Metro State’s fiscal management was cited as an “example worth following” in an opinion piece posted on the online version of The Denver Post last week.

In “When stimulus dollars for education run out,” posted on Jan. 27, State Reps. Ken Summers and Cheri Gerou, both republicans, cite a recent report by the New York State Comptroller that predicts large shortfalls in education funding in New York once federal stimulus dollars run out. Summers and Gerou say Colorado will face a similar shortfall and urge reforms to education funding now to avert a crisis.

Summers and Gerou laud steps that Metro State has already taken, stating the following:

"One example worth following is that of Metropolitan State College of Denver. The college received $10 million in federal stimulus money but decided to make its own budget cuts as well. According to an October 30, 2009 article of The Chronicle of Higher Education, Metro State eliminated 100 positions, added three new master's degree programs, and invested in new technology.

"Rather than wasting the federal money on continuing operations or hiring new staff, Metro State made the tough choices necessary to keep it afloat after the federal stimulus money runs dry. It is exactly these types of solutions that will better prepare Colorado's schools and universities for the eventual federal funding cuts to take place in the coming years."