President Penley Unveils Plan for Transforming Colorado
Larry Edward Penley, Chancellor of the Colorado State University System, has publicly unveiled his strategy for transforming the state through higher education as the 2007 Legislative session begins.
The plan is detailed in a white paper Dr. Penley presented to the Colorado State System Board of Governors in December titled "Transforming Colorado: Higher Education and the Future of Our State." Gov. Bill Ritter, who attended the Board of Governors meeting where the paper was discussed, stressed that he would seek consensus in the higher education community to find additional resources for higher education.
Based on the concepts forwarded in the white paper, Dr. Penley and eight other Colorado university and college presidents drafted and endorsed a separate opinion paper outlining reasons Colorado's quality of life and economic prosperity depend on future investment in higher education. Both papers are available on the Web at http://president.colostate.edu/.
A recent study commissioned by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education revealed the state's higher-education system faces a minimum $832 million shortfall when compared with peers, $520 million of this at the state's research universities.
"A well-conceived, appropriately funded system of higher education provides a vehicle for addressing some of our most complex societal challenges while assuring us continued economic competitiveness," Dr. Penley said. "Higher education is essential for almost every job we want to attract or retain in Colorado. We need to begin to engage a wide audience to convey that higher education matters to every one of us."
As a next step, in the near future Dr. Penley will release a proposal to address the significant underfunding of Colorado's colleges and universities by more closely linking funding with state priorities and goals. Such fundamental reform of the state's higher-education funding process will be essential to reversing the longstanding problems and capitalizing on the strengths of Colorado higher education, he said.
CSU Opens Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
In partnership with the Bernard Osher Foundation, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Colorado State University has opened to provide an innovative educational program. The program is designed to help people 50 years of age or better renew their enthusiasm for learning in a relaxed atmosphere.
Membership in OLLI means you join a dynamic community of lifelong learners who understand that life is enhanced through learning. Instructors are distinguished active and emeritus faculty, scholars, and professionals in the community. The emphasis of the courses offerings is increasing knowledge, engagement and community building. Through the OLLI, participants become active in a dynamic learning community, engage with others who are seeking intellectual opportunities, satisfy curiosities, have fun in a relaxed atmosphere where courses are offered for the pure pleasure of learning (no exams, no grades), learn from top-notch instructors who are experts in their fields, participate in a broad spectrum of social and cultural events, and become part of a pioneering effort in lifelong learning.
For more information, or to see course offerings, visit the Osher Institute at www.learn.colostate.edu/osher/.
Colorado State University Named in ERE Top 100
Colorado State University has earned a place on a 2006-2007 list of 100 colleges and universities providing the highest quality educational environment at the lowest possible cost. Colorado State, along with Colorado Christian University and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, were the only three Colorado schools making the list.
Each year, Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., an independent research and consulting organization located in Rome, Ga., conducts a national survey to identify schools providing an academically superior educational environment at a price that makes the dream of a college degree accessible to as many deserving students as possible.
