2012 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 12-1011 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Nikkel, Fischer, Kefalas, Acree, Balmer, Barker, Baumgardner, Becker, Beezley, Bradford, Brown, Casso, Conti, Coram, Court, DelGrosso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fields, Gardner B., Gerou, Hamner, Holbert, Hullinghorst, Jones, Joshi, Kagan, Kerr A., Kerr J., Labuda, Lee, Levy, Liston, Looper, Massey, McCann, Miklosi, Murray, Pabon, Pace, Peniston, Priola, Ramirez, Ryden, Schafer S., Scott, Singer, Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stephens, Summers, Swalm, Swerdfeger, Szabo, Todd, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil, Waller, Williams A., Wilson, Young, McNulty; also SENATOR(S) Bacon, Lundberg, Aguilar, Brophy, Cadman, Carroll, Foster, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Hudak, Jahn, Johnston, King K., King S., Mitchell, Morse, Neville, Newell, Nicholson, Renfroe, Roberts, Scheffel, Schwartz, Spence, Steadman, Tochtrop, White, Williams S., Shaffer B. CONCERNING RECOGNITION OF AND APPRECIATION FOR 142 YEARS OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE BY THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. WHEREAS, It is the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act of 1862, which was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln and gave each eligible state a gift of federal land to be used toward establishing an educational institution promoting "the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes"; and WHEREAS, Governor Edward McCook in 1870, six years before the Colorado Territory achieved statehood, signed a territorial bill that utilized the Morrill Act to create the Agricultural College of Colorado, which would later become Colorado State University in Fort Collins; and WHEREAS, On February 10, 2012, Colorado State University celebrates 142 years of providing life-changing educational experiences to nearly 230,000 graduates; and WHEREAS, The university first opened its doors to students with just three faculty members, including President Elijah Edwards, and, from these humble origins, has developed into a world-class university system; and WHEREAS, As Colorado's only land-grant institution, Colorado State University in Fort Collins consistently ranks among the top public universities in the United States in terms of educational quality and affordability and stands as one of the nation's premier research universities, maintaining world-leading programs in fields such as veterinary medicine, natural resources, agricultural science, and engineering; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University in Fort Collins serves the state's many natural resource needs through its service agencies, which include the Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado State University Extension, the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Colorado Water Institute; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University campuses excel in workforce education, with total research activity exceeding $330 million in funding, resulting in 30 new start-up businesses employing more than 2,500 Coloradans; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University in Fort Collins and its more than 87,000 alumni who live and work in the state of Colorado are an important economic driver, contributing more than $5.2 billion in household income to the state's economy; and WHEREAS, The Colorado State University System was created in 1985 under the leadership of the Board of Governors (originally the State Board of Agriculture) and today includes Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado State University - Pueblo, and the Colorado State University - Global Campus; and WHEREAS, The Colorado State University System campuses are joined in their commitment to provide Coloradans with affordable access to an exceptional education; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University - Pueblo, founded in 1933, has had an extraordinary impact on the social, cultural, and economic development of southern Colorado for nearly 80 years; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University - Pueblo is the only university in the state that bears the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation by the United States Department of Education, meaning that at least 25% of its student body is of Hispanic descent, and the school's student body is one of the fastest-growing in the state; and WHEREAS, Colorado State University - Global Campus is the first accredited, fully on-line public university in the country, providing nontraditional adult students with an affordable opportunity to complete bachelor's and master's degrees in fields that address changing workforce needs while allowing those students flexibility and convenience that fits their varied lifestyles; and WHEREAS, The Colorado State University System is unlike any other university system in the nation, offering different learning environments, a range of educational opportunities, diverse student populations, and an emphasis on innovative, hands-on learning experiences, which attract more than 37,000 new and returning, undergraduate and graduate scholars annually; and WHEREAS, The Colorado State University campuses graduate more than 6,800 highly skilled students a year, and more than 200,000 alumni contribute to their communities around the world, including nearly 115,000 alumni who live and work in the state of Colorado; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein: (1) That we, the members of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly, acknowledge the remarkable contributions Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado State University - Pueblo, and Colorado State University - Global Campus make every day to Coloradans and to societies around the nation and world; and (2) That, in appreciation of Colorado State University's 142 years of outstanding work in education, research, and service, we hereby declare February 10, 2012, to be Colorado State University Founders Day. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the members of the Colorado State University System Board of Governors; Dr. Tony Frank, President, Colorado State University in Fort Collins; Dr. Lesley Di Mare, President, Colorado State University - Pueblo; and Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker, President, Colorado State University - Global Campus. ________________________________________________________ Frank McNulty Brandon C. Shaffer SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Marilyn Eddins Cindi Markwell CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE