President's Update
September 2025
Dear FRCC Community,
You may have noticed that our campuses are already bustling with activity this fall! Our amazing volunteers at each campus’ welcome stations greeted students with warm smiles, took their photos at the paparazzi stations and helped them find their classes without undue stress.
Thank you, everyone, for your hard work and positive attitude—these types of activities are the beginning of exceptional student and employee experiences.
Top Stories
FRCC Students Received $1.4 Million in Finish What You Started Scholarships
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s (COSI) Finish What You Started program awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships to students from all three FRCC campuses (and online). This funding was designed to support students whose college journeys were stalled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting in 2022, Finish What You Started quickly and effectively provided support for students to return to college to complete their postsecondary credential to help them jumpstart their education and careers, while rebuilding and revitalizing Colorado’s workforce. The awards of up to $2,250 per semester (based on credit load) went to 390 in-state FRCC students who:
- Experienced economic loss due to the pandemic
- Had some college and no degree
- Applied to FRCC in 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 but did not attend
Our dedicated staff put together a targeted outreach campaign to students who qualified for the program, with help from Data Science & Institutional Research, Financial Aid and Retention & Support Services. Thank you to everyone who has helped these students come back and finish what they started!
Graduate Earns Reisher Scholarship
First-generation student Danielle Soranno, a May 2025 FRCC graduate, recently learned that she has been awarded the Reisher Scholarship for her continued studies at Colorado State University (CSU). Through her experience in the TRIO Student Support Services program at FRCC, Danielle found the support she needed to succeed in college and our staff connected her to scholarships and leadership activities. This fall, she will begin her program in cell and molecular neuroscience as a transfer student at CSU.
Scholars like Danielle are selected because they are highly motivated, goal-oriented and dedicated to community service. Reisher Scholars receive between $4,000 and $15,000 per year and their awards are renewable. The Reisher Scholars program continues to grow, expanding its reach and impact to help Colorado college students reach their goals.
Employee Spotlights
School Is Cool Event
This summer, FRCC turned the LC student commons area into a community outreach volunteer station as the proud host of the 34th annual School is Cool event, a program managed by Colorado State University. This is our second year as a School is Cool partner, and this year a total of 2,556 backpacks full of essential school supplies were delivered to students throughout Poudre School District and a local homeless shelter. We are incredibly grateful to the 70 FRCC faculty and staff members who volunteered over a two-day period to fill and deliver 585 backpacks to middle and high school students.
Thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes supporting FRCC as we hosted this event—with special thanks to the Student Life, Facilities, Campus Safety and Foundation teams. If I have missed anyone, please know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Partnerships like School is Cool aren’t only fun—they build our capacity for greater community impact!
Teaching Excellence Center
Front Range Community College received the Innovator Award at Suitable’s 2025 Pathways to Student Development conference—thanks to the efforts of our Teaching Excellence Center (TEC) team. Winning this award is a true testament to their dedication and hard work on empowering FRCC’s educators to further student success.
Suitable summed up the TEC’s efforts perfectly:
"FRCC's innovative edge comes from creating a dynamic platform to continuously promote and support the professional growth of their educators. This dedication to ongoing faculty development is unique and highly values customization for their users.”
Congratulations to Director April Lewandowski, Assistant Director Catlyn Keenan, PhD,
and Coordinator Liz Griswold.
If you haven’t yet, check out the TEC site for more information and resources.
Did You Know?
Free Access to WC Fitness Center
Our divisions of Enrollment Management & Student Success (EMSS) and Organizational Development & Human Resources (ODHR) have partnered to bring us a new employee wellness benefit for fall 2025: free access to the High Plains Fitness Center at the Westminster Campus for all FRCC employees.
.............................................................................................................................................................. This is a pilot program for fall 2025, during which the EMSS and ODHR teams will track usage and gather feedback for future improvements. .........................................................................................................................................
Action Step: Stop by Student Life to get your Wolf Card and start using the gym for free this fall! Special thanks to all involved in building a Vibrant Culture at FRCC!
New Employee Dashboard in eWOLF
FRCC's employee dashboard is now updated and improved! Access the dashboard via the Employee Self-Service card in eWOLF. This dashboard enables employees and supervisors to view and manage various functions, including completing and approving timesheets; reviewing, submitting and approving leave; accessing pay information and more.
Please note:
- Any leave requests already submitted for dates on or after September 1, 2025, will not transfer to the new system. These will need to be re-entered in the new system.
- To help employees and supervisors navigate the new system, video courses have been
posted in the KnowBe4 Library.
- If you have issues accessing KnowBe4, reach out to Tansy Fox.
- Please reach out to frcc.humanresources@frontrange.edu if you have any questions about the new system
Supporting Our Teams
New Faculty Orientation
In an outstanding example of collegewide collaboration, in August FRCC welcomed our new full-time faculty members with a daylong orientation at BCC. Twenty-two employees from departments across the college facilitated different parts of the day for more than 20 new faculty members.
Orientation ensures that new faculty members feel supported, learn about resources and connect to FRCC’s community and culture.
College Updates
HSI Update
Over the summer, FRCC’s Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force worked diligently to integrate its recommendations into the college’s new 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. This important work ensures that our path toward becoming a federally designated HSI in 2027 is not just about achieving a designation, but about transforming our institution to truly serve our students.
The task force’s recommendations emphasize the importance of defining what servingness means at FRCC. This includes using data and research to identify barriers to student success, investing in culturally relevant pedagogy, creating inclusive campus environments and consistently monitoring Latine/Hispanic student outcomes. These recommendations are integrated into our strategic plan objectives and action items, ensuring accountability and long-term impact across the college.
We will keep you updated on the next phase of our HSI journey.
Around FRCC
Forward, Together: What’s Next
Our new 2025–2030 Strategic Plan: Forward, Together is now coming to life across our campuses! Over the next few weeks, you’ll see posters displayed on all campuses highlighting our five strategic priorities and reminding us that this plan belongs to all of us.
A comprehensive strategic plan viewbook—complete with our objectives—is also in development and will soon be available to the entire FRCC community. This resource will provide a deeper look at how our shared vision translates into action.
We’re also spreading the word beyond our campuses. Keep an eye on FRCC’s social media channels as we share stories, updates and highlights that show how we’re moving Forward, Together.
Stay tuned—this is just the beginning, and the momentum is building.
Spread The Word
Hispanic Heritage Month—Office Decorating Contest
Why It Matters
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the history, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latine communities whose influence has shaped and enriched American society for generations. The celebration begins on September 15 to coincide with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, symbolizing resilience, pride and cultural unity.
Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month.
I hope everyone enjoyed the three-day weekend. I asked a few students what Labor Day means to them and why it is a federal holiday. I got responses such as, “Labor Day is the official close of the summer.” “It is a day of rest.” And “Thank God the college is closed.”
I couldn’t help but smile at these responses. As one who enjoys reading history, I invite you to learn more about the history of Labor Day.
Even today, Labor Day remains relevant to us as workers. It is a reminder of the historical struggles and sacrifices for fair wages, safe working conditions and shorter hours—and it is a call to action for the ongoing pursuit of workers’ rights, well-being and equity. For the dedicated work that you do here at FRCC, I offer my sincere appreciation. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our students and communities.
Sincerely,
Colleen Simpson, EdD
President
Questions?
Larimer Campus
303-555-1212 | email us
Boulder County Campus
303-555-1212 | email us