More than 350 MSU Denver faculty and staff gathered at the King Center Wednesday morning to recognize colleagues and celebrate the Spring semester, while another 278 watched online.
Morning networking included breakfast, giveaways and an opportunity to catch up with colleagues. The ensuing program was highlighted by a state of the University address, including the latest on MSU Denver’s funding advocacy at the Colorado legislature and budget and enrollment strategies as well as a fireside chat hosted by Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., and University deans providing updates from each college and school.
For the first time, the event also included the annual Years of Service celebration, recognizing Roadrunners for their commitment to the University. Among those recognized were:
- 35 years: Donelyn Jones, Marketing advisor and affiliate faculty member
- 40 years: Richard Jackson, Ph.D., professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
- 55 years: Stephen Leonard, Ph.D., professor of History; and Sandra Doe, Ed.D., professor of English
Watch the Early Bird for a full list of Years of Service awardees and retirees.
Covid-19 protocol suspended
The event started with a video by MSU Denver’s RED team documenting the University’s experience of and response to the Covid-19 pandemic. With more than 90% of students and 98% of employees vaccinated, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., announced that effective immediately, MSU Denver is suspending all Covid-19 protocols and requirements. Additionally, the Roadrunners Safe Return Committee will be replaced with a smaller Covid-19 Monitoring Task Force.
Name-change anniversary
Davidson also discussed the upcoming 10-year anniversary of MSU Denver’s name change and transition from college to university April 18. Before earning university status, MSU Denver had 250 graduate students; now, the University serves nearly 1,200. After next month’s Commencement ceremony, MSU Denver will have awarded more than 2,500 master’s degrees in a decade. Watch the Early Bird for more on this important milestone.
Legislative efforts
MSU Denver could potentially see its largest-ever increase in base funding from the state. Currently, the University is recommended to receive a 14% boost, equivalent to $10.2 million depending on enrollment.
The legislature has also recommended second-year funding for two information-technology projects, totaling $4.2 million. This will help the University stay on track with critical efforts in modernizing administrative processes and improving the campus network. MSU Denver also anticipates $10 million to build updated and expanded simulation labs for Nursing and other health disciplines in the West Classroom. These funds would allow MSU Denver to almost double the size of its Nursing program.
These budget items have passed through the House and still require a vote from the Senate, but Davidson believes the University is in a strong position to secure the funding.
Enrollment
Davidson also highlighted the Roadrunner Promise program, which will make college more accessible for hundreds of additional first-time students starting this fall. The program will apply to students taking 12 or more hours and who have a gross family income of $60,000 or less.
The University is also recommending a 2% increase in tuition and is hiring a chief enrollment officer. For more budget and enrollment updates, see the Early Bird’s Budget Recommendation Committee meeting recaps.
Commencement
Spring Commencement takes place on May 13 at the Denver Coliseum, and MSU Denver is expecting to award 2,319 degrees. Rep. Leslie Herod will be the morning commencement speaker followed by Yolanda Ortega in the afternoon ceremony. MSU Denver is also recognizing former trustee Rob Cohen with the Marathon Award.
Dean updates
Provost Alfred Tatum, Ph.D., hosted a fireside chat with the University deans to discuss recent achievements and successes.
College of Business Dean Ann Murphy, Ph.D., who is in her 25th year at MSU Denver, touted the college’s Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, a partnership with the Internal Audit Education Partnership Program and the fact that the Center for Professional Selling is the only program in the state recognized by the University Sales Center Alliance.
School of Education Dean Elizabeth Hinde, Ed.D., noted that MSU Denver offers the most diverse teacher-education program in the state. The school’s enrollment is roughly 1,400 students exploring 50 pathways in three departments and two master’s programs. Since 2014, the school has increased external funding by over 400%, established eight new endowments and received approximately $12 million in federal and state grants.
Hope Szypulski, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Health and Applied Sciences, which has been realigned to form the College of Health and Human Science and the College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design, added that in February MSU Denver hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to discuss the importance of industry apprenticeships. Szypulski also highlighted that the Aviation and Aerospace Science Department received Federal Aviation Administration Part 141 certification for flight and ground training and a Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution grant for the Colorado Space Tech program. The Department of Human Performance and Sport, ranked No. 8 in the country, also recently held its fifth annual Women in Sport Management panel.
School of Hospitality Dean Christian Hardigree, J.D., added that MSU Denver is the only university in the U.S. that has a LEED Gold-certified hotel, commercial conference space and restaurant; a state-of-the-art beverage-testing laboratory; and a working brewery on campus. It is also one of just four universities to offer a bachelor’s degree in Event and Meeting Management and the only university that also offers a bachelor’s degree in Brewery Operations. She also highlighted Professor Jackson Lamb’s recent lifetime-achievement award from the Colorado Restaurant Association and the school’s Human Trafficking Awareness Certification.
John Masserini, D.M., dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, introduced the college’s new vision and mission after restructuring the college to add a third division: Fine and Performing Arts. The college has produced 87 publications with more than 60 articles, over 20 chapters and seven books. After receiving $2.13 million in grants, the college has $1.95 million more still pending.
A full recording of the President’s Spring Update will be available soon on MSU Denver’s Livestream Archive.