Colorado Mesa University

For other colleges with similar names, see Mesa College (disambiguation).

Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University's new sign updated in 2011
Established	1925
Type	State University
President	Tim Foster
Students	9,000
Location	Grand Junction, Colorado, United States
Campus	Urban (78 + Acres)
Athletics	Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, 19 varsity teams, 5 emerging sports
Colors	Maroon and white
Mascot	Mavericks
Website	www.coloradomesa.edu

Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction and a regional campus in Montrose, Colorado. Colorado Mesa University grants two-year associates degrees, four-year bachelors degrees, and master's degrees. The school is in the process of developing its first doctorate program.

Previously called Mesa State College (MSC), the school attained university status in August 2011, changing its name to Colorado Mesa University.

History

• 1925 - Founded as Grand Junction Junior College with 39 students enrolled
• 1932 - Name changed to Grand Junction State Junior College
• 1933 - Enrollment exceeds 200 for the first time
• 1937 - Name changed to Mesa College
• 1957 - Mesa College accredited by North Central Association
• 1961 - Enrollment exceeds 1,000
• 1974 - Mesa College authorized to offer baccalaureate degree programs
• 1988 - Name changed to Mesa State College
• 1994 - Mesa State authorized to offer graduate degree programs
• 2003 - Independent Board of Trustees created by H.B. 1093
• 2005 - Formally created two-year, open admission division Western Colorado Community College
• 2010 - Enrollment exceeds 8,000 for the first time
• 2011 - June 6, 2011 Governor John Hickenlooper signed the bill to approve name change to Colorado Mesa University.
• 2011 - August 10, 2011 Mesa State College becomes Colorado Mesa University.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees consists of eleven trustees (nine voting and two non-voting members). The voting members are appointed by the Colorado Governor, confirmed by the Colorado State Senate and serve staggered terms. The Colorado Mesa University Student Trustee is elected by the Student-body and is considered to be one of the most influential positions in the University and College System. The Senatus Academicus names a member from their ranks to serve as the eleventh member. The Board meets regularly throughout the year and is charged with the task of hiring the President, guiding the mission, and overseeing the budget.^[1]

Academics

Colorado Mesa University offers programs leading to awards in four levels - technical certificates, associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, and master's degrees. The college is currently developing a doctorate program in nursing.

Colorado Mesa University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Accreditation by this agency places credits earned at the university on par with those earned at other similarly accredited institutions throughout the United States. In 2010, Forbes magazine listed Mesa State College at No. 555 on their 610 "Best Colleges" list.^[2]

Financial aid

During the 2010-2011 school year, Colorado Mesa University distributed over $48 million in financial aid to 75% of the student body population through scholarships, grants, loans and student employment. In addition to funding from the college, the Mesa State Foundation awarded more than $300,000 in private scholarships to over 300 students.

Housing

Colorado Mesa University offers many options for students to live on campus. There are currently over 2,000 students living on campus in one of eleven residential buildings consisting of traditional rooms, suites and pods, and apartments. A twelfth building, Bunting Avenue Student Housing, was constructed in the 2010-2011 school year and was completed in time for the Fall 2011 semester.

Residence halls and apartments are governed by the Residence Hall Association (RHA). RHA focuses a large portion of their effort toward being the residents' voice and advocating residents' issues to the Housing department and the campus. RHA works closely with housing administration to produce positive changes in campus living. In addition to their governmental and liaison roles with the college, RHA plans and executes events, programs and community service projects for residents' enjoyment.

The Residence Hall Council (RHC) is an extension of RHA and acts as the governing body for each residence hall. The RHC of each building is composed of an elected executive board (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Publicist), RHA Representative and Floor Representatives.

Residence Halls

• Albers Residence Hall
• Bunting Avenue Student Housing
• Elm Residence Hall
• Four Point Apartments
• Grand Mesa Residence Hall
• Monument Residence Hall
• North Avenue Student Housing
• Pinon Residence Hall
• Rait Residence Hall
• Tolman Residence Hall
• Walnut Ridge Apartments
• Orchard Avenue Student Housing (Fall 2012)

Notable buildings

Houston Hall

Houston Hall has the reputation of being the first building on campus. Built in 1940, it is named for the college's first president, Dr. Clifford G. Houston. Prior to its construction, the college had occupied an abandoned school building (the old Lowell School) in the city's downtown area. During the 2011 expansion and renovation project, delicate care was taken to seamlessly match the ornamental brick facade of the new wing with that of the original building.

Lowell Heiny Hall

Originally built in 1967 to house the college library, previously located in Houston Hall, Lowell Heiny Hall now houses faculty offices.

