CSU Chancellor Delivers Keynote to Higher Learning Commission
Higher education institutions must adapt to a new environment that relies less on state funding yet embraces public accountability and access for lower-income students, Colorado State University Chancellor Larry Edward Penley told a crowd of 3,800 higher-education leaders in April. Dr. Penley, recognized as a leader in identifying and acting on challenges facing higher education, was invited to give the keynote speech in Chicago at the annual conference of the Higher Learning Commission, the organization that accredits degree-granting educational institutions in 19 states in the country's North Central region.
"The writing is on the wall: Higher education confronts a very different and challenging environment," Dr. Penley said. "Seven countries with which we directly compete-Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Norway, South Korea, and Sweden-already are ahead of the United States in college-degree attainment. Meanwhile, here in the U.S., state budgets are strained by the rising costs of Medicaid, deteriorating infrastructure like bridges and roads, the need for more prison beds, and improvement of K-12 schools.
Publicly funded institutions need to face four costly mistakes in dealing with this new environment, Penley told the group Monday. He highlighted these mistakes and alternative "success strategies" for those charged to make the case for higher education: make higher education a partner in economic prosperity, elevate higher education as a public good, access with success for qualified students, and set and meet challenging and measurable goals.
"We must make accessible our universities to those with lower incomes, but with equal commitment to those students' success," Penley said. "We must commit to accountability with transparency, with rising quality and value in our colleges and universities."
Colorado State Bestows Highest Honor on Four Professors
Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley in April bestowed the title of University Distinguished Professor - the highest recognition awarded for outstanding accomplishments in research and scholarship - on four professors at the annual "Celebrate! Colorado State" luncheon.
Together the honorees have taught students for nearly 100 years, published and presented hundreds of papers and received tens of millions of dollars in research grants.
The new University Distinguished Professors are: Dr. Jan Leach, Professor of Plant Pathology in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, College of Agricultural Sciences; Dr. Karolin Luger, Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences; Dr. Jorge Rocca, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Physics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; and Dr. John Sofos, Professor of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences.
A maximum of 12 current faculty members at the University may hold the rank of University Distinguished Professor, which is a permanent designation that carries into retirement. To obtain the rank, faculty members are nominated through an extensive review process and must be approved by the current University Distinguished Professors. Dr. Penley approved the selections and secured endorsement from the University's governing board.
Each University Distinguished Professor receives a special medallion and a permanent base salary increase of $7,500. Some have retired. Current members are Drs. Barry Beaty, Patrick Brennan and Edward Hoover, all in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology; Dr. George Seidel, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Drs. Holmes Rolston and Bernard E. Rollin, Department of Philosophy; Drs. Louis S. Hegedus and Robert Williams, Department of Chemistry; Drs. Graeme Stephens and Thomas Vonder Haar, Department of Atmospheric Science; Dr. Gary Smith, Department of Animal Sciences; and Dr. Stephen Withrow, Department of Clinical Sciences.
15th Biennial International Poster Exhibition Set
The works of top poster artists and designers worldwide will be featured in the 15th biennial Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition hosted by the Department of Art in the School of the Arts at Colorado State University. The biennial event is the only exhibition of its kind in the United States. This year's program will feature works of 87 artists from 31 countries that reflect international perspectives on political, social and cultural issues.
The 15th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition will open Sept. 14 and run through Oct. 19 with a the main poster display divided between the Clara Hatton Gallery in the Visual Arts building and the Curfman Gallery in the Lory Student Center, located on the main campus of Colorado State. The exhibition will open with a public reception and poster sale from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. Exhibition winners will be announced during the reception, and a limited number of copies of exhibition posters and catalogs will be available for purchase.
