His doctor was convinced in early 2002 that he would not survive the year.
But Timothy Tregarthen, professor emeritus, Economics, beat the odds. He not only lived through that year, he recently returned to campus and is teaching a program designed for freshman students.
Tregarthen retired from UCCS in 1996 after a 27-year career as symptoms of his multiple sclerosis worsened. He eventually moved to hospice care where he was not expected to survive. But after a three-year stay, he moved to a nursing home where, using a voice-activated computer, he remains connected to the campus and scholarship completing a new edition of a textbook, writing a novel, and his autobiography.
“It’s been nine years since I’ve been in a classroom,” Tregarthen said recently. “The thought of going from nursing home to a university classroom is exciting but rather daunting.”
Tregarthen helps teach the freshman seminar program “This I Believe,” an exploration of personal beliefs modeled after a National Public Radio program of the same name. Guest speakers discuss personal beliefs and encourage students to explore his or her own. Each student is expected to write a 400 word essay detailing this exploration.
Seeing the growth of Freshman Seminar, a program he started in 1991, is satisfying for Tregarthen.
“I was very impressed by the students in our class,” Tregarthen said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a dedicated and enthusiastic bunch.”
This year 766 freshmen, about 80 percent of the freshman class, enrolled in the program, according to Constance Staley, professor, Communication, and program director. The nationally recognized program helps students successfully transfer from high school to college and refine college success skills while exploring 14 topics in team-taught courses. For more information about Freshman Seminar, visit http://www.uccs.edu/~freshsem/.
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado, and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The University offers 29 bachelor’s degrees, 18 master’s, and four doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,600 students.