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Metropolitan State
University of Denver

Former names	Metropolitan State College (1965–1990) Metropolitan State College of Denver (1990–2012)
Motto	Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Type	Public university
Established	1965
Academic affiliations	CUMU Space-grant
Endowment	US$19.5 million (FY2022)
President	Janine A. Davidson
Provost	Laura Niesen de Abruña
Total staff	2,848 (faculty, student, and non-academic staff as of Jan. 2022)
Students	17,505 (fall 2023)
Undergraduates	16,345 (fall 2023)
Postgraduates	1,160 (fall 2023)
Location	Denver, Colorado, U.S. 39°44′38″N 105°00′41″W / 39.7440°N 105.0115°W / 39.7440; -105.0115 (Metropolitan State University of Denver)
Campus	Urban,126 acres (51 ha)
Newspaper	The Metropolitan
Colors	Blue & red
Nickname	Roadrunners
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – Rocky Mountain
Mascot	Rowdy the Roadrunner
Website	msudenver.edu

Metropolitan State University of Denver (also known as MSU Denver) is a public university in Denver, Colorado. It is located on the Auraria Campus, along with the University of Colorado Denver and the Community College of Denver, in downtown Denver, adjacent to Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue. MSU Denver had an enrollment of 16,345 undergraduate students in the fall of 2023.

History

Metropolitan State University of Denver was founded in 1965 as an opportunity school. By design, MSU Denver is required to be accessible to all, which is why it consistently has some of the lowest tuitions of four-year Colorado colleges and universities. Nearly 54% of the student body are students of color.

MSU Denver was the first university to advocate for DREAMers to have a chance at higher education by providing in-state tuition rates under the ASSET bill, signed by then Gov. John Hickenlooper in the Jordan Student Success Building lobby. It made national headlines.

Campus

MSU Denver shares the Auraria campus with two other higher education institutions, the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver. The traditional main entrance to campus is Speer & Lawrence between the North and Science buildings.

The campus is located in the heart of the central business district and is in close proximity to Ball Arena, Elitch Gardens, the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Larimer Square, and the 16th Street Mall. The reclaimed Callie Maher brewery, which closed in 1969, now operates as the Tivoli Student Union, housing the Tivoli Brewing Company Taphouse and serving all 3 schools on campus.

Organization and administration

President

Janine Anne Davidson became president of MSU Denver on July 24, 2017.

Provost

Laura Niesen de Abruña was named provost effective January 25, 2024.

Board of trustees

On June 7, 2002, Governor Bill Owens signed House Bill 1165 – Concerning the Establishment of an Independent Governing Board for Metropolitan State College of Denver – and named his appointees to MSU Denver's board of trustees.

Student government

MSU Denver's student government operates under the name "The Student Advocacy Council" (TSAC).

Schools and centers

MSU Denver contains four colleges and two schools.

• College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering and Design
• College of Business
• College of Health and Human Sciences
• College Letters, Arts and Sciences
• School of Education
• School of Hospitality

Metropolitan State University of Denver is also home to a variety of projects, research centers, and institutes.

Accreditation

MSU Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Several programs and units are accredited by disciplinary-specific organizations, including:

• The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
• The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
• The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems programs are accredited by ABET.

University names

Colloquially referred to as Metro State, MSU Denver formally became a university on April 18, 2012.

Different names

• 1965–1990: Metropolitan State College
• 1990–2012: Metropolitan State College of Denver
• 2012–present: Metropolitan State University of Denver

Name change controversy

The then-Metropolitan State College of Denver Board of Trustees on March 9, 2011, approved a legislative proposal to change the institution's name to "Denver State University" following a vote among students and faculty.

University of Denver administration and faculty publicly objected to "Denver State University" as MSU Denver's new name. As a result of this, the board of trustees decided to cancel the planned name change. Some community members objected and viewed this change of plans as allowing a private university (University of Denver) to decide the fate of a public one (MSU Denver).

