Some 500 members of the DU community heard Chancellor Robert Coombe set the course for this academic year at Friday’s fall convocation.

He gave an overview of the university, covering topics like the numbers of undergraduate students, the finances of university, the state of the economy, new construction projects and athletics.

He closed by discussing a project that is working toward fiscal sustainability and is not based on tuition hikes or growth in student population.

Faculty members were honored with different awards at the 2008-2009 Convocation Faculty and Staff Awards Friday at Magness Arena in the Ritchie Center.

Among those receiving awards were Susan Sadler from the Department of Biological Sciences and Daniel McIntosh from the Department of Psychology.

Sadler received the Distinguished Teaching Award and McIntosh was given the University Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award.

“It’s a high honor. All professors work very hard. It’s a huge big thank you. It makes me feel really special,” said Sadler, who teaches several biology classes, including Concepts in Biology.

McIntosh was similarly honored by the award. “It’s exciting and quite an honor,” he said.

Recipients of the award were announced at the end of the school year last May.

The faculty and staff that received awards were then announced, with awards such as Quality Department Award, Crimson and Gold Award and the John Evans Award.

McIntosh said he had worked in committees with the other people who were receiving awards and they are an impressive group.

“[DU is different than other colleges because it] offers unique graduate and undergraduate options. I made a conscious choice to teach undergraduate,” Sadler said.

“I come to class everyday with energy and hope to build high energy for learning. I try to make it fun,” she added.

McIntosh taught at the University of Michigan before coming to DU.

“Close interaction of students and faculty, both in and out of the classroom, is why I value being here,” he said.