Re:“Renaming Metro with DU in mind,” Dec. 26 editorial; and “Don’t tread on DU,” Jan. 11 Vincent Carroll column.
As The Denver Post has indicated, Metropolitan State College of Denver and and the University of Denver are two of this region’s most important educational assets. We couldn’t agree more.
As leaders of the business community, we strongly value the impact Metro State has on Colorado’s landscape through workforce training and economic development.
Sadly, however, there is confusion about Metro State in the minds of some local employers. A number believe it to be a two-year community college. Many, including important hiring managers, do not understand our graduates have earned a full four-year baccalaureate degree.
That is why we support a name change to better reflect the institution’s evolution over the last five decades.
According to CEOs for Cities, a national network of urban leaders, Denver would see an additional $1.8 billion pumped into its economy annually simply by increasing the percentage of people with four-year degrees by just 1 percentage point — from 35.6 percent to 36.6 percent.
For Denver, the fastest track for achieving this return on investment is improving the historically low college-graduation rates of Colorado residents and lower-income students — the overall demographic of a Metro State student.
Metro State is the leader in educating Colorado. Nearly 24,000 students make up today’s Metro State family: 97 percent are in-state Coloradans, a higher percentage than any of the other four-year colleges or universities. And nearly one-quarter of all Colorado’s undergraduate students of color choose Metro State.
Since 1965, more than 70,500 students have earned degrees in fields as diverse as business, nursing, hospitality, criminology, teacher education, STEM programs, and aviation and aerospace science. These graduates are prepared to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world. They are prepared to take responsibility for themselves and to contribute in their own way to our community.
Metro State now offers master’s degree programs, pushing us beyond “college” to “university” status. These three programs in accountancy, teacher education and social work are all in areas where a master’s degree is key to professional advancement. Last month’s commencement celebrated its first graduating class of master’s candidates, and our spring 2012 commencement will graduate 50 students from these programs.
We must ensure that a degree from Metro State is valued in the community by all.
It’s important to honor the accomplishments of Metro State’s graduates with a name that reflects the degree they have earned, and position the institution as a strong option for those seeking a college degree.
It is important that a name reflect the strength and true worth of the institution as it stands today — a high-quality four-year institution with select master’s degrees that makes a significant impact on Colorado’s economy.
Now is the time for Metro State to be supported in moving its name change initiative forward with the legislature, all the while enhancing opportunities for students, area employers and Colorado’s economy. After all, shouldn’t the legislature’s decision on a new name be determined by what benefits Colorado residents and taxpayers the most?
Ralph Christie is chairman and CEO of Merrick & Company. Jon Robinson is CEO and chief lending officer of UMB Bank Colorado.
