Rigoberto Madrid
News Reporter

The growing plans of Mesa State College will not result with the title of university any time soon.
This is not to say that it will not happen. The strategic plan that Mesa State’s Board of Trustees discussed at a meeting on Nov. 3 led to a series of proposed goals, objectives and the possibility of finding the closest and clearest unanimous vote among all who are involved in the contribution of Mesa State’s growth toward a university. But it is a work in progress.
The Board of Trustees has been involved in many recent talks on subjects such as plans for construction, new graduate programs, and Mesa State’s long term strategic plan, yet the university name change was the most recent and influential discussion according to ASG Student Trustee, Ryan Hendershot.
“It’s probably one of the biggest discussions we’ve had here at Mesa State since I’ve been here,” Hendershot said.
The proposed 20-minute discussion resulted in an hour-long topic.
The decision was that a further look should be made into Mesa State’s name change, yet the name Mesa State University will be an unlikely name.
“Mesa State doesn’t tell people where we are,” said Dana Nunn, the college’s director of media relations. “While in Colorado we have good name recognition, in states such as Utah and Wyoming, they don’t even know who we are.”
Potential names that have been brought up are Western Colorado University, and the University of Western Colorado. While speculation of a name change can be daunting, students need not worry about over-grown class sizes, a student enrollment explosion, tuition costs, or changes to the Mesa State’s teacher-oriented collegiate.
“There are many things very unique to Mesa State College that we want to keep,” said ASG President Nick Lopez. “One is classroom size. We want our faulty to retain their positions, and keep teaching those classes, so we have that ‘one-on-one’ interaction, which you attend Mesa State.”
Through the next few months the ASG will be talking to students before taking a pro or con stance on a name change.
“We want to continue to hear the voices of our students and community leaders,” Lopez said.
As student body representatives show signs of anticipation for change, President Foster is still undecided, and is hoping to hear further on the topic through a series of upcoming focus groups.
u
remadrid@mesastate.edu