The Metro State community is invited to a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on Wed., March 9, 10-11:30 a.m., in St. Cajetan’s Center to review the latest research findings for the College’s Strategic Name Initiative.

Sector Brands, the firm charged with conducting the research, will present the results of last month’s online survey and a variety of community outreach efforts, including focus groups, one-on-one conversations and town hall meetings.

Following the presentation are a board discussion and time for public comment.

Board materials for the meeting will be posted on the board website by noon on Friday, March 4.

“I encourage everyone to attend if at all possible and sign up to speak, if they so choose,” says President Stephen Jordan. “This historic decision has elicited the opinions of many people who are passionate about Metro State’s mission. As I have said many times in the last few weeks, the trustees and I believe a new name that would elevate the institution’s status will only strengthen our mission of accessible, affordable, high-quality education.”

The Strategic Name Initiative began with a BOT resolution in February 2010 to assess the College’s name. On Feb. 2, 2011, Jordan announced that the College was going forward with the initiative and that an online survey open to all interested parties would be conducted. Survey respondents were asked to list their top two preferences out of four possibilities: three new names and the current name. The new names under consideration are:

· Metropolitan State University of Denver

· Denver State University

· University of Central Colorado

More than 8,500 people took the survey before it closed at 5 p.m. on Feb. 28.