Opinion by Dr. David Svaldi, President

The lowest admission index (a combination of test scores and G.P.A.) among Adams State University freshmen last fall belonged to a young man with a high school G.P.A. of 1.4. However, he'd just completed military service and was determined to make the best use of his G.I. Bill education benefits. He completed his first year of college with a 4.0.

As a moderately selective university that values educational access, we sometimes walk a fine line in admission decisions. It's unfair to admit students with a minimal chance of success, especially if they will incur debt. But test scores can't reveal a person's motivation or sense of responsibility.

Who owns college students' non-success? Nationally, a significant number of first-year college students are no-shows for their sophomore year. Some transfer and enroll at another institution, but others flunk or drop out. President Obama has threatened institutions with high drop-out rates and low completion numbers with the loss of federal Title IV Financial Aid. Indeed, it is a bipartisan activity for various government officials to rue falling retention and graduation rates, along with growing student debt, all vowing to hold institutions accountable.

Since it is much less expensive to retain college students than to go out and recruit an entirely new class, there is really no motive for any legitimate public or private institution to intentionally drive students away. Perhaps some of our business practices may unintentionally do so (like requiring payment for last term's classes before registering for the next term).

While I agree there have been some abuses within the for-profit (and public) higher education sector, I must ask: where is the real responsibility for college student nonperformance? Eighteen-year-olds legally are considered to be adults; they're old enough to vote and serve in the military. Why are they not held accountable for their academic nonperformance? They enrolled, applied for financial aid, signed up for loans, presumably attended some classes, enough to understand course requirements, but some - more than any of us would prefer - fail and drop out.

Too many new college students have not truly addressed why they are going to college or university - they are there because it is expected, or because their friends are going, or because they don't know what else to do. The government should remember we are all responsible for our own behavior, instead of targeting the "young folk's homes" to which these unmotivated youths flock and then fail.

After 41 years in this business at five different institutions ranging from highly selective to open enrollment institutions, I know that ultimately students can and do succeed - some in spite of daunting barriers - if they are determined and internally motivated.

Students who thrive and succeed should be celebrated; those who fail should be held responsible for their own outcomes.

Dr. Gary Peer thought he was out of the limelight once he concluded his speech at Adams State University's spring Commencement, May 11. But he was surprised at the subsequent luncheon with a very special honor: a Great Story on Walls in Halls.

The Adams State University Foundation created the "Great Stories on Walls in Halls" as a way to honor loved ones or alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university. Adams State President David Svaldi claims Peer as a very important mentor and friend who encouraged him to pursue an administrative role at Adams State. Svaldi's wife, Virginia, previously worked as Peer's administrative assistant.

"It is not always possible for us to give public recognition to someone who has served a pivotal role for us in growing our aspiration and achievement," Svaldi said. "For me, Dr. Gary Peer is that person. We want to let him know how much he means to us."

The "Great Story" plaque reads in part:

"Dr. Peer will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, commitment to students and teaching, and his knowledge of Mark Twain. In Twain's words: 'Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.' Dr. Peer is a sunny spirit."

Peer served Adams State for a dozen years in senior level administrative positions, including Vice President for Academic Affairs and acting President. Adams State's academic accomplishments during Peer's tenure include three Program of Excellence awards from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Currently, he is interim Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University.

"This is capping a very special weekend for Bev [his wife] and me," Peer said. "This was a very, very nice thing for you to do. It touches me and Bev very deeply. We had twelve sweet, special years here, not just because of the mountains, but because you and so many others were such a joy to work with."

Peer's "Great Story" was dedicated through gifts from Dr. David and Virginia Svaldi, Dr. Ed Crowther, Connie Spencer, Dr. Don Basse, and the Adams State Department of History/Government/Philosophy.

The Foundation accepts a minimum donation of $5,000 to dedicate a Great Story with a framed photograph and plaque, which is then hung in the Student Union Building. Previous "Great Story" honorees include Dr. Robert Pollard '61, John Spencer '62, Rick Spier '88, '91, Dr. John Turano, and Johnny L. and Electra (Watson) Wilson.

"The top priority of Adams State University is to make education accessible, which means keeping it affordable," said President David Svaldi in announcing the SLV Promise Award, which will cover full tuition and fees for qualified students.

The award will be available to qualified graduates of all high schools in the San Luis Valley, as well as Buena Vista, Salida, Walsenberg, La Veta, and Pagosa Springs. It applies to continuing Adams State students, as well as incoming freshmen.

