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University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ Assistant Professor Min Han has been named an investigator by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, bringing the number of the prestigious appointments on the Â鶹ӰԺ campus to four. Seventy new appointments nationwide in 1997 by the Chevy Chase, Md.-based Hughes Institute brings the total number of Hughes investigators to more than 330 at 72 medical schools, universities and research institutes. Investigators range from Nobel laureates to outstanding young researchers working on potentially ground-breaking discoveries early in their careers.

The University of Colorado Board of Regents approved the appointment last week of Paul F. Tabolt, formerly director of facilities management at CU-Â鶹ӰԺ, as the campusÂ’ new vice chancellor for administration. Tabolt replaces former Vice Chancellor James Fletcher, who resigned in April 1996. Peter Barden served as acting vice chancellor in the interim. Tabolt, who came to CU-Â鶹ӰԺ in 1991, has been a proponent for improvements in customer-focused service in the facilities management department.

A highly regarded author of children's books and adult poetry, Gary Soto, will be the featured speaker at the Virginia Westerberg Children's Literature Conference at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ on Nov. 8. Â鶹ӰԺ 500 people are expected to attend the 28th annual event, including teachers, librarians, writers, artists, storytellers, parents and others. Soto, of Berkeley, Calif., is the author of several books for children, including "The Tortilla Factory," "Baseball in April, "Off and Running," "Pool Party" and "Neighborhood Odes."

Critical Incidents Team Helps Students Deal With Serious 'People' Problems Working behind the scenes at CU-Â鶹ӰԺ on some of the most troubling situations that any university must deal with -- the injury or death of a student -- is a group of professionals known as the Critical Incidents Response Network. When calls come in on a variety of people-related problems, the team members from 10 university offices activate an internal message network to share information and coordinate their responses with other members of the group.

Official census figures at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ have confirmed predictions of increased enrollment topping 25,000 for the fall semester. The data also show that students are taking heavier course loads than in the previous year. CU-Â鶹ӰԺ’s total headcount stands at 25,109, or 487 more than fall 1996, an increase of about 2 percent. Students enrolled in about 326,500 credit hours, an increase of nearly 2.4 percent.

The Academic Advising Center at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ will hold a series of town meetings this year where students can share needs, ideas and concerns about advising with staff members who will be implementing changes in the CU advising system. The first two meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, and from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 23 in the University Memorial Center Forum Room. The meeting on Sept. 23 will focus on the special needs of transfer students.

Several top science faculty from the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ will turn their attention from college students to helping develop younger minds on 10 Saturday mornings this school year. Professors will intrigue youngsters with demonstrations of physics, chemistry, biochemistry and astronomy. Examples include simulating lightning bolts, exploring atomic spectra, freezing air, detonating contact explosives and “listening” to light. Now in its 21st year, the popular CU Wizards series is set to begin Sept. 27.

Campus interview schedules have been finalized for the four candidates for the position of vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ.

Internationally known American Indian artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith will present the opening keynote lecture in a series bringing cross-cultural perspectives on the arts to the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ. Smith is an activist and spokeswoman for contemporary American Indian art and a painter and printmaker who exhibits internationally.

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt will make a policy address on climate change at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater on the University of Colorado campus. The speech is free and open to the public, but space is limited and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of inclement weather, Babbitt will speak in Macky Auditorium.