Colorado Mesa University: A History of Growth and Comprehensive Programs

Colorado Mesa University (CMU), located in Grand Junction, Colorado, has a rich history of growth and development, evolving from a junior college to a comprehensive university offering a wide array of programs. This article explores the university's history, academic programs, and its commitment to providing a well-rounded education for its students.

Historical Overview

Founded in 1925 as Grand Junction Junior College, the institution addressed the growing need for higher education in western Colorado. The region's population had significantly increased, and many students had to travel long distances to access college education, as most of the state's higher education institutions were located along the Front Range Urban Corridor. Even the nearest institution, Western State College of Colorado, was over 120 miles away.

Name Changes and Expansion

The institution underwent several name changes reflecting its evolving role and expanding academic offerings. In 1940, it was renamed Mesa College, and by this time, enrollment had increased to nearly 300 students. By 1988, the school was renamed Mesa State College, as it began transitioning from a junior college into a four-year state college. In 1994, the Colorado legislature authorized Mesa State College to begin offering select graduate programs, as the need for higher education in western Colorado began to increase. In 1996, Mesa State began offering its first graduate program, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Finally, in 2011, it achieved university status and became Colorado Mesa University. The name change process considered "Mesa State University" and "Grand Mesa University," but the administration chose to include "Colorado" in the name.

Governance and Service Area

Prior to 2003, all four of Colorado's state colleges were governed by the Consortium of State Colleges in Colorado (CSCC). However, in 2003, the CSCC was abolished, and each school was granted its own governing board. The Colorado General Assembly designated Mesa State as the higher education provider for 14 counties in western Colorado: Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Miguel, and Summit counties.

Campus and Facilities

CMU's main campus is situated on 141 acres in central Grand Junction. Over the years, the university has expanded its facilities to accommodate its growing student body and academic programs.

Key Buildings and Centers

Asteria Theatre: Completed in 2024, this 860-seat theatre is the newest venue for CMU's performing arts departments and hosts public speakers and debates. It features the largest stage in western Colorado, funded by a $39 million grant from the Colorado General Assembly.
Confluence Hall: Built in 2018, this 68,700-square-foot building houses the Department of Computer Science & Engineering.
Dominguez Hall: Constructed in 2011, Dominguez Hall is home to the Davis School of Business and the Center for Teacher Education. It includes classrooms, computer labs, study rooms, faculty offices, a coffee shop, and a boardroom.
Escalante Hall: This three-story, 76,000-square-foot building houses the Department of Languages, Literature & Mass Communication. It features a third-floor foyer with outdoor terraces offering panoramic views.
Health Sciences Building: Formerly Community Hospital, this building now houses the Moss School of Nursing, with classrooms, laboratory space, and a simulation center for health sciences students.
Houston Hall: The first building on campus, built in 1940, is named for the college's first president, Dr. Clifford G. Houston.
Kephart Fine Arts Building: Originally built in 2002, this building was renamed in 2021 to honor Jac Kephart, a local artist and alumnus. It houses the Department of Art & Design and includes art studios, outdoor areas for kilns, and a bronze foundry.
Maverick Center: Formerly Saunders Field House, this center houses athletic facilities, including the Brownson Arena, El Pomar Natatorium, Hamilton Recreation Center, and Monfort Family Human Performance Lab, as well as the Department of Kinesiology.
Moss Performing Arts Center: Home to the Department of Theatre and the Department of Music, this center features a recital hall, classrooms, dressing rooms, a music library, and a dance studio. It also includes the Robinson Theater, a 600-seat venue.
St. Mary's Medical Education Center: Completed in 2022 through a partnership with the City of Grand Junction, Community Hospital, and St. Mary's Regional Hospital, this center houses CMU's Physician's Assistant, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy programs.
Student Wellness Center: This center offers basic medical and mental health resources to CMU students.
John U. Tomlinson Library: Named for CMU's 7th President, this library houses over 200,000 books and nearly 20 million items across its databases. It also features study spaces, classrooms, CMU's IT help desk, and common areas.
University Center: Built in 2010, this center houses the main campus dining facilities, including the Dining Hall ("The Caf"), the Flattop Grill, Starbucks Coffee, Chick-Fil-A, and a convenience store.
Wubben Hall: Constructed in 1962, this hall houses the university's math and science programs, including the Department of Biological Sciences, the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. A science center was added in 2010 to provide more classrooms and research spaces.

Academic Programs

Colorado Mesa University offers a comprehensive range of academic programs across various disciplines. The university provides programs leading to awards in five levels: technical certificates, associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees, and professional doctoral degrees. CMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Essential Learning

All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy.

History Programs

The study of history prepares students for understanding present society and culture through a study of the past. The history program familiarizes students with the great historical civilizations and issues that have shaped our present world. History teaches students how to critically analyze information and make a compelling argument; skills that everyone needs to be successful in all their endeavors. Internships are available through museums, historical societies, and public agencies. CMU history graduates pursue careers in teaching and public history, as well as private employment, and have also been very successful in gaining entrance to graduate study and law school.

History Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the CMU history program are expected to:

Formulate the relationships of cause and effect. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Assess the importance of historical context. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Critically analyze an argument based on secondary sources. (Critical Thinking)
Critically analyze primary sources. (Critical Thinking)
Formulate a clear and persuasive argument based on evidence. (Communication Fluency)
Construct a clear thesis with strong topic sentences. (Communication Fluency)
Evaluate how local, national, or global societies have responded to ethical, social, civic, and/or environmental changes in the historical past.

History Courses

CMU offers a variety of history courses, including:

HIST 101 Western Civilization I-GTHI1
HIST 102 Western Civilization II-GTHI1
HIST 131 United States History I-GTHI1
HIST 132 United States History II-GTHI1
HIST 202 Introduction to Historical Research
HIST 225 History of Colorado-GTHI1
HIST 300 History of England to 1660
HIST 301 History of Modern Britain
HIST 302 History of Modern France
HIST 303 History of Modern Germany
HIST 305 The Old South
HIST 310 Latin American Civilization
HIST 311 The World Wars
HIST 314 African American History
HIST 315 Indigenous American History
HIST 316 American Slavery
HIST 320 The American West
HIST 330 History of 19th Century Europe
HIST 331 The 20th Century
HIST 332 History of Modern Warfare
HIST 333 The International History of the Cold War
HIST 334 History of the British Empire
HIST 340 History of the Middle East
HIST 342 The Early American Republic
HIST 344 The Age of Industry in America
HIST 345 History of Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity in America
HIST 347 Global America: 1970-2000
HIST 348 The History of Food in America
HIST 350 Renaissance and Reformation
HIST 355 Ancient and Medieval Cities
HIST 360 Medieval Europe
HIST 370 Early United States Women's History
HIST 371 20th Century United States Women's History
HIST 375 American Sport History
HIST 394 Junior Seminar in Historiography
HIST 400 The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
HIST 403 East Asia and the Modern World
HIST 404 Senior Seminar in Historical Research
HIST 405 Introduction to Public History
HIST 406 History of the African Continent
HIST 407 Digital History
HIST 409 Material Culture Studies
HIST 410 Environmental History of the United States
HIST 415 Colonial America
HIST 416 The American Revolution
HIST 420 Civil War
HIST 425 History of Sexuality
HIST 430 The Ancient Mediterranean World
HIST 435 Classical Archaeology
HIST 440 Early and Medieval Christianity
HIST 445 The Holocaust
HIST 450 European History and Film
HIST 494 Museum Education and Interpretation Seminar
HIST 499 History Internship
HIST 501 Early American History: Foundation - Civil War
HIST 510 Early European History: Ancient - Reformation
HIST 511 Modern European History: Reformation - 20th Century

Teacher Education Program

The Center for Teacher Education offers a comprehensive program of study that leads to licensure in Colorado. The faculty are experienced and dedicated to the improvement of public education. CMU prides itself on the personal touch, with faculty offering one-on-one guidance for course selection, field placements, student teaching, and employment. The mission is to develop Educators as Innovators.

Secondary Licensure Program

The secondary licensure program provides teacher education candidates with broad content knowledge in history and prepares them as teachers for grades 7 through 12. A minimum of 75 credit hours of Essential Learning and content area coursework must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.80 before a candidate may apply for admission to the Center for Teacher Education secondary licensure program.

Teacher Education Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Teacher Education program are expected to:

Demonstrate mastery of major areaâs content knowledge and pedagogical strategies through fieldwork with learners in professional settings. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Design and establish a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for a diverse population of students. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Plan and deliver effective instruction to students, based on research-based pedagogical practices. (Communication Literacy/Information Literacy)
Collect and analyze student assessment data and use results to inform planning and instruction. (Quantitative Fluency/Critical Thinking)
Demonstrate professionalism through ethical conduct, reflection, and leadership.

Program Requirements

Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements. These include:

120 semester hours minimum.
Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.

Engineering Partnership Program

CMU maintains an Engineering Partnership Program with the University of Colorado Boulder, allowing students pursuing degrees in Civil Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering to complete the first two years of coursework with CMU faculty. The final two years are taught by CU Boulder faculty, all on CMUâs campus in Grand Junction.

Student Life

Colorado Mesa University offers a variety of options for students to live on campus. Over 2,000 students live in 13 residential buildings, consisting of traditional rooms, suites and pods, and apartments. Residence halls and apartments are governed by Colorado Mesa University Residence Life, known on campus as ResLife. The Residence Hall Council (RHC) is a student-led extension of ResLife and acts as the governing body for each residence hall. CMU's Greek life presence is overseen by the Office of Student Life.

Athletics

CMU's athletic teams are known as the Mavericks, symbolized by a rearing bull's head with flaring nostrils. Their official colors are maroon, white, and gold. The Colorado Mesa Mavericks have 28 varsity teams that compete in NCAA Division II athletics, as part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). CMU has competed at the NCAA Division II level since 1992.

Sustainability Initiatives

CMU is one of the first schools to utilize geothermal energy throughout its campus. The university has implemented a geo-grid system to heat and cool buildings, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability.

tags: #colorado #mesa #university #history #and #programs