To be eligible, students must have a minimum Admissions Index of 80 and qualify for a full federal Pell Grant, with Zero Expected Family Contribution. The SLV Promise Award guarantees all qualified low-income students from the San Luis Valley region will receive sufficient financial aid -- grants, not loans -- to cover the entire cost of their tuition and fees, plus $1,350 for incidental educational expenses, beginning with the regular 2013-14 academic year

The SLV Promise Award will use institutional funds to supplement students' Pell and Colorado Student Grant awards. Bill Mansheim, Adams State vice president for Finance and Governmental Relations, noted the university awards a total of $5 million in institutional aid annually.

Svaldi explained college and university tuition across the country has increased in recent years, to compensate for state funding cuts. The situation was compounded last year by stricter eligibility policies for federal financial aid. Last year, 150 Adams State students lost all Pell grant eligibility.

"Aid is being reduced, while tuition goes up, negatively impacting low and middle-income students," Svaldi said. "For example, a few years ago, a local student who lived at home could pay their entire Adams State tuition and fees if they qualified for the full Pell grant. Next year, the full Pell award will be almost $2,000 short of covering that expense. And because of changes in eligibility, fewer students qualify for the full Pell grant. The SLV Promise Award was designed to fill that gap for the most needy students in Adams State's core service area."

Over the last four years, state budget cuts have reduced Adams State's operating funds by 25 percent - roughly $3.5 million. In addition, Colorado student financial aid dropped by 21 percent since 2008.

About one-third of all Adams State undergraduates are from the San Luis Valley region, noted Dr. Michael Mumper, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Program Development. The average family adjusted gross income for all Adams State undergraduates is $24,000, and 37 percent of all students are the first generation in their families to attend college.

"Among Hispanic students, nearly half are first generation college students," Mumper said. Hispanic students make up 32 percent of the student body.

One first-generation student who will benefit from the SLV Promise Award is Eric Velasquez, a freshman engineering major from Garcia, Colo. "This will help a lot. Even though I am low income and received other scholarships, I still had to take a loan to cover this year's costs."

Alamosa High School senior Gaspar Lucas is also looking forward to receiving the award. He hopes to major in biology or chemistry at Adams State next year, and eventually pursue a medical career.

SLV Promise Award Criteria

To qualify, new and continuing students must:

• Be eligible for full Pell Grant: FASFA shows an Expected Family Contribution of Zero
• Have an admission index of 80 - Adams State's assigned admission index
  An 80 Index Score is equivalent to a 2.4 high school GPA combined with a 19 ACT or 900 composite SAT score. Lower ACT/SAT scores can be combined with higher GPAs in order to reach an 80 Index Score, and vice versa.
• Have been admitted to ASU and be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (2.0 GPA & 75% completion)
• Complete their FAFSA by June 1
• Register for full-time fall classes by July 1
• Be a graduate of one of the 24 SLV-region high schools:
  Alamosa High School
  Alamosa Open High School
  Antonito High School
  Byron Syring Delta Center
  Centauri High School
  Centennial High School
  Center High School
  Creede High School
  Crestone Charter School
  Del Norte High School
  Horizons Exploratory Academy
  Moffat High School
  Monte Vista High School
  Mountain Valley High School
  Sanford High School
  Sangre de Cristo
  Sargent High School
  Sierra Grande High School
  John Mall High School
  La Veta High School
  Pagosa Springs High School
  Buena Vista High School
  Chaffee County High School
  Salida High School
  

The Board of Trustees for Adams State University  unanimously voted to endorse Senate Bill 33, which would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Colorado institutions of higher education. It is also known as the ASSET Bill, "Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow."The Board held a special meeting Feb. 15 to consider the bill.

"Passage of this bill will give more students the opportunity to earn a college degree. It will also help Adams State advance its mission of providing educational access to underserved populations," said Dr. David Svaldi, president of Adams State University.

Trustee Val Vigil, of Thornton, said, "I've been fighting for this issue for ten years, and was the first to introduce it to the state senate." Vigil served in the state legislature from 1999-2006.

"This is the right thing to do, and it will be beneficial to Adams State," added Trustee LeRoy Salazar, of Manassa. ASSET (SB 33) will allow undocumented students in Colorado to pay-in state tuition if they have attended at least three years of high school in Colorado, graduated from a public or private high school in Colorado, or obtain a general equivalency diploma (GED). The student must also apply and be admitted to a Colorado institution of higher education.

