Metropolitan State University of Denver was founded in 1965 as an opportunity school. By design, MSU Denver is required to be accessible to all, which is why it consistently has some of the lowest tuitions of four-year Colorado colleges and universities. Nearly 54% of the student body are students of color.[6]
MSU Denver was the first university to advocate for DREAMers to have a chance at higher education by providing in-state tuition rates under the ASSET bill, signed by then Gov. John Hickenlooper in the Jordan Student Success Building lobby.[7][8] It made national headlines.[9][10][11][12]
Campus
MSU Denver shares the Auraria campus with two other higher education institutions, the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver. The traditional main entrance to campus is Speer & Lawrence between the North and Science buildings.
Laura Niesen de Abruña was named provost effective January 25, 2024.[14]
Board of trustees
On June 7, 2002, Governor Bill Owens signed House Bill 1165 – Concerning the Establishment of an Independent Governing Board for Metropolitan State College of Denver – and named his appointees to MSU Denver's board of trustees.[15][16]
Student government
MSU Denver's student government operates under the name "The Student Advocacy Council" (TSAC).[17]
Schools and centers
MSU Denver contains four colleges and two schools.[18]
College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering and Design
MSU Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Several programs and units are accredited by disciplinary-specific organizations, including:
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science[20] and Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems[21] programs are accredited by ABET.[22]
University names
Colloquially referred to as Metro State, MSU Denver formally became a university on April 18, 2012.[23]
Different names
1965–1990: Metropolitan State College
1990–2012: Metropolitan State College of Denver
2012–present: Metropolitan State University of Denver
Name change controversy
The then-Metropolitan State College of Denver Board of Trustees on March 9, 2011, approved a legislative proposal to change the institution's name to "Denver State University" following a vote among students and faculty.[24][25]
University of Denver administration and faculty publicly objected to "Denver State University" as MSU Denver's new name.[26][27][28] As a result of this, the board of trustees decided to cancel the planned name change. Some community members objected and viewed this change of plans as allowing a private university (University of Denver) to decide the fate of a public one (MSU Denver).[29][30]
Student life
Greek life
The institution has various fraternity and sorority chapters.[31]
Student media
The Office of Student Media supports four student media productions:[32]
MSU Denver has produced 239 All-Americans and was one of the seven charter members of the Colorado Athletic Conference in 1989 before joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1996. MSU Denver competed as a NAIA member until 1983, when the Roadrunners jumped to the NCAA Division II ranks. Since 1998, MSU Denver has captured 32 regular season conference titles, 35 conference tournament championships, as well as the 2000 & 2002 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championships and the 2004 and 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer national crowns.
^"Budget Definitions of Terms" (PDF). Metropolitan State College of Denver. July 21, 2011. p. 3.
^"Board of Trustees: Welcome". Metropolitan State College of Denver. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05.
^"2023-2024 Councilors". MSU Denver Student Government - The Student Advocacy Council. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
^"Masters, Majors, Minors, Concentrations and Licensures offered by MSU Denver". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
^"Art at MSU Denver, CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION, CAREER PROSPECTS, DATA AND INSIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS, OUR PROGRAM OPTIONS". www.msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
^"MSU Denver Computer Science Program Objectives & Outcomes". Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"MSU Denver Computer Information Systems". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
^"Metro State Board of Trustees selects new name for the College". Metropolitan State College of Denver. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20.
^McGhee, Tom (March 10, 2011). "Metro State votes to close book on name". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^Fowler, Donna (November 14, 2011). "Strategic Name Initiative: DSU off the table". This Week @ Metro. Metropolitan State College of Denver. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21.
^Auge, Karen (November 18, 2011). "Metro State tests new names after "Denver State" idea gets booted". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^Auge, Karen (April 20, 2011). "University of Denver fears confusion over proposed Metro State name change". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"12-1 Logan Show 5PM". 850 KOA. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"12-2 Logan Show 6PM". 850 KOA. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"Student Activities: Fraternities and Sororities". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"Office of Student Media | Metropolitan State University of Denver". Metrostudentmedia.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"The Metropolitan". Office of Student Media, Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"Met Radio at MSU Denver". Metro Student Media. February 18, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^"The Met Report". Metro Student Media.
^"Metrosphere: The Art & Literary Magazine of MSU Denver". Archived from the original on October 5, 2011.
^Metro Post-Telegraph Staff (2017), "About", Metro Post-Telegraph, retrieved 1 March 2019
^"Roadrunners Soccer Camps". Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
^"Regional Partners". Retrieved April 1, 2016.
^"2013 - Newsroom - MSU Denver". Retrieved April 1, 2016.
^"Cooperative Agreement between Metropolitan State University of Denver and Fort Hays State University". Metropolitan State University of Denver. June 8, 2022.
^"Welcome to mNET".
^"Abstract: Project m-NET".
^"Metro State enters community partnership to train teachers for high-need DPS classrooms". President's Message. Metropolitan State University of Denver. November 2011.
^Foster, Cliff (August 13, 2012). "Trading talent: MSU Denver, University of Puerto Rico launch teacher exchange program". This Week@MSU Denver.