CU Prez Opposed To Metro State Name Change

Head Buffalo hates Metro's new name

From: Daily Camera

by Brittnay Anas

University of Colorado President Bruce Benson isn't keen on Metro State's bid to change its name to Metropolitan State University of Denver, telling the Board of Regents in an e-mail that "it's mostly window dressing" and isn't an accurate name for the school.

The Jan. 13 e-mail, obtained by the Camera through an open-records request, preceded the introduction of state legislation seeking to officially change Metropolitan State College of Denver's name. But CU never actually took a public stance on the bill.

SB 12-148, the Metro State name-change bill, won approval from the full Senate in late February and must now clear the House before being sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper for his signature.

"We are not in any way lobbying that bill," CU system spokesman Ken McConnellogue said Tuesday.

Benson, in the e-mail to regents, said the university had some serious concerns about the name change, including brand confusion with CU-Denver, which shares the Auraria Campus with Metro State. Benson is the former chairman of Metro's Board of Trustees.

"I have long thought that it is bad public policy to engage in the kind of mission creep they have with the addition of graduate programs, particularly at a modified open enrollment institution with a six-year graduation rate of just 20.5 percent," Benson wrote in the e-mail. "Changing their name to a university not only creates brand confusion, it does not accurately reflect the kind of institution it is. It's mostly window dressing. I would say this even if I were still wearing my Metro hat."

At the time, Benson said that, if asked, he intended to say he personally opposed Metro's name change.

Officials from Metro have lobbied for the name change, saying there is confusion over whether the institution is a four-year college or a community college, which affects employers and job seekers. School leaders say the name change will increase the value of degrees awarded by Metro, which offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.

Metro State and the University of Denver -- which originally had opposed the name change -- now have a "co-existence agreement" about the use of the proposed name, which state Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, helped draft. In exchange, DU has promised not to interfere with Metro's legislative efforts to change its name.

Metro State Board Votes On New Name

From: Channel 9

DENVER - The board of trustees votes 6 to 3 to change the name of Metropolitan State College of Denver to Metropolitan State University of Denver on Thursday, but the process it not done yet.

In a public meeting attended by about 50 people, the three-year-long process came to a close - at least on the board of trustees' part.

The name change still has to be approved by the legislature. According to the board, the proposed name change will be introduced int he senate education committee next week. If approved by the Senate, it will then move to the House.

Metro officials hope the name change will be official by June, which means logo and sign changes will have to be ready by the 2012-2013 school year.

The name is a compromise from the original name change proposal University of Denver does not plan to take any legal action against this new name proposal.

Not So Fast Metro - DU Owns "Denver"

Our friends Downtown with the massive inferiority complex and pockets full of taxpayer money want to change their name from "Metro State." What to do, what to do?

After they tried to poach DU's identity with the moniker "Denver State University," the Colorado Legislature firmly told them, "Not on our watch."

Unbelievably, Metro's brain trust went back to the drawing board & came back with three of the most stupid names in US higher education history; Denver Metropolitan State University, Denver State Metropolitan University or Metropolitan Denver State University.

Here's the dealio. Either stick with "Metro State" or come up with something original.  DU may be taking the lead on opposing the name change, but rumor has it that CU & CSU are quietly working behind the scenes to scuttle Metro's name change as well.

Denver Post: Metro Won't Steal DU's Brand

(above) LetsGoDU objected to Metro State's proposed name change earlier this year

145 LetsGoDU Comments About Proposed Name Change

From: Denver Post
by Karen Auge

Whatever they decide to call Metropolitan State College of Denver in the future, we now know one thing: it won't be "Denver State University."

"We have been given a very clear message from the legislature that we need to propose a different name," university President Stephen Jordan said in a statement this week.

Last spring, after a round of consulting with marketing specialists, and community leaders, and surveying students, Metro leaders chose Denver State as the school's new name (read entire article).

