[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15747]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2015

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Metropolitan 
State University of Denver, or MSU Denver, on its 50th anniversary. The 
extraordinary faculty and staff at MSU Denver have had an incredible 
impact on the lives of students in my district and on the Denver 
community as a whole.
  Since its founding in 1965, MSU Denver has been known as a gateway to 
opportunity. The University opens its doors to students from all walks 
of life and provides rigorous academic coursework relevant to the 
Colorado economy. The University formed out of an idea for a new, 
different type of college, dedicated to supporting hard-working, 
scrappy students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend 
an institution of higher education. As a sign of its future success, 
MSU Denver enrolled double the number of students than anticipated when 
it first opened its doors on October 1, 1965.
  Today, MSU Denver is Colorado's urban land-grant university, offering 
individualized, relevant bachelor's and select master's degrees to more 
undergraduate Coloradans than any other four-year university in the 
state. It has served as a leader in diverse enrollment among Colorado's 
four-year universities with 35 percent students of color and 32 percent 
first-generation students this year. The University has been a leader 
in educating students to think critically, solve problems, address 
community concerns, and meet Colorado's workforce needs. Most of the 
school's 85,000 alumni have stayed within our state and continue to 
contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of Colorado.
  I am not the only one that has recognized the value of the education 
MSU Denver provides to its students. Recently, the Military Times named 
MSU Denver the best college in the state for veterans. Further, MSU 
Denver strives to keep tuition affordable while providing a quality 
education. It has consistently been recognized in numerous rankings and 
articles for its affordability, its return on investment, and its 
incredible value in education. We are truly fortunate to have such a 
valuable resource in the First Congressional District.
  For the last five decades, Metropolitan State University of Denver 
has transformed the lives of countless students, served as a courageous 
leader in higher education, and boldly advanced the well-being of 
communities throughout the State of Colorado. I congratulate each and 
every member of the MSU Denver community on this 50th anniversary. I 
wish MSU Denver continued success and growth for many years to come.

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