Student life

Greek life

The institution has various fraternity and sorority chapters.

Student media

The Office of Student Media supports four student media productions:

• The Metropolitan (newspaper)
• Met Radio – KMET
• Met TV
• Metrosphere

Additional Media

• Metro Post-Telegraph

Athletics

MSU Denver has produced 239 All-Americans and was one of the seven charter members of the Colorado Athletic Conference in 1989 before joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1996. MSU Denver competed as a NAIA member until 1983, when the Roadrunners jumped to the NCAA Division II ranks. Since 1998, MSU Denver has captured 32 regular season conference titles, 35 conference tournament championships, as well as the 2000 & 2002 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships and the 2004 and 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer national crowns.

• Basketball/Volleyball – Auraria Events Center
• Baseball/Soccer/Softball/Tennis – Regency Athletic Complex
• RMLC/MLCA Men's Lacrosse - Dick's Sporting Good Park

Camps and clinics

• MSU Denver Soccer Camps

Domestic relationships

• University of Arizona
• Adams State University, Colorado Mesa University, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, University of Colorado Denver, Western Colorado University
• Fort Hays State University
• Mount Saint Mary's University†‡
• Ohio State University
• University of Puerto Rico
• University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee‡
• University of Wyoming‡

† = private ‡ = London Consortium

International relationships

• China – Open University of China
• Ethiopia – Aksum University (AkU)
• Mexico – University of Guadalajara
• United Kingdom – University of London

Notable students

Individuals of note who have attended the institution include:

• David W. Ball
• Pam Grier

• Kat Cammack – U.S. Congressperson
• Brittany Pettersen – U.S. Congressperson
• David W. Ball – writer
• David Barlow – basketball player
• Michelle Beisner-Buck – reporter
• Richard T. Castro – activist
• Steven Emory – soccer player
• Mark Worthington – basketball player
• Pam Grier – actress
• Candi Kubeck – pilot
• Tony Laubach – Meteorologist and storm chaser featured on the Discovery Channel
• Joe Rice – legislator and mayor of Glendale
• Laura J. Richardson – US General
• Hayden Smith – rugby and football player
• Todd Schmitz – swimming coach
• Gary Striewski – journalist
• Gloria Tanner – Colorado state senator
• Benjamin Ortner – basketball player