One of the bill's sponsors in the Colorado House of Representatives is Ed Vigil of District 62, which includes Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.

Opinion by Dr. David Svaldi, President

I've written about the need for continuing support for higher education and, in particular, support for first-generation students. But it is also true that college students must take responsibility for their own education. Every year a majority of entering freshmen across the country indicate they aspire to be medical doctors or lawyers. Yet, one third of all college freshmen never complete a degree. In fact, the success of four-year degree completion is now measured by the percentage of students who complete in six years!

While Frosh might say they wish to be a lawyer or a medical doctor, in fact the most popular major is "uncommitted" or "no major declared." Our institutions must take some of the blame for not pushing students to choose, but the students themselves (and their parents) also have responsibility to make a decision. Back in the day, it was acceptable to take time to "find yourself." Going to college was the start of a journey in which students might take courses in many different disciplines and then, at some point, make a choice regarding a career focus. "Finding yourself" was not about job preparation, but about developing a critically thinking individual and citizen in a thoughtful and educated manner.

I started at a community college, first thinking that medical school might be in my future, but my experience as an orderly at our local hospital ( as well as some tough biology courses) convinced me that a career path following in the steps of Clarence Darrow might be less icky and more interesting. But my first semester GPA, while above average, was probably indicative that law school was not in my future. Fortunately for me, I found a professor who took the time to dissect my writing. I took all of his political science and government courses and soon became used to receiving back papers with red ink all over them. He taught me to think and to understand the importance of evidence in argument. If there is a reason I hold a Ph.D., it is that I learned to write effectively-not necessarily the undergraduate degree I earned. Eventually, I transferred to a large university where I majored in philosophy. But when every attempt I made to contact my advisor failed, (not to mention a course I took in metaphysics where I battled to a successful "C" but never really understood the intent of the course), I transferred again to a smaller university. I changed my major to English with a double major in speech and graduated with a BA and a teaching license 41/2 years after entering college. Throughout my journey, I was fortunate to attend public institutions where most of the costs of my education were borne by public subsidy. Tuition was modest, and I believe my loan total for 4 1/2 years was $4,000.

But things have changed. Now students at public higher education institutions pay about two-thirds the cost and graduate (if they do) with a debt load averaging $22,000. Market forces would seem to incent students to focus on a career path and to complete as quickly as possible. (I don't necessarily think that a college education is only about a "job," but that is a topic for another time). At my institution I see some students who figure this out, take full loads, study, and graduate in four years with little debt; but I also see some students who never complete, earn low GPA's, and end up with a debt burden they may never repay. Not all are poorly prepared, but they seem to lack motivation to work hard and focus. I have no answer as to how to solve this problem for these students. There is not a measure of motivation embedded in admission scores. Some low scoring students succeed and thrive in spite of what their ACT or SAT score says; some high school stars never make the transition and never graduate. As a society, we can no longer afford to pay for students to "find themselves."

Anyway, I'm still looking -- this quest isn't necessarily completed during the college years.

Gov. John Hickenlooper recently announced appointments to the Board of Trustees for Adams State University. Paul Farley, a Republican from Centennial, was named a new trustee, while Mary K. Griffin, a Democrat from Boulder, was reappointed to a second term. She holds the position of vice chair of the board.

They will both serve four-year terms, expiring Dec. 31, 2016. The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The Board makes policy for the school and oversees its operations.

Adams State President David Svaldi said, "I look forward to continuing to work with Trustee Griffin and very much appreciate her years of service and commitment to Adams State. Mr. Farley will be a great asset to the ASU Board of Trustees. He brings legal expertise and many years of experience serving in a variety of roles in Colorado State Government."

Since 2006, Farley has been an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney's Office in Denver.

"This is an exciting time to be joining the Adams State community. The growth of its academic mission, ongoing campus improvements, and its unique role in the educational, economic, and cultural development of southeastern Colorado are both important and challenging," Farley said. "I am grateful to the Governor for giving me the opportunity to serve, and I am looking forward to contributing to the continuing - and greater - success of the university."

Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Farley served for five years as the Deputy Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, where he was the chief operating officer of the cabinet department responsible for the state civil service system, facilities, real estate, and archives, as well as business services ranging from telecommunications and computing to financial accounting, purchasing, insurance, and risk management.

From 1991 to 1999, he served as Colorado Deputy Attorney General, where he was responsible for the representation of a dozen cabinet departments, including education, higher education, human services, and labor, and the administration of the state peace officer certification program.

