The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Beginning the open and
transparent process
A conversation of change has started at Western State College and change may start with the name.
The most recent discussion, which included a campus convocation on Tuesday afternoon, centers on the possibility of changing the name of WSC to include the words “Western,” “University,” and “Colorado.”
“We are at the precipice of launching into the second century of this institution,” WSC president Jay Helman told approximately 175 members of the campus community before they broke into 25 focus groups to critique the idea. “Where are we headed? Is it time to do something big and significant?”
Helman cited a book by Thomas Friedman that asks two primary questions: What world are we living in? What must we do to thrive in that world?
“Things are changing quickly in the world,” Helman said. “In 1911 it took tremendous courage to open the Gunnison Normal School and in 1923 it took courage to change it to Western State College. As we start talking about changes now, everything needs to be open, transparent and visionary.”
Helman used a metaphor of alligators and spaceships. He said the alligators are the things we all fight every day.
“But if we become consumed with those fights, does it take us away from being able to build the spaceship?” he continued. “Is it time for Western and us to build the spaceship for the next century?”
With that, facilitator Janice Welborn directed the campus community representatives to brainstorm on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of changing the name of WSC to include the word University.
Walking around the room and looking at the thoughts the tables were posting on their idea sheets, the concept of improving the perception and visibility of the institution by becoming a university was universal.
Many people seemed to think that the change could help attract more international students. One group hoped that going to university status would bring an increase in salaries for the staff. Helman chuckled at that thought. The downsides included alienating WSC alumni losing a long-term identity.
An overriding theme at the tables also seemed to be that “changing the package doesn’t change the product” and real work must be involved in stepping up the image of the institution. As one participant noted, “The real question is how do we deal and adapt to a changing marketplace?”
Changing the name might be a start. The process of changing the name is not a quick one. Helman said a name change would take Colorado legislative action. “The fundamental question right now is whether this name change idea is worth pursuing,” he said. “There would be costs involved and it will have impacts. We need feedback from the campus community on this potential name change.”
Helman is discussing the idea with the board of trustees, the college foundation and the student council. In his invitation to the campus community, Helman said the name change could help with future donors but the change would have impacts on academic expectations across the board.
A follow-up meeting with the campus community will be held in mid-October.