The University Center

The current University Center building was built in 2010 to replace the aging W.W. Campbell College Center. The new University Center houses the main campus dining facilities including: Resident Dining Hall, Bookcliff Cafe, Mesa Grill, Jazzman's Cafe and Bakery, and a full service convenience store. The center also houses The Criterion campus newspaper, KMSA 91.3FM campus radio station, Bookstore, Grand Ballroom, student lounges, Art Gallery, Well's Fargo bank branch, MAV Card Office, and all the offices for all campus clubs.

The Maverick Center

Formerly known as Saunders Field House, The Maverick Center houses all athletic facilities under one roof, except for football and baseball. Facilities include: Brownson Arena, El Pomar Natatorium, Hamilton Recreation Center, Health Sciences Center, and Monfort Family Human Performance Lab. Adjacent to The Maverick Center are Walker Field soccer stadium, Elliot Tennis Complex, Bergman Softball Field, and the Maverick Pavilion.

Moss Performing Arts Center

Dance Studio, Mesa Experimental Theatre (MET), Recital Hall, Robinson Theatre

Tomlinson Library

By 1984 the library's collection had outgrown Lowell Heiny Library and plans were made to build the collection a new home. The new library was dedicated in 1986. Recognized as an architectural gem in American School and University magazine the library was named for outgoing college president John U. Tomlinson in 1988 to honor his commitment to improved library services at the college. Tomlinson Library now contains over 190,000 volumes, including a large government documents collection, and a world class geology library. It is equipped with state-of-the-art computer technology and is considered one of the finest small college libraries in the state.

Other major buildings

• Academic Classroom Building
• Moss Fine Arts Building
• Little Mavs Learning Center
• Wubben Hall and Science Center

Athletics

CMU Mavericks mascot logo

CMU's athletic teams are known as the Mavericks, their mascot is symbolized by a rearing bull's head with flaring nostrils. Official colors are maroon, white, and black. Student body fans are known as The Herd.

Colorado Mesa football team in 2008

The Colorado Mesa Mavericks have 19 varsity teams that compete in NCAA Division II athletics, as part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. CMU fields teams in football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's outdoor track and field, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosee, women's softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and men's wrestling.

In addition to varsity sports, CMU has a large number of club sports including cheerleading, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's rugby, men's volleyball, water polo, cycling, rodeo, skiing, and formerly hockey, as well as active outdoors and intramural programs. The intramural sports include flag football, ultimate frisbee, indoor soccer, dodgeball, tennis, volleyball, and basketball, among many others.

CMU plays host to several summer sports camps and clinics including baseball, football, cross country, cheerleading, lacrosse, swimming, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling, as well as the largest summer basketball camp west of the Mississippi River.

Since 1958 CMU has co-hosted the Junior College World Series at Suplizio Field.

Athletic facilities

• Athletic Practice Fields
  • Baseball
  • Football
• Bergman Field – softball
• Elliott Tennis Complex – tennis
• Two intramural athletic fields
• Brownson Arena – basketball
• El Pomar Natatorium – swimming and diving
• Maverick Pavilion – indoor athletic courts (Fall 2011)
• Ralph Stocker Stadium – football, track and field
• Suplizio Field – baseball
• Walker Field – soccer, lacrosse

Domestic Relationships

• - Adams State College, Colorado Mountain College, The Metropolitan State College of Denver (Metro State), Western State College

Notable alumni

• Donnelly, Brendan - Major League Baseball relief pitcher and World Series Champion (2002).
• Schroder, Ricky - Actor known for roles in NYPD Blue and Lonesome Dove. Degree in Farm and Ranch Management.
• Stanley, Walter - former NFL wide receiver.
• McInnis, Scott - former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado.
• Romo, Sergio - current Major League Baseball pitcher San Francisco Giants.
• Ferguson, Marilyn - Influential American author, editor and public speaker. Most known for her book, The Aquarian Conspiracy.
• Martin, Tony - former NFL wide receiver.
• Penry, Josh - Colorado State Senator.
• Nourse, Dick is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor.
• Steele, Ben - former NFL Tight End for Green Bay Packers.
• Storrs, Dan-Hog Sports Radio Network.

References

1. ^ http://new.mesastate.edu/trustees/index.html. mesastate.edu. 2010. Board of Trustees. Retrieved 2010.09.14
2. ^ Harden, Mark (2010-08-12). "11 Colorado schools on Forbes' 2010 'America's Best Colleges' list". Denver Business Journal. http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/08/09/daily49.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 

External links

	Colorado portal
	University portal

• Mesa State College website
• Mesa State College Athletics