From 2002 to 2012, Gov. Owens appointed and Gov. Ritter reappointed Farley to the State Judicial Performance Commission, where he served as chair for the last six years. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Denver College of Law.

Griffin is a fifth generation Coloradan who has long been active in state and local politics. Having spent the last 13 years of her career in human resources in the high-tech sector along Colorado's Front Range, she now operates her own human resources consulting firm, Griffin and Associates.

"Adams State has just been through a period of unprecedented growth, but many challenges lie ahead," Griffin said. "I look forward to working with our very talented and committed students, faculty, and staff as we meet those challenges and as we continue to contribute to life in the San Luis Valley and to higher education in Colorado."

She earned a B.A. in history from University of Colorado in 1992, followed by a Juris Doctor from University of Colorado School of Law in 1996. She also holds certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Society for Human Resource Management/Human Resources.

Commencement organizers are often concerned with limiting the speakers to 5 or 10 minutes, to more quickly get to the main event: awarding degrees.

But the audience hung onto every inspiring word of Zoila Gomez, Adams State Class of 2004, who spoke from the podium for over 20 minutes about her journey from a small Mexican mining town, to the ranks of the world's top marathon runners. She was rewarded with a standing ovation.

Adams State University then launched 155 graduates onto the next phase of their lives at fall commencement, Dec. 15. Mary Griffin, vice chair of the Adams State Board of Trustees, reviewed several achievements of the past year, not the least of which was becoming a university.

Introducing Gomez, Adam State President David Svaldi said, "Today's speaker epitomizes many values of Adams State University: hard work, perseverance, self-discipline, and faith. She epitomizes the tradition of success established by our distance runners. She also lives the philosophy of 'paying it forward' and is an exemplary role model and mentor to youth in our community. Hers is a classic Adams State Great Story."

As Gomez put it, "My story, like so many American stories, is an immigrant story. I came to this country for a better life and for the chance to help my family."

The second youngest of 16 children whose father died when she was six, Gomez immigrated to California in 1996, when she was 16. Her main objectives at the time were to learn English and to enter college. But another path was revealed to her when she ran - and won - her first 5K.

She recalled the empowerment running conferred. "I couldn't express myself in English, and, in many ways, my performance on the track or cross-country course became my way of compensating for this linguistic shortcoming. . . . It really is fair to say that my experiences as a high school cross- country and track team member served as an access point, a window into the American culture."

When her Costa Mesa High School team won its first cross-country team title, "this was one of my first lessons regarding the fact that running is not just about the times you run, the places you go, the titles or awards you win, it is about the all the vivid memories and the true friendships you make. Which leads me to one of my most favorite quotes nowadays: 'Success is a journey, not a destination.'"

Adams State was an important stop on her journey, one where she learned adversity has its own lessons. "During my junior year . . . I got injured. I remember clearly one day when I sat on the floor of Coach Martin's office. I leaned against his desk. I cried for a good while. I told him, I'm sorry coach. I feel so bad. You gave me a scholarship so I could run for Adams State, but I'm not giving back, I'm not even running," Gomez said. "Coach Martin put his hand on my shoulder. He let me cry. He knew I needed to release the tension I was feeling, the frustration, but when I looked into his face through the blurred vision of my tears, I saw a person who believed in me. I saw a person who considered me to be a valuable asset to the team. I saw person who believed I was going to overcome this period of difficulty, that I in time would continue to succeed."

Martin's intuition was right on target. Gomez's stellar collegiate running resume was crowned by the 2004 NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year designation, presented at the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. Gomez had another great success in 2004: she became her family's first college graduate.

The following year, Gomez earned her U.S. citizenship and finished second among American women in the 2005 New York City Marathon, her first. She finished fourth in the 2008 Olympic marathon trials and represented the United States in three World Championships - Japan in 2007, Berlin in 2009, and Korea in 2011.

But she cautioned, "Things could have turned out differently for me. . . . One of the reasons I was able to keep going was because of mentors and coaches like Dave Fier (Orange Coast College) and Damon Martin. I would not be standing here today if it were not for these two men and other people like them."

She emphasized her main point regarding success, "We need to stop fixating simply on ability and stop treating success like it is inevitable. It is, instead, a unique combination of ability, obsession, a supportive social network of loved ones, unique opportunity, and work ethic. Let me say that last one again, work ethic. In the case of distance running, we are talking about mileage, and there is no shortcut to mileage. . . . This goes for other aspects of life. With academics, you either concentrated during the lecture and took notes, you either studied diligently and learned and understood the material, or you did not."

