Celebrate Colorado Mountain College
In 1964, newly appointed Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce Director David Delaplane found a file folder labeled “Education Committee” with a few names listed inside. “There really ought to be a college here,” he said to himself. That began months of campaigning in multiple counties to bring the idea of a tax-funded college district to a vote. The Leadville Chamber of Commerce directors also appointed a committee to look into the formation of a Junior College.
This work led to a ballot measure to create a community college and on November 2, 1965, the voters of five counties approved the formation of the college district by more than a two-to-one margin. The large size of the district was based on the requirements of the State of Colorado. The junior college plan was unanimously approved by the State Board of Education.
In an article recapping from 1965:
“During November occurred the most far-reaching event in the field of education that anyone could have prophesized for Lake County – the favorable vote which sets in motion the establishment of a junior college district.”
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) held its first classes in the fall of 1967 at the East Campus in Leadville and the West Campus in Glenwood Springs. The first class schedule featured an architect’s rendering of the “interim” campus building. One “interim” building remained on campus for more than 40 years. In-district tuition in the fall of 1967 was $6.75 per credit hour.
Fast forwarding to today, in-state and in-district tuition is still the lowest in the state, and Colorado Mountain College serves 12,000 square miles in throughout the Colorado mountain region. Their service area includes distinct communities made up of international resorts, ranches, wilderness areas and former mining towns. Each year, over 20,000 students take classes at 11 locations and online.
CMC offers programs from ESL and GED to bachelor’s degrees. They partner with local school districts through the Mountain Futures Fund, securing private and public funding to ensure that every local high school student can have the opportunity for a college education. CMC also has a robust dual enrollment program in partnership with local school districts. They have grown from a community college to a public two and four-year institution, and we’re fortunate to have them in the region and to have the Edwards Campus located in the middle of our valley.
Consider: the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has recognized CMC as in the top 13% of two-year colleges in the U.S. for exceptional student performance and outcomes. The college was also ranked #17 in the nation by CNN/Money for student success among more than 800 two-year colleges. CMC was rated #1 among Colorado’s two-year colleges for graduation plus transfer rates, and impressive given their geographic size and scope, CMC Colorado Mountain College offers the third most affordable bachelor’s degrees in the nation.
I was fortunate to participate, along with other community members, in the CMC strategic planning process a few years ago. This led to a new strategic plan; as outlined on their website, CMC offers a dynamic and innovative teaching and learning experience serving a diverse population in a student-centered, inclusive, and personalized learning environment. Through a comprehensive array of programs and courses of study, CMC provides high-quality education that is affordable and accessible, helping all students meet their individual educational goals. CMC measures its success through student success.
The specific aims of CMC are to:
- Deliver undergraduate instruction for associate and bachelor’s degrees and certificates;
- Offer college preparatory instruction and academic skill development;
- Prepare students for careers requiring professional and technical training, and assist business and industry in meeting their workforce development needs;
- Provide support services tailored to the needs of each student;
- Make life-long learning opportunities available to all; and
- Contribute to the economic, social, and cultural vitality and sustainability of the communities that CMC serves.
We should all take a moment to thank David Delaplane and his cohorts who had the vision to build a community college system in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado. Their efforts – and their vision – resulted in much more than a community college; their efforts led to a community asset.
As CMC celebrates its 50th birthday this year, take a moment to consider the economic and social benefits that CMC provides to our community and to other communities within their service region. I tip my hat to David Delaplane, for your vision, and I thank current CMC leadership at the trustee and staff level, for all you do to ensure Colorado Mountain College remains a uniquely Colorado gem.
Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com