Initiatives

Initiatives

The Division of Advancement and External Relations is promoting the College's six current, key fundraising initiatives:

Center for Visual Art

Thanks, in part to a lead grant of $425,000 from the Boettcher Foundation to the Metro State Foundation, the Center for Visual Art has a new home at 965 Santa Fe Drive.  The more than 22,000 square feet of property, located in the heart of Denver's Art District on Santa Fe, includes 9,000 square feet of gallery space, 6,000 square feet of outlying buildings, and 15 parking spaces.

Information: www.metrostatecva.org 

 

Hotel and Hotel Learning Center

Metro State and its Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events (HTE) are preparing for a Hotel and Hotel Learning Center (HLC) to be housed on the Auraria Campus at the corner of Speer Blvd. and Auraria Pkwy. The hotel, to be managed by a professional hotel management firm, will include an estimated 180 guest rooms and conference space, and the learning center will include 21,000 square feet of academic space.

The HLC is a public/private partnership. Metro State, in conjunction with the Auraria Higher Education Center, will provide the land, and the private developer will be responsible for all costs associated with the development of the hotel.  Metro State has instituted a capital campaign to cover the portion of costs associated with the learning center’s academic space ($8.5 million), including offering naming opportunities.

Information: http://www.msudenver.edu/metrostaterising/hlc/

 

Center for Innovation

Established in January 2007, the interdisciplinary Center for Innovation (CI) promotes entrepreneurial programming for projects both at the College and in the greater Denver community.

One of CI’s lead programs is Brand Spankin’ New (www.brandspankinnew.org), one of the first student-operated businesses in the country that is part of an undergraduate curriculum. BSN students design, manufacture and market home and office furnishings.

The continuing success of the center will depend on future funding that is self-sustaining and privately raised.

Information: www.metrostateinnovate.org 

 

Scholarships

Of the more than 24,000 students at Metro State, 79 percent of them receive some form of financial aid, an increase of 15 percent within the last decade. Although more than $88 million in financial aid is distributed to Metro State students annually, loans make up about two-thirds of that aid. This means that graduates must begin their career in significant debt.

A key opportunity and priority for Metro State is to attract larger endowments and gifts for scholarships that provide a comprehensive and strategic approach to helping students.

Information: 303-556-5140

 

Inclusivity/Diversity

Hispanic Serving Institution

In April 2007, Metro State launched the bold goal of attaining the federal designation of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), increasing its Latino student enrollment from its current 13 percent to 25 percent. Increasing the college enrollment of Latinos is imperative for Colorado, as they are the fastest-growing segment of the state’s population.
The HSI designation brings benefits to all students and faculty, and provides a range of funds from student support programs to classroom technology.

Information: www.msudenver.edu/president/hsi/

 

Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship Endowment

Named for the late Rachel B. Noel (1918-2008), one of Denver’s most courageous civil rights activists and Metro State associate professor emeritus, the Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship was initiated in 1981 to foster multiculturalism, diversity and academic excellence. The professorship brings renowned scholars and artists of distinction to the College to conduct classes, seminars, performances and lectures for students, faculty and the larger Denver community.

The Noel Professorship endowed fund will provide support for the annual Noel Professorship and related activities.

Information: www.msudenver.edu/news/noel/

 

Richard T. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professorship Endowment

Metro State alumnus and instructor Richard T. Castro was one of Colorado’s true champions of the disenfranchised. He was executive director of Denver’s civil rights agency at the time of his death in 1991. The Richard T. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professorship was created in 1997 to bring nationally known Latino and Latina scholars to Metro State to teach, perform and interact with the larger community.

The Castro Professorship endowed fund will continue this legacy by supporting the professorship’s goals and activities.

Information: www.msudenver.edu/castro/

 

Athletics and Athletic Fields

Metro State plans to significantly upgrade its athletic facilities within the next seven years, including building a softball field, to provide our student-athletes with facilities befitting the Roadrunners' status as a NCAA Division II powerhouse.

Information: www.msudenver.edu/msudenverrising/athleticfields/
303-556-6819