Denv....err....Metro State Jacks Up Tuition 22%

Remember last month when Metro State's branding consultants tried to rip off DU's name and reputation by calling the school Denver State University? Well it turns out that massive tuition hikes were on the way and Metro's president wanted to mask the bad news.

According to the Denver Post, tuition for in-state students at Metropolitan State College of Denver will jump 22.6 percent this fall. The board of trustees for Metro State voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the increase, which will cost students almost $800 more a year.

Other Front Range colleges are contemplating steep tuition increases as well. Colorado State University will vote this month to boost tuition by 20 percent. The University of Northern Colorado is considering a 15 percent hike.

Metro State will cut 30 administrative positions this year, but Jordan fears further cuts next year will mean cutting degree programs too.

If those projections don't change, Metro State will ask for another 13 percent tuition hike next year, Jordan said.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

Matt Carle is the lone DU Alum alive in the NHL playoffs now that Philadelphia has advanced to the 2nd Round.  Carle led all NHL defensemen in even-strength points during the regular season.  He's quietly establishing himself as one of the better defensemen in the league.

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Two DU recruits are still alive in the USHL Semi-Finals that kick off on Friday night.  Josiah Didier plays for Cedar Rapids and Daniel Doremus plays for Sioux Falls.  There is a possibility that they could face each other in the finals as their teams are on opposite sides of the bracket.

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Mesa State College trustees voted to change their name to Colorado Mesa University if the Colorado state legislature gives its approval. The college has budgeted $400,000 to make the name change on everything from letterheads to signs.  Metro State last week suspended its plans to rename itself Denver State University after DU objected.

Denver Post Editorial Rips Metro's Name Change

(above) Metro State's name change debate is questioned by the Denver Post's Editorial staff

From: Denver Post
by Denver Post Editorial Board

We're glad to see a pause in the quest to rename Metropolitan State College of Denver the reprieve coming out of concern that the proposed new name would cause confusion with another institution.

During the year-long delay, we hope officials at Metro can better explain to the public and state lawmakers why a name change is necessary.

And they'll need to resolve legitimate concerns raised by the University of Denver that the proposed new name — Denver State University — would step on DU's franchise.

Furthermore, we're still concerned that one of the underlying motivations for the name change, which requires legislative approval, involves mission creep [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

Team USA, including DU recruit Zac Larraza, will play Canada today in the semi-finals of the World Under-18 Championships on Saturday at 10:30 AM. Live Updates and online Webcast can be found on the USA Hockey Site.

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More Metro State name change coverage in the Denver Post.  Metro sensed they lacked needed votes in the legislature and Metro's President claimed that they often get the short end of the stick compared to other institutions in Colorado.

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DU's recent run of success in lacrosse and women's golf continued with the women's tennis team pulling an upset in the Sunbelt Tournament.  It took nearly six hours, but the University of Denver women's tennis team, the No. 7 seed, upset second-seeded Louisiana-Monroe in the quarterfinal.

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#5 ranked DU Lacrosse faces Bellarmine today in Louisville, Kentucky at 11:00 AM MT.  You can follow the Live Chat and Stats at DenverPioneers.com.  The DU Men's Lacrosse Blog has lots of interesting articles and stories about the team and its players.

Behind The Scenes Of Metro vs. DU Name Battle

(above) Lots of dirty laundry in the 23 pages of documents between DU & Metro

 Metro Trustees' Memos Detail Name Change

Some very interesting documents are available online for all to read.

The papers include legal letters, correspondence between Chancellor Coombe and Metro's President Jordan, documentation of DU's concerns and all sorts of interesting tidbits.

l.

Metro Trustees Back Down After Coombe Threat

(above) Bob "Bad Ass" Coombe, seen here in his battle garb, gave the Metro State Trustees a taste of DU's vaunted legal team this week

From: Denver Post

by Karen Auge

Metropolitan State College of Denver trustees today voted to postpone plans to rename the school Denver State University.

