Ritter visits Western to sign bill as college gets graduate programs back

Kati O'Hare

Daily Press Writer

MONTROSE — Gov. Bill Ritter stepped away from the capital to visit Western State College in Gunnison for the first signing of a bill outside the governor's office.

House Bill 1014, signed by Ritter Friday at the college's union in front of more than 100 Western alumni, students and community members, gives the college the authority to offer graduate degree programs.

"There's a reason we're doing this. ... We believe it's such an important message to take to every part of the state, that we view higher education opportunities as investment opportunities on the part of the state," Ritter said at the ceremony held for the signing. "When we are able to do this for a community like Gunnison, Colorado or Western College, we're doing it for the kids ... but were also sending this message that we believe education and investing in education undergirds everything we are about going forward."

Ritter was accompanied by Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, who introduced the bill along with Colorado Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Aspen. Schwartz couldn't attend because of prior arrangement in Washington, D.C., Curry said.

"This wasn't a hard bill to run," Curry said during the ceremony, adding that the bill passed unanimously.

Western offered graduate programs until the 1988-89 academic year. The decision was made by the college's board after the Colorado Commission on Higher Education directed them to do so in 1985.

Martin Hatcher was a professor during the time and a state senator from 1974-82. He said he fought hard to keep the graduate programs.

"It was a very political move," Hatcher said, adding that the college didn't have a president at the time and had a weak board. "They put one over on us."

He said that the past is the past and now it's time to look towards the future.

"This is a great day for us," he said. "It allows an opportunity to compete without one hand behind our back."

Western State President Jay Helman said the college's next step is to get accreditation by the North Central Association. The process should begin soon, he said, and could take up to 18 month. After that, he said, the first run will be in teacher education because it seems to be where the demand is at.

"We ask you this," Ritter said. "To invest and invest wisely. To go forward and put together graduate study programs that will make a difference in the kids' abilities when they graduate from here to compete, compete in this state and compete globally."