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"The place to go when you need to know" is the slogan for Ralphie's Resource Center, a new comprehensive student information center located in Norlin Library E156 at the University of Colorado at Boulder. According to manager Robyn Sandekian, the center is a comprehensive, one-stop facility with staff on hand to answer questions from students, parents and the public about campus policies, procedures and more.

Renovations began over the summer to Farrand Hall's dining center that will lead CU-Boulder into the forefront of campus dining, not only in service but also in environmental conservation. The project, which is projected to cost $7 million and scheduled for completion in late spring, represents a revolutionary shift in CU-Boulder's traditional view of campus dining. One of the goals of the project is to provide students an attractive option for staying on campus.

Returning University of Colorado at Boulder students will notice that major progress was made over the summer on a 51,000-square-foot addition to the University Memorial Center. "When students arrive back on campus they will notice that the UMC looks different both inside and out," said Kristi Graham, assistant to the UMC director and a member of the UMC Expansion and Renovation Project Team. "The new wing is completely defined by structural steel and exterior walls and we're just a few months away from opening it."

Â鶹ÒùÔº, faculty and football fans visiting the Boulder campus this fall are likely to notice the College of Engineering's new Discovery Learning Center taking shape at the east entrance to campus. The three-story building at the corner of Regent Drive and Colorado Avenue will provide a 45,000-square-foot addition to the engineering center for inquiry-based learning and research. Construction of the $15.3 million addition began in summer 2000 and will continue into the 2001 academic year.

A high-altitude balloon will be launched from Byers, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 25, carrying a payload of miniature student-built satellites to an altitude of roughly 100,000 feet before bursting and releasing its cargo via parachute.

Maria E. Franquiz, an assistant professor of education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been elected chair of the Nominating Committee of the Conference on English Education. CEE is a constituent group for teacher educators that is part of the National Council of Teachers of English. Each year, members of CEE elect educators to positions on the nominating committee. The person receiving the most votes is named committee chair. Committee members help to choose candidates for CEE posts and the following year's nominating committee.

Following an exhaustive geophysical and historical analysis, a research team led by the University of Colorado at Boulder believes there are no alternatives to one or more massive earthquakes occurring in India in the near future, threatening millions of lives. "Unfortunately, we have been forced to reach a very undesirable conclusion," said Professor Roger Bilham of CU-Boulder's geological sciences department. "We set out to try and eliminate the possibility of one or more large, overdue earthquakes in the Himalaya occurring very soon, and we have failed.

A celebration will be held be for alumni and friends with past connections to the University of Colorado at Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research the weekend of Sept. 14 to Sept. 16 to mark the institute's 50th anniversary. A weekend program of science, fun and renewing old friendships is planned for alumni, supporters and friends of INSTAAR. Although the event is not open to the public, those who have had connections with INSTAAR and are interested in the celebration should contact Vicky Nelson at the institute at (303) 492-7909.

As they head to the bookstore and become acquainted with campus, new MBA students at CU-Boulder also will help the community as part of their introduction to the university. To set the tone for the CU-Boulder MBA program, first-year MBA students will join other members of the community to landscape, weed, paint and do minor repairs to help spruce up the nonprofit September School, located at 15th Street and Canyon Boulevard in Boulder. September School is an alternative high school with a curriculum that focuses on the arts, community and consequences of personal action.

With a close to capacity turnout expected for the first University of Colorado at Boulder football game of the season, students planning to move onto campus Aug. 26th should anticipate delays in traffic and a shortage of parking. CU-Boulder classes start Monday, Aug. 27. Â鶹ÒùÔº who plan to move into campus residence halls Sunday, Aug 26, are advised to do so early in the day to avoid traffic and parking congestion.