Cloie Sandlin
News Editor

It still seems hard for students, faculty and staff to eradicate “Mesa State College” from their vocabulary.
Many changes have rapidly taken place at Colorado Mesa University with the new name and university status. One of the most notable changes is that enrollment has once again increased.
CMU is the fastest growing institution of higher learning in Colorado. President Tim Foster said that last he heard, the count was around 8,900 students, which he estimates was a 12 percent increase from last year, and a 40 percent increase from enrollment three years ago.
“Growth is good for us, but I would hope that we continue to grow at a more modest pace,” Foster said. “We’ve been growing too fast.”
The campus census will take place within the next week, and a more solid number is expected during the first week of September.
Foster said one of the most important things he hopes to keep at CMU is the small class sizes and the close interaction between students and faculty.
“At some point, if growth continues, we will increase our selectivity, which will slow our growth,” Foster said.
New buildings on campus include Bunting Avenue Student Housing and the newly renovated Houston Hall. BASH has accommodated CMU’s increasing enrollment by housing an extra 328 students.
Houston Hall was built in the 1930s and was CMU’s first classroom building on campus. Over the last year, Houston has been in the midst of a $15 million remodel and addition, which has included two 100-person lecture halls, computer labs, study rooms, a café and many classrooms.
Foster said they use different architects to design every building on campus. The Denver-based architectural firm Bennett, Wagner and Grody was chosen to work on Houston Hall because of the work they’ve done on other higher education institutions.
“Every building we have now has study areas,” Foster said. “The library was the only place to study when I came here.”
There has also been talk about remodeling the library in the future.
There is no foreseen change in the number of varsity sports that will be offered. Currently, CMU does not have any sports that aren’t a part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. If any varsity sport were added, that sport would have to be in a separate conference.
However, CMU is planning to focus on strengthening their club sports. With the addition of a new ice rink located closer to the campus, CMU’s hockey team will once again take to the ice. The new ice rink will allow the team to practice at more conventional hours, opposed to having to practice after the rink is closed to the public.
There has also been talk of adding fraternities and sororities to CMU.
“A lot of students have expressed interest,” Foster said.
Foster said Greek life on campus has the potential to help organize functions, and promote student engagement on campus.
“It’s more heads and hands about ideas along with being another way for students to connect,” Foster said.
According to Vice President of Student Services John Marshall, students can expect to receive a survey this fall asking their thoughts on introducing Greek life.
“We are still exploring the idea and trying to decide what it would look like,” Director of Media Relations Dana Nunn said.
Even with the possibility of Greek life, there are no plans for CMU to switch from being a dry campus.
“Until someone changes the drinking age back down to 18, we’ll stay a dry campus,” Foster said.
Throughout all the changes, the University is sticking to its core, which is a providing a good and affordable education.
“My hope is that we are a growing, thriving campus that students are continuing to a get a good education at,” Marshall said.

ccsandli@mavs.coloradomesa.edu