See also

• List of colleges and universities in Colorado

References

1. "Member Schools". Colorado Space Grant Consortium. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
2. "Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation Annual Report 2021-22" (PDF). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
3. "Janine Davidson named next president of MSU Denver". MSU Denver. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
4. ^ "MSU Denver Institutional Research Student Profiles". Metropolitan State University of Denver.
5. "Auraria Higher Education Center" (PDF). December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 25, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
6. "About Us". www.msudenver.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
7. MSU Denver RED (2019-05-14). "New Colorado law extends state financial aid to Dreamers". MSU Denver RED. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
8. MSU Denver RED (2022-06-14). "Dreamers reflect on a decade of DACA". MSU Denver RED. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
9. Frosch, Dan (August 17, 2012). "A College Lifts a Hurdle for Illegal Immigrants". The New York Times.
10. Gillette, Hope (August 21, 2012). "Metropolitan State University sets the stage with policy for DREAMers". Voxxi.
11. "Metropolitan State University Of Denver Begins Special Tuition Rate For Undocumented Students Today". The Huffington Post. August 20, 2012.
12. Cotton, Anthony (August 3, 2012). "Metro State moving ahead with tuition plan for illegal immigrants". The Denver Post.
13. "Timeline". Tivoli Student Union. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
14. "Academic Affairs Provost". MSU Denver. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
15. "Budget Definitions of Terms" (PDF). Metropolitan State College of Denver. July 21, 2011. p. 3.
16. "Board of Trustees: Welcome". Metropolitan State College of Denver. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05.
17. "2023-2024 Councilors". MSU Denver Student Government - The Student Advocacy Council. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
18. "Masters, Majors, Minors, Concentrations and Licensures offered by MSU Denver". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
19. "Art at MSU Denver, CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION, CAREER PROSPECTS, DATA AND INSIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS, OUR PROGRAM OPTIONS". www.msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
20. "MSU Denver Computer Science Program Objectives & Outcomes". Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
21. "MSU Denver Computer Information Systems". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
22. "Metropolitan State University of Denver". Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
23. "Our History". MSU Denver. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
24. "Metro State Board of Trustees selects new name for the College". Metropolitan State College of Denver. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20.
25. McGhee, Tom (March 10, 2011). "Metro State votes to close book on name". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
26. Fowler, Donna (November 14, 2011). "Strategic Name Initiative: DSU off the table". This Week @ Metro. Metropolitan State College of Denver. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21.
27. Auge, Karen (November 18, 2011). "Metro State tests new names after "Denver State" idea gets booted". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
28. Auge, Karen (April 20, 2011). "University of Denver fears confusion over proposed Metro State name change". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
29. "12-1 Logan Show 5PM". 850 KOA. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
30. "12-2 Logan Show 6PM". 850 KOA. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
31. "Student Activities: Fraternities and Sororities". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
32. "Office of Student Media | Metropolitan State University of Denver". Metrostudentmedia.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
33. "The Metropolitan". Office of Student Media, Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
34. "Met Radio at MSU Denver". Metro Student Media. February 18, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
35. "The Met Report". Metro Student Media.
36. "Metrosphere: The Art & Literary Magazine of MSU Denver". Archived from the original on October 5, 2011.
37. Metro Post-Telegraph Staff (2017), "About", Metro Post-Telegraph, retrieved 1 March 2019
38. "Roadrunners Soccer Camps". Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
39. "Regional Partners". Retrieved April 1, 2016.
40. "2013 - Newsroom - MSU Denver". Retrieved April 1, 2016.
41. "MSU Denver Fast Track Admission". Fort Hays State University.
42. "Cooperative Agreement between Metropolitan State University of Denver and Fort Hays State University". Metropolitan State University of Denver. June 8, 2022.
43. "Welcome to mNET".
44. "Abstract: Project m-NET".
45. "Metro State enters community partnership to train teachers for high-need DPS classrooms". President's Message. Metropolitan State University of Denver. November 2011.
46. Foster, Cliff (August 13, 2012). "Trading talent: MSU Denver, University of Puerto Rico launch teacher exchange program". This Week@MSU Denver.
47. "AIFS Partnership - London Consortium". American Institute For Foreign Study.
48. "Confucius Institute Initiative". Metropolitan State College of Denver. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21.
49. "Introduction to Yunnan Open University". Archived from the original on 2011-09-05.
50. "Ethiopia Partnership: Aksum University". Metropolitan State University of Denver. June 8, 2022.
51. "Metropolitan State University of Denver". The Higher Learning Commission.
52. "Study-abroad opportunities continue to expand". This Week @Metro. November 19, 2003.
53. "London Semester". Metropolitan State University of Denver. June 8, 2022.
54. "MSU Denver Richard T. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professorship". Metropolitan State University of Denver.
55. Fields-Meyer, Thomas (May 27, 1996). "Fallen Captain". People. 45 (21).
56. Beaton, Gail M. (2012). Colorado Women: A History. University Press of Colorado. p. 345. ISBN 978-1457173820.

External links

• Official website
• Official Athletics website

v t e Metropolitan State University of Denver
Athletics	MSU Denver Roadrunners Men's Basketball Women's Soccer
Life	The Metropolitan
Campus	Auraria Library Ninth Street Historic District Tivoli Student Union

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• Colorado

• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Auraria Campus
• Universities and colleges in Denver
• Public universities and colleges in Colorado
• Educational institutions established in 1965
• 1965 establishments in Colorado
• Aviation schools in the United States