Published: Dec. 4, 2013

The Diversity Service Recognition annual award, sponsored by the Chancellor's Committee on Race and Ethnicity (CCORE), formerly Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs (CACMA), is given to campus units to recognize their continuing efforts to create a diverse and supportive, learning, working, and living environment, as well as their commitment to promoting an understanding of multicultural issues.

Those who submitted nominations for this award were asked to describe how the unit has functioned as a whole to promote and put into effect the ideals of a diverse and multicultural Boulder campus community, provide examples demonstrating the active role of the campus unit in different areas of campus life, the unique contributions of the unit, and the participation of different members of the unit, as well as have a record of serving the campus community by promoting education, communication, collaboration, service and support in their activities.

This award was presented by CCORE members on Nov. 13, 2013 during the Diversity Summit. There were six departments nominated this year. CCORE is honored to present the award recipients for the 2013 CCORE Diversity Service Recognition Award to two units this year; the Student Outreach and Retention Center for Equity (SORCE) and to the Student Academic Success Center (SASC).

SORCE is a cost center co-managed by the University of Colorado Student Government and the Division of Student Affairs. SORCE is an outreach and retention program serving underrepresented students. For the past 8 years SORCE hosted 5 youth leadership conferences for 500-700 participants in collaboration with the Boulder Valley School District with a focus on Latina/o, African American, American Indian, Asian American, and GLBTQ students. SORCE provides college student-life panels and tours for prospective CU students (kindergarten to community college level). SORCE hosts the Women and Men of Color Leadership Institute, Bring Your Child to CU for non-traditional students, Open Mic events (one of which serves as Professor Aldama's final exam), Study Slams, infamous Chili Pot events every other week with 75+ participants. Key offices SORCE collaborates with include: student groups such as UMASyMeChA, Black Student Alliance, Asian Unity, Oyate, multicultural greeks; centers such as Center for Multicultural Affairs, Interactive Theater Project, Athletics, Miramontes Arts and Sciences Program, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Community Health. The nominator for SORCE, Cleopatra Marie Estrada, notes that she has witnessed many testimonials from students, staff, and faculty who speak of the positive impact SORCE has had on them personally and academically; that the professional and student staff work tirelessly daily and many nights to be a resource and provide a place of belonging for people. http://www.colorado.edu/SORCE/

SASC has its beginnings in the Equal Opportunity Programs of the 1960s/70s serving underrepresented students for equal academic opportunity. SASC serves 900 students with an overall retention rate of 95%, a persistence rate off 70%, and a graduation rate of 60%. SASC hosts academic support and instructional programming including programs such as the TRIO Academic Excellence Program, math, writing programs, and Academic Skills Workshops Key offices SASC collaborates with include: Admissions, ATLAS, Career Services, Disabilities Services, Center for Multicultural Affairs, CU Foundation, Financial Aid, Graduate Teacher Program, International Education, and Office of Diversity and Inclusion (Anschutz Medical Campus). The nominator for SASC is Dr. Grant who noted that SASC combines an historical commitment to social justice with an inclusive model for academic excellence and promotes a holistic model for combining support services with multicultural instruction. http://www.colorado.edu/sasc/

Past recipients include both units and individuals and can be found on CCORE’s site at: https://sites.google.com/a/colorado.edu/ccore/home