In conclusion, Gomez said, "I have always believed that it is important to run for something greater than myself. I became a runner somewhat on accident, but once I got into the sport, I became obsessed. . . . I found the energy and stamina I needed to keep going, to carry on, to keep running, despite injury, despite setback, when I realized that my efforts, both as a runner and as a college graduate, could help others. I believe we are here on this earth to help others, to find our abilities and actualize our potential, and we only truly succeed when we help others."

Adams State University was listed among the top 120 Western regional universities in the U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges rankings, released Wednesday. Adams State was listed among the second-tier colleges in the 13-state West region.

"We are very pleased to be named one of U.S. News's best colleges in the west," said Dr. David Svaldi, president of Adams State University. "Adams State is steadily building a reputation for great undergraduate instruction in a supportive academic setting. We've seen enrollment growth, campus improvements, and expansion of our academic and athletic programs."

The second-tier colleges are not ranked numerically, but listed alphabetically. Regional universities are those schools that offer a full-range of undergraduate programs, some master's programs and a few doctoral programs.

U.S. News annually ranks the nation's best colleges and universities based on a number of factors, starting with the institution's mission and including 16 indicators of academic excellence, such as freshman retention, graduation rates, and the strength of the faculty. The rankings are designed to allow comparison of the relative quality of institutions.

The top-ranked regional university in the West was Trinity University in Texas, followed by California's Santa Clara University and Loyola Marymount University.

Adams State University's fall enrollment is just six students short of tying last year's all-time record. The total student headcount of 3,724 includes 843 graduate students, according to Dr. Michael Mumper, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Program Development.

"We are pleased to report our second highest enrollment ever," Mumper said. "Although our freshman class is somewhat smaller, we increased continuing students and graduate students. We lost some undergraduates due to changes in financial aid, but had gains from our growing NCAA athletics programs."

Graduate enrollment hit another high and is up 2.5 percent over last year, nearly offsetting an undergraduate decrease of under 1 percent, Mumper noted. The 2012 freshman class totals 525 this year, compared to last year's 579, which was the largest freshman class in Adams State's history.

Mumper explained the university has become more competitive in recruiting top students and is able to award more merit-based institutional scholarships. Adams State is simultaneously decreasing admission of significantly underprepared students who have a lower chance of succeeding.

The largest undergraduate major is business administration, with 392 students, followed by nursing, with 187. Other programs reflecting growth this fall include chemistry, earth sciences, history/government/philosophy, math, physics, psychology, and sociology.

Graduate program growth is led by Counselor Education, which increased 12 percent to 482 students, most of whom are enrolled online. The Master's of Business Administration program, also offered online, now numbers 81 students, an increase of 22 percent over last year.

Adams State's undergraduate student body is almost 32 percent Hispanic, with an additional 15.5 percent of students identifying as members of other ethnic/racial minority groups. Female students account for 52 percent of the undergraduate student body - similar to national trends.

Opinion by Dr. David Svaldi, President, Adams State University

As the fall election gathers steam, we hear various candidates' plans for saving America. There is no doubt that the Federal Government's budget "has issues." It may be that all of the things we used to be able to afford as a country of a mere 200 million Americans are no longer affordable in a country of 313 million. But as the candidates float trial balloons for what is affordable based upon their personal philosophies, let's consider what the country should invest in for a better, brighter future for all citizens.

Obviously, the ax I am going to grind is my own ax: the importance of investing in higher education students. I will narrow that to support for the lowest income and first-generation students, those who are being steadily priced out of the higher education market.

As states have reduced support for public colleges and universities, public institutions have had to make up the difference with higher tuition. Just a few years ago, Colorado subsidized approximately two-thirds of each student's cost, while the student was responsible for the remaining one-third, either through direct payment or through financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and subsidized loans. Today this ratio has flipped, with students and families responsible for two-thirds of the cost and the state supporting only about one-third. To compound the problem, state and federal need-based financial aid is being reduced, while colleges and universities increase tuition to make up for state cuts.

But college is still affordable for higher income students. Historically, 70 percent of students in the upper income quartile complete a four-year degree. So the so-called 1% will be OK. However, capable students in the lowest income bracket face a greater challenge. The degree completion rate for them is only about 10 percent. There is no doubt that completion numbers will drop as the price continues to climb. Why should we care?

In the '80s, President Reagan stated that the American Dream was possible for anyone, as long as they were willing to pay for it. Of course, we are all responsible for ourselves. But this does not mean we have no responsibility to others or to the future.

