panels. More details.