Article by Marcia Darnell
Higher Education – September 2003 – Colorado Central Magazine
SMALL STATE COLLEGES are separating from the mother beast and swimming off to morph or die on their own. What does this mean to the average Colorado resident? Probably nothing.
To the average Colorado legislator, however, it’ll mean a lot. A lot more lobbying, a lot more calls, a lot more at stake for those small schools, now trying to score funding and influence without Mama.
And all of these changes are taking place during a recession, when money is tight, services and staff are being cut, and everybody’s wearing a worried frown.
Here’s how it used to be: The Office of State Colleges was a sort of buffer between the state colleges and the state legislature. The OSC had a staff and a board that lobbied for and promoted Adams State, Western State, and Mesa State colleges. (Metro State pulled away from the tribe last year.) The OSC was abolished as of July 1 by an act of the state legislature and signed by Governor Bill Owens.
“It’s like taking out a layer of middle management,” says Julie Waechter, Director of External Affairs for Adams State College. She emphasizes that the schools “will not be independent from the state, we’ll be independent from each other.”
New Board
That independence means more work. Each school will have to form its own board and probably hire a lobbyist. On the up side, the OSC’s budget, $1.5 million, will be divided among the three schools. That half million should cover the extra expenses with, everyone hopes, a little left over.
“The increase in expenses is estimated to be between $300,000 to $400,000,” says Waechter.
Officials at ASC are optimistic about the change. Dr. Lee Halgren, ASC’s interim president, says it’ll be great to have a board “with one focus, Adams State College,” instead of a board with its focus on three colleges. “Hopefully, it’ll mean a lot more advocacy,” says Halgren, formerly head of the state college system.
ASC will have its own 11-member board, two members of whom have to come from the area, in this case, the six counties of the San Luis Valley plus Huerfano County. Board members are appointed by the governor, but he’ll listen to recommendations by ASC.
The college administration will have to orient the board, compile data and info for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, and work with the legislature.
However, this board will focus only on Adams State; there will be no compromise for the good of several colleges.
According to Halgren, the criterion for potential board members includes access to decision makers (the legislature or CCHE); access and knowledge of “financial enhancement” (read: money); and “worker bees,” people with time and energy for advocacy. Halgren said that quite often, unpaid lay people can be influential with the legislature because they’re donating their time. That sometimes speaks louder than someone who’s in it for a paycheck.
He predicts a greater presence of a governing board on campus. For one thing, meetings will be held at ASC five or six times a year, instead of once or twice. He said there will be no impact on student government, but says “their input is important and will be heard.”
One of that board’s first priorities will be finding a new college president. Dr. Halgren had planned to retire on June 30. He will stay until a replacement is in place, but has stepped out of contention for the permanent post.
Halgren sees only one drawback, that the new president, provost and CFO will be gone a lot, and their attendance at local events will be fewer. Other than that, he sees a rosy future for the school.
“I don’t think there will be any negative change,” he says. “I see Adams State coming out as a more focused, leaner institution that knows its strengths, weaknesses, and what its resources are.”
Unique Missions
Adams State College differs from the other state school in one critical area: its mission statement. As written by the state legislature, ASC is charged with “teacher education in rural Colorado” and required to “preserve and promote the culture and history of the region.” Adams State College is defined as the “regional education provider.”
This translates into a lot of unique programs provided by ASC. Among them is the Extended Studies program, which provides continuing education, or distance learning, on-site or on-line. Courses for credit, non-credit, or professional development are available.
REAP, the Rural Education Access Program, is in its third year. Students at community colleges in Trinidad, Lamar, or La Junta can complete an ASC bachelor’s degree in elementary education or business administration without leaving their community.
Another ASC program is the Lucero Project. It’s funded by appellate court judge Carlos Lucero and his wife, Dorothy, both alumni. It’s a mentoring program in which ASC students are employed to go to public elementary schools and help at-risk children.
Then there are the K-12 Partnerships. These various programs help local public schools. When some schools got computers through a Hewlett-Packard grant, ASC provided computer training to teachers and students. The Teaching American History Grant means teachers will receive intensive instruction (including field trips) in history, along with teaching materials and networking opportunities.
Thanks to the legislature’s special designation of Adams State, all of these programs should remain intact.
The Staff View
Dr. Guy Farish is the president of the Faculty Senate, in effect the Voice of the Teachers. He was recently elected to a second two-year term by the faculty.
“They are worried,” he says of his recession-whacked constituents. “They feel powerless in this political situation.”
He says that the faculty would have been fine with the separation in a normal budget year, but the combined changes are very worrisome.
“Independence is going to cost us money.”
As he sees it, each campus must now provide services that were done by the OSC. This means a duplication of effort by each campus. As to the projected financial figures, he says “I have no way of knowing for sure, but I have no reason to doubt those numbers.” He added that budget shortfalls have made everyone suspicious, but he believes those are due to the recession, not management.
The positive side to this, he says, is more direct communication with the board. There will be a faculty trustee on the board, same as before. However, as before, that trustee will be non-voting, which Farish calls “disappointing.” He hastens to add that the current board does listen to the trustees, and that the local representatives have “good rapport” with the faculty.
“We’re concerned but we’re all pulling together,” he said. “ASC will emerge from this stronger and leaner.” He says that the faculty, students and administration have “pulled together” due to the budget hardships.
Most teachers want to stay at the small school, he says.
“We’re here because we like it. We like to teach and we like to interface with our students.”
Students Speak
According to the student government, the student body isn’t concerned at all.
“Apathy runs rampant on this campus,” says Phil Lopez, president of the Associated Students and Faculty. “As long as things are running, they’re happy.”
The AS&F president is elected by the student body. A candidate must be a junior or senior with at least three years’ residency in Colorado.
As to the move toward independence, Lopez is confident.
“I felt the administration kept in close touch with the student government,” says the finance and economics major. “I think this administration is excellent. They’ve included us in every step of the process so far.”
Christopher Cross, junior and treasurer of AS&F, agrees that the change will be good.
The current board had to focus on all three colleges, so the benefit I see is that the new board will just focus on ASC,” he says.
AS&F sponsored “rumor boxes” last semester, along with public forums on the separation.
Opeyemi Daramola, the Colorado Student Association representative at ASC, says that there wasn’t a lot of input from the student body, but gossip ran amok, including rumors that the school was going out of business over winter break.
“People always listen to the negative things and propagate those,” says the junior science major. “Students were concerned at first about the budget cuts, but now they aren’t.
“I just hope it works.”
Looking Ahead
The mood at Adams State College seems positive, with students, faculty, staff, and the community optimistic about the separation from OSC.
That attitude includes hope for improved financial health. The recession meant staff cuts and a tuition hike last academic year, and most on campus hope that the new, improved budget will mean extra money for, well, extras.
Everyone interviewed agreed that a six-figure windfall would be nice. But how should that leftover money be spent?
Interim President Halgren says, “It should be used to strengthen programs and to alleviate cuts.”
Faculty representative Farish agrees with that goal. He added that budget shortfalls have made everyone suspicious, but believes those are due to the recession.
CSA rep Daramola says that any extra funds should be used to promote diversity and student-centered activities. AS&F treasurer Cross would like the administration to delegate priorities on a year-by-year basis.
With or without extra money, the change has evoked good feelings in students and workers alike. Independence, even with hardship, is welcome.
“This institution is alive and well,” Halgren says.
Marcia Darnell graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and appreciates the cultural events at Adams State College.
