President Larry Edward Penley Highlights Colorado State University’s Contributions to State’s Economy During State-Of-The-University Address

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Colorado State University and the students it graduates continue to play a key role in the growth of the Northern Colorado economy; a mission bolstered by a reorganization of the university that included the creation of a new Office of Economic Development and an infusion of state funding made possible by the passage of Referendum C, Colorado State President Larry Edward Penley said Wednesday during his annual state-of-the-university address to the Fort Collins community.

Penley recounted highlights of the past academic year that included the largest private gift ever bestowed on Colorado State – $30 million for the Warner College of Natural Resources – the launch of a new strategic plan and administrative reorganization, the creation of the new Institute for Teaching and Learning to help faculty add new learning strategies and technology to their teaching, and a list of international agreements that will bolster the university’s research potential.

"We cannot talk about the future hope of Northern Colorado without talking about the future of Colorado State University," Penley during his speech to the Fort Collins Rotary Club.

The fundamentals that drive economic prosperity are investment in human capital through quality education and sustainable sources of research, Penley said. Colorado State’s mission as a research university increases job growth and economic prosperity in the Northern Colorado region, he said, noting Colorado State graduates more undergraduate students in science, technology, math and engineering than any other Colorado university. He called on the region’s companies to continue the economic cycle by hiring Colorado State graduates.

"Colorado State University is playing a critical role in the quality of our labor supply in Colorado," Penley said.

Penley also turned an eye toward the future while discussing the state of the university. Because of the passage of Referendum C last fall and work by Colorado’s governor and Legislature, Colorado State has received positive news about the budget for the next fiscal year. Penley said Colorado State will be able to hire several new faculty members, the first time since 1991 there will be a net gain of faculty over the previous year.

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