E-Insight

November 2004

University News

Colorado State University Granted Continued Accreditation

Colorado State University has been granted continued accreditation for 10 years by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association, the agency responsible for providing institutional accreditation throughout the North-Central region of the United States .

Led by self-study co-coordinators Bob Jones and Alicia Cook, Colorado State actively was engaged in a detailed process of self-study, addressing HLC's requirements and criteria for accreditation. Incorporating feedback and comments from University administration, faculty, students and staff, the self-study committee created a 430-page self-study accreditation report.

The University then underwent a comprehensive accreditation evaluation in February 2004 when an HLC-appointed team of educators visited campus to assess and evaluate all aspects of the University. Following a review process, the commission recently made its final decision to approve Colorado State 's continued accreditation for the full 10-year period.

Colorado State has been accredited by the HLC since 1925 and is accredited to offer all levels of higher education degrees through the doctoral degree level. To ensure academic excellence and fiscal stability, this accreditation requires an institutional review every 10 years. Additional information is available on the University's Advancing the Quality of Learning Web site at www.accreditation.colostate.edu.

Public/Private Partnerships and Economic Development Discussed at Future Conference

Experts from the public and private sectors discussed the role of higher education in statewide economic development and public-policy formation at the 2004 Colorado 's Future conference October 15 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins . Colorado State University and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs co-hosted the full-day event designed for economic development specialists, business leaders, elected officials, higher education representatives and others interested in partnerships and strategies that successfully stimulate state and local economies.

Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley and Colorado Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Rick O'Donnell began the event with "The Twenty-First Century University and Economic Development." Conference speakers and six panel sessions focused on the multifaceted role that Colorado 's research universities play in boosting the state economy. The morning panels examined how universities can help communities and policy makers make informed decisions by providing reliable, relevant and timely information. The afternoon panels explored specific sectors that exemplify the benefits of public/private partnerships and highlight the importance of unbiased, multi-disciplinary research to address the complexity of economic development and policy making in the 21st century.

4-H Names New Director

Colorado State University Cooperative Extension has named Jeff Goodwin the new director of 4-H youth and development programs. Goodwin has many years of experience with the 4-H program from the local to the state level.

Goodwin worked as a 4-H county agent in his home state of Texas for 14 years. He continued his career with the 4-H program at the University of Idaho as a 4-H specialist for eight more years. Goodwin, also active in teaching livestock ethics and working with leadership development activities, received his bachelor's in animal science and his master's in plant science at West Texas State . He earned his doctorate in agriculture education from Texas A&M.

4-H is the nation's largest out-of-school education program for boys and girls. The program teaches youth life skills such as communication, leadership, global awareness, leadership and decision making through projects such as cooking, wildlife, archery, science, nutrition, livestock and many more. The curriculum for the 4-H programs is provided by each state's land-grant university. Colorado has 59 counties with the 4-H program.