Daily Press Writer
GUNNISON — Western State College in Gunnison would like to return to its origins. After 17 years without any master's degree programs, the college wants to reintroduce an opportunity to the region that it started in 1921.
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"This is a wonderful opportunity for this region," said Colorado Senator-elect Gail Schwartz, who is co-sponsoring the bill with House Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison.
The bill would change the wording of the college's statutory role and mission by inserting a phrase allowing it to offer "a limited number of graduate programs," according to Western's news release.
The faculty will have a lot to say about what programs get offered, said Larry Meredith, director of public relations at the college.
One area being considered for master's degrees is education. He said Western currently has teacher education programs in place with a summer teacher institute where over 200 educators come for updating and certifications.
"It makes for a natural expansion," he said.
Schwartz, who has a long history of supporting higher education, stresses how important it is to have it on the Western Slope.
"There are nine universities on the Front Range and none on the Western Slope," she said. "It's so important to the communities, counties, and region to make sure students can stay in Colorado." The programs will also bring students to this area, she added.
She said if programs aren't available, students' options are limited to relocating, moving to the Front Range or online courses.
Meredith said the business department is also being considered for programs. The department's new building is under construction and new undergraduate programs are being introduced.
"Who knows, there may be a graduate program come out of the business building," he said.
There is still a long way to go for Western.
Meredith said the bill was one of the first given to the Assembly, so he is hopeful it will be one of the first to be discussed.
"Curry has a great deal of enthusiasm," he said, adding she believes it should have no problem passing.
The release also stated that the wording is similar to the statutes of Adams State College of Alamosa, Mesa State College of Grand Junction, and Fort Lewis College of Durango.
In 1985 the Colorado Commission on Higher Education directed Western to discontinue master-level degrees, Meredith said, and they complied after the 1988-89 academic year.
"The town and college were really disappointed when the programs were discontinued," he said.
Meredith said Western is financially secure, which provided the right time to work on reintroducing programs.
It could be awhile before classes are offered.
If the bill does pass, Western has to apply for degree authorizations in those master's programs to the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. This would require a self-study and campus visits by the commission, which Meredith said, could take up to 18 months.
Should Western propose a graduate degree in education, the state Department of Education and the Colorado Commission of Higher Education would also evaluate the proposal.
"It could be a couple of years," Meredith said.
Contact Kati O'Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com
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