The unanimous vote came in response to claims by the University of Denver that the switch could create confusion and muddy the private school's long-standing brand identity.

Legislation that would have allowed Metro and Mesa State in Grand Junction to change their names was to be introduced by Sen. Michael Johnston next week. The trustees have decided to delay that introduction until the 2012 legislative session [read entire article].

Denver Post: DU Warns Metro Of Legal Battle

(above) Chancellor Coombe comes out swinging today in the Denver Post against the proposed name change at Metro State

From: Denver Post

by Karen Auge

Metropolitan State College of Denver trustees and students may think Denver State University is a great new name for their school, but leaders of the University of Denver say the change could create confusion and muddy the private school's long-standing identity.

In a letter this week to the Colorado legislature — which must authorize the name change — DU attorneys said university officials "strongly oppose" Metro State becoming Denver State.

"The change would interfere with Denver University's essential communication with its many constituents," chancellor Robert Coombe wrote to lawmakers Monday. [read entire article]

Metro State Proposed Name Change Schedule

Metro State Lobbying Dates & Times at the Capitol on the proposed name change to Denver State University. **** Scratch that-Metro has tabled the Bill until 2012 ****

Wed 4/20 Metro

Thurs 4/21 State

Mon 4/25 Gives

Tues 4/26 Up

Westword Names DG "Commenter Of The Day"

(above) Click on photo to see Westword

My fame has reached dizzying new heights. :-)
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Metro State Name Change Causes Uproar

Last week the Metropolitan State College of Denver Board of Trustees voted 5-2 to pursue legislative authority to change the institution's name to "Denver State University."

This decision has been very unpopular with University of Denver students and alumni, who felt that the name is too similar to the University of Denver and "Denver University" which it is often referred to in the media and out of state.

A majority of Metro State students wanted to keep "Metro" in their name to acknowledge the history of the institution, but their votes were ignored.  

As of yet no word from University of Denver officials about their position on the subject.  An Email to the Chancellor, Provost and Faculty Senate Representative went unanswered. The DU Alumni Office sent out an auto reply, "Your request is being handled by a DU alumni relations staff member."

1. The bill to change the name officially was sponsored by Colorado State Senator Michael Johnson (D) and Representative Chrisanta Duran (D).

2. The Bill will be assigned to a committee in either the House or Senate.

3. If the committee approves the Bill, it goes to the floor for reading and discussion. There are three readings. If it then passes, it goes to the other chamber and the process is repeated.

4. If both the Senate and House vote approval it goes to the Governor for signature or rejection.

5. This entire process usually takes several months.

The best time to weigh in is during the committee hearings in both houses. You can sign up and speak at that time. After the bill gets to the floor, only Representatives and Senators can speak on the merits of the bill.

Metro State Scumbags Trying To Steal Our Name

(above) Bring your G.E.D. and a state issued ID and you too can enroll at Metro State

Contact DU About Metro State Name Change

Office of Alumni Relations: alumni@du.edu

DU Today: dutoday@du.edu

Daniels College of Business Alumni Relations: mona.spitz@du.edu

The Chancellor's Office: chancellor@du.edu

The Provost: gkvistad@du.edu

The Faculty Senate Representative: dmccubbr@du.edu

The Clarion: du.clarion@du.edu

From: Channel 9 News

The board of trustees for Metropolitan State College of Denver has decided on a new name.

Metro State will take on the moniker Denver State University, as long as the Colorado State Legislature approves the measure.

The school says DSU will be a better fit for the institution, reflecting the school's quality and size.

The change is the result of a yearlong process of researching the current perceptions of its name and what benefits it could possibly see from a change.

In February, the school tested three names: Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Central Colorado and Denver State University.

A branding firm studied the name last spring and concluded that Metro State's current name didn't reflect its "quality, size and complex offerings," the school said. The school's president, Stephen Jordan, said in a February news release the school is concerned that the report showed some could view a name change as a shift in its mission. He says the school is committed to "affordability, accessibility and high-quality education."