When America's "Greatest Generation" returned from WWII, having endured incredible challenges, the original GI Bill was passed by a grateful nation. This became the best educated generation in American history. The positive economic wave they rode and that their children, the Boomers, were allowed to ride was driven by the social good that came from their having earned college and university degrees. America's Greatest Generation invested in the future and created the great country we have today.

America's college completion rates are stagnating. The U.S. used to lead the world in this category, but now we are at least 17th -- even lower for STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). We are faced with importing our future engineers and scientists.

Our largest and fastest-growing group of potential high school and college students in the Southwest includes first-generation Latino and Hispanic students, many of whom are low-income. The return on investment that could come from increasing their success could drive a future economic boom. The new GI Bill has some good benefits, but navigating the federal bureaucracy to access them can be daunting. The Federal Pell program, which so far has retained bi-partisan support, also provides important resources for low-income students, but by itself cannot overcome all the challenges they face.

America needs to build on these two programs and invest in the future for our young people, for the good of us all.

Opinion by Dr. David Svaldi, President

It's official: August 7, 2012, marks the change of Adams State College to Adams State University. It's going to take practice, but I like the sound of that.

Over the nine decades since its founding, Adams State has evolved from a "Normal School" offering only teacher education through four name changes, as the range and quality of our academic offerings expanded.

Although the college - oops - the university - has been considering this change for a few years, the reality is still sinking in. Some people are unclear what this change to "university" means for Adams State and our students.

• It does NOT mean excessive tuition increases.
• It does NOT mean more government funding.
• It does NOT mean a significantly larger on-campus student body.

What this change does mean is that Adams State's academic breadth and quality are now reflected in its name. The academic standards that "university" conveys will make our graduates more competitive in the job market. As a university, Adams State will be even more attractive to students, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, learning on campus or at a distance.

Webster's College Dictionary defines university as "an institution of learning of the highest level, comprising a college of liberal arts, a program of graduate studies . . . authorized to confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees." While there are no "official" requirements or standards governing an institution's name, we clearly fit that definition, since more than one-quarter of our students are enrolled in one of nine graduate programs.

With our latest name change, we deliberately kept "Adams State" consistent. Likewise, we modified the university logo, rather than undergo a complete redesign. This demonstrates our enduring commitment to providing a high quality college education to rural Coloradans, particularly in the San Luis Valley and Southern Colorado. Adams State will continue its mission as a moderately selective institution where access and student success are paramount.

Just as when Adams State was founded in 1921, our San Luis Valley community shares in this success. I invite all our friends to join in The Great Stories Celebration of our move to "university." A number of special events are planned for Aug. 23 & 24, in addition to the annual Welcome Back Luau. Friday night concludes with a Gala Scholarship Dinner, a FREE concert by Los Lobos, and fireworks! For details, click here.

At Adams State University, the great story just keeps getting better.

Legendary former Adams State University and Olympic distance runner Pat Porter and two children, including his 15-year old son, died July 26 in a tragic plane accident near the Sedona, Ariz., Airport. Porter earned a degree in business administration – marketing from Adams State University in 1982.

The memorial service, "A Celebration of Life for Connor and Pat Porter," will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Calvary of Albuquerque, 4001 Osuna Road NE in Albuquerque. A party will follow the service at Albuquerque Academy. The family asks the attendees to wear colors:Connor's favorite color was red, and Pat's was purple, or purple and green.

"This is just heartbreaking," said Damon Martin, head coach of Adams State's men's & women's cross country and track and field teams. "Pat was an icon for our program. People identified Adams State with him. Even recently, I'm so proud of his association with our current teams. He took time out of his schedule to cheer the runners on and spoke to them after their runs."

"Pat was one of our most noted alums. His athletic achievements are renowned," added Adams State Athletic Director, Larry Mortensen. "He was extremely loyal to Adams State, and we will miss him."

The twin-engine plane, registered in Porter's name, hit a boundary fence at the south end of the Sedona Airport runway according to eye-witnesses and then went down a steep mesa. The plane then burst into flames upon impact at the bottom of the hill, according to Ron Wheeler, the Field Operations Commander for the Sedona Police Department.

Porter, 53, was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame July 20 in Colorado Springs. His son, Connor, and Connor's friend were also killed. There were no survivors.

