The annual ice cream social to welcome new and returning students to campus and Missoula neighborhoods will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, in the 400 block of University Avenue.

Ice cream will be provided by the Big Dipper, Goldsmiths and Baskin-Robbins. The street festival also offers dozens of door prizes, live music by the JillBillies and hacky sack demonstrations.

Special guests are Missoula Mayor John Engen, UM Executive Vice President Jim Foley, Associated Students of UM President Dustin Leftridge and UM's mascot, Monte.

Only about 15 percent of four-year colleges in the United States are listed in Princeton Review's "Best 366 Colleges," and UM made the grade.

Rankings in the new 2008 edition are based on Princeton Review's survey of 120,000 students. Top schools earn a two-page profile with student comments.

UM also was named to Princeton Review's "Best Western Colleges" and "Colleges With a Conscience."

UM students can learn about volunteer opportunities at the annual Volunteer Fair, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 18 and 19, in the University Center Atrium.

The fair is sponsored by UM's Office for Civic Engagement. Representatives from nonprofits will be on hand to provide information about a variety of volunteer options.

Through volunteering, students gain responsibility, use and develop their abilities, try out careers and learn new skills outside the classroom.

The Office for Civic Engagement helps students find community-service work-study jobs and service-learning independent-study internships, as well as other volunteer opportunities. Information about international service possibilities also is available.

More information is online.

UM will hold its second annual "Day of Dialogue: Building Communities of Difference" on Thursday, Nov. 8.

The event symbolizes the University's commitment to diversity and aims to help achieve true communities of difference on campus and in Missoula.

The campuswide symposium focuses on the topics of race, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability, religion, sexual orientation, employment hierarchy and academic discipline.

Students are invited to deliver presentations, performances, workshops and more throughout the day.

Students can get more information online or by calling Emily Yaksitch or Tony Brockman at 406-243-5622.

During his 17th State of the University address Friday, Aug. 24, President George Dennison announced that UM has surpassed the $100 million goal set for its comprehensive fundraising campaign "Invest in Discovery: Connecting People, Programs and Place."

However, Dennison said several targeted priorities still need funding before the campaign -- launched in 2002 and the most ambitious in the University's history -- concludes on Dec. 31.

The president's entire State of the University address is available online in video format.

A complete schedule of Family Weekend activities will be posted online and mailed to parents next week. Meanwhile, President George Dennison announced that he will give away a $1,000 tuition waiver to one lucky family during the weekend's festivities.

Family Weekend is Nov. 2-4. A few tickets to the Nov. 3 football game between the nationally ranked Montana Grizzlies and the Portland State Vikings remain, but the game is expected to sell out soon. Call 888-MONTANA and give the Family Weekend code, GRIZVIK, to buy tickets.

Stay tuned, and visit the Family Weekend Web site after Sept. 10 for a complete schedule.

Students are invited to a free lunch when entrepreneurs speak at the Ask-an-Alum Career Leadership Luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, in University Center Rooms 326-327.

UM alumni will share their career and leadership stories and discuss with current students how their experience at the University prepared them to lead successful professional lives after graduation.

Get more information about Ask-an-Alum events online or call 406-243-2239.

Homecoming week begins with a kick-off celebration Sunday, Sept. 23. The theme for this year's events is Montana Legends: Discovery Never Ends.

A residence hall and department decorating contest as well as the Yell Night Pep Rally are set for Wednesday, Sept. 26. The Food Zoo will hold its annual Homecoming Buffet on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Friday, Sept. 28, events include department open houses from 3 to 5 p.m. and a ceremony and reception to honor the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients at 5 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.

Saturday's events begin at 10 a.m. with the Homecoming Parade in downtown Missoula. Then it's on to tailgates and pre-game events for UM's Homecoming football game, scheduled for 1:05 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium -- the Montana Grizzlies vs. the Weber State Wildcats.

Dramatic demographic shifts in the proportion of the U.S. population that is aging began last year when the first of an estimated 76 million baby boomers turned 60.

With these dramatic shifts, the need for sound academic preparation in the processes of aging has increased. To respond to this need, UM introduced an interdisciplinary gerontology minor this fall that will prepare UM graduates in several fields of study and help them to be more competitive in their career choices.

"Nearly every profession and discipline will be impacted by the growing numbers of older adults," said UM Professor Cindy Garthwait, who is coordinating the minor. "In addition, new and innovative careers are being created to respond to the needs and concerns of an aging population."

Because the minor is interdisciplinary, it can be integrated into a student's major area of study. For more information, go online or call Garthwait at 406-243-2954.

Thank you for reading Transcripts and for being part of the UM community.

Go Griz!