Porter, who lived in Albuquerque, N.M., was an avid pilot. He is survived by wife of 20-plus years, Trish, who was a 1988 Olympian in the high jump, and 11-year old daughter, Shannon.

Details. 

Opinion by Dr. David Svaldi

Hubris is defined as extreme arrogance or pride.

Many of higher education's problems stem from the hubris communicated by higher education spokespeople. We act as if our institutions are entitled to funding, because such subsidies have been in effect for as long as we can remember-because we have noble missions that include a search for the truth. We may have highly selective admission standards that guarantee we have a great institution because we have the best students. Or, we may have a world-class faculty that are highly published in their fields, and we receive millions of dollars in federal research dollars. It's not a lot different than when we were children and argued we were better because we had the best bike.

Public higher education institutions are faced with the same challenges as any other public entity: it's not about past achievements -- what have we done lately? We straighten our thousand-dollar suits and inspect our $200 haircuts and then look aghast when a legislator, Senator, or Congressman questions exactly why we need a continued subsidy. We are communicating hubris: "Only a fool doesn't understand the importance of what we do-why, we have the greatest and most envied system of higher education in the world!"

Then we compound matters by speaking in terms that no one not part of the academy understands and which sound ridiculous to some:

• "Our FTE support per student is the lowest of all of our competitors."
• "Our COF share continues to be cut, and our competitors have better fee for service contracts than we do."
• "We provide great value-added for our students."
• "There are few conservative professors because those kind of individuals are drawn to money making careers and don't want to do the hard work of teaching a 6 CH load and grading papers while having to research and publish . . . (you get paid how much for teaching 6 hours (!) a week?)"

And sometimes we drone on and on, not noticing that we lost our listeners two minutes into our rant. And we talk a lot about resources and money and almost everything but students, who are perhaps the reason many of our institutions exist.

We are in an era in which Missouri's "show me" motto is new again. What will the public get for the investment of their hard earned tax dollars in our public colleges and universities? Why should the public pay for this subsidy and how is it any different than any other subsidy, or even welfare?

In our arrogance, we think that debate over the original GI bill settled the question of a college education not as a privilege, but as a right forever. Let's get out of our $1,000 suits and demonstrate why a college education is still a public good in concise terms understandable to our stakeholders, and then shut up and accept the decision.

So here it is in a nutshell:

Higher education is the best tool for helping people raise themselves up by their own bootstraps. The opportunity to complete college allows people to make positive contributions to their families, communities, and society - rather than becoming a burden.

According to a report by the College Board, college graduates earn about $800,000 more in a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. They are also subject to lower unemployment rates and more likely to have an employer-sponsored health insurance and pension plans. In addition, college grads are more likely to vote, volunteer in their communities, and have healthy lifestyles.

Americans have always viewed higher education as the key to climbing the socio-economic ladder. However, research shows the lower a student's family income, the less likely they are to complete college - regardless of academic preparation. So it's clear that making higher education not only accessible, but affordable, is crucial.

Anna Bernasek, in the New York Times, wrote, "Education is not just part of the cost of maintaining a functioning democracy, but a source of wealth creation for all. That means that investing in the education of every American is in everyone's self-interest."

We need to find ways, even with the financial challenges that every state is facing, to support access to and success in higher education. The future of our young people and our country depends on meeting this challenge.

Note: As President of Adams State University in rural southern Colorado, I don't own a thousand dollar suit, but I do have one good Brooks Brothers suit I bought on sale....and a bunch of JC Penney's and Kohl's clothes.

Adams State University is one of ten Southern Colorado colleges and universities participating in new website that encourages college attendance.

The site, http://www.socolo-edu.org/, shows low- and moderate-income students that they can successfully be the first in their families to pursue education after high school.

The site was produced by the Southern Colorado Higher Education Consortium (SCHEC), a collaboration of all ten public colleges and universities in southern Colorado. A highlight of the site is a video series that use student voices to demonstrate the importance these colleges place on student success.

"These videos tell the collective story of navigating through college in Southern Colorado. The students in the videos have done a fantastic job of breaking down complexity and addressing fears about going to college, " said Phillip Morris, the project coordinator. To watch the videos go to http://www.socolo-edu.org/videos.html

Adams State University President David Svaldi said, "Adams State is the ideal environment for first-generation college students, because we offer a range of student support services to help them succeed. Students also receive individual attention from faculty who focus on teaching."

Adams State has received over $12 million in Title V grants for Hispanic Serving Institutions to expand its student services, including advising, tutoring, career counseling, as well as faculty development to better engage a diverse student body.

Fueled by a $750,000 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the SCHEC is working cooperatively to increase the number of southern Colorado residents who attend college.

The website will help families in southern Colorado connect with local colleges and understand requirements to enroll in post-secondary education. Unemployment rates are generally lower for people with education after high school, and the Bureau of Labor predicts increased demand for employees with higher levels of education.

By fall, the group hopes to offer ten new college-level courses to students enrolled in high school, a feature rare in rural districts that dominate southern Colorado. The challenge of the consortium is to offer courses that are accessible, interesting, and engaging for students who have done well in high school but might not be at the top of the class. The goal of offering the new courses to high school students is to show them that they can succeed at the next level.

Along with the new course offerings, each campus will offer a summer campus-based program that aims to introduce students to college expectations, campus life, and academic preparation techniques.

The graphic identity for the project, SóColo Reach, uses the Spanish concept of the Zócalo, or city plaza, combined with the southern Colorado outreach effort. The colleges represented in the SóColo Reach project include Adams State University, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Fort Lewis College, Lamar Community College, Otero Junior College, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, Trinidad State Junior College, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and Western State Colorado University.

For more information about SóColo Reach, contact Dr. Michael Mumper, Adams State University Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Program Development, 719-587-7436.

Southern Colorado Higher Education Consortium

A crowd of over 300 gathered under calm blue skies to witness Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper sign the law designating Adams State University, May 19. A banner proclaiming "Our great story just got better" set the stage for the 91-year-old institution's move to university status.

"You talk about oil, you talk about wind energy . . . the energy of our youth is the most powerful energy we have in this country, and you guys are helping make sure we get the most out of it," Hickenlooper said. "In all of Colorado, it's hard to find another community with as strong a sense of place as what you have created here. A good university is the heart of great community."

Adams State President David Svaldi welcomed the audience by recalling the school's founder and early presidents: "Somewhere, Governor Billy Adams is smiling and perhaps toasting this wonderful event with President Richardson and President Plachy. "Governor Adams worked his entire political career to found a teacher preparation school (so-called normal school) in the San Luis Valley. Against all odds, including political opponents and the Ku Klux Klan, Adams worked successfully with his constituents to legislate funds to construct the Normal School."

There is an "unbreakable bond of community" between Adams State and the San Luis Valley, Svaldi added, telling how - when Adams' opponents blocked state funding - area residents donated produce, livestock, and other products to raise the school's first operating budget of $25,000.

"Now we are here today to celebrate the next chapter in the great story of Adams State. I again have to thank our community for helping us to this juncture. Now our name will reflect what we truly are: Adams State University," he said.

Alamosa Mayor Kathy Rogers presented a proclamation declaring August, 2012, as the Month of Adams State University. "We are so fortunate and pleased to have Dr. Svaldi with us. He has done so much for this campus and our city."

The name change was proposed in HB 1080, co-sponsored by House Representative Ed Vigil State and Senator Gail Schwartz.

"Today is a day of pride and honor," said Vigil, a 1986 graduate of Adams State. "I'm so proud of our college that is now a university; it was an honor for me to run the bill."

Schwartz also said, "It was a privilege to sponsor this bill, and to know what a difference it will make, both for today's students and those to come in the future."

The name change will be official Aug. 7, 2012. The college's Board of Trustees voted to pursue the change Aug. 26, 2011, after exploring the issue for three years. Founded in 1921, Adams State Normal School was created to educate teachers for rural Colorado.

When it opened in 1925, the campus had one building, three faculty, and 42 students. Adams State now boasts a campus of 54 buildings and recently completed $62 million in campus construction and renovation. The university employs 110 full-time faculty and 358 staff. Enrollment has increased by 34 percent since 2008.

Adams State University has enjoyed record-breaking enrollment for the last three years, with a total of 3,701 students as of the fall 2011 semester. One quarter of those students are enrolled in one of the university's nine graduate programs.

In 2001, Adams State became Colorado's first four-year institution to be federally designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Since then it has received more than $14.1 million in Title V and other grants to help HSI's improve capacity and services. The undergraduate student body is 33 percent Hispanic; an additional 14 percent of students identify as members of other ethnic/racial minority groups.

In 1929, the institution's name shifted to Adams State Teachers College of Southern Colorado, in 1938 to Adams State Teachers College, and then Adams State College, adopted in 1946, in recognition of the broader offering of under-graduate liberal arts programs and the expansion of graduate degree programs.

Watch video of bill signing ceremony