Colorado State University–Pueblo Informations

Colorado State University–Pueblo (CSU–Pueblo) is a regional comprehensive public university located in Pueblo, Colorado, United States. CSU-Pueblo is a member of the Colorado State University System (CSU System), along with the system's flagship and the state's land-grant university, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins and Colorado State University-Global Campus, the nation’s first, independent, 100% online public university. CSU-Pueblo is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Colorado State University–Pueblo has evolved from a three-room junior college on the third floor of the Pueblo County Courthouse with 63 students and two (2) instructors to a regional comprehensive university offering 29 baccalaureate and six master's degree programs, serving more than 5,000 students from all 50 states and 23 countries. Currently CSU Pueblo is also ranked in the top 100 for best regional western universities. Over the past 75 years under four different names, the institution has graduated more than 35,000 students from 41 states and 32 countries. Today, more than 14,000 graduates live in Colorado.

The idea for starting a college in Pueblo was initially proposed in 1926, when a bill was put before the state Senate to begin a four-year school in the city. The bill was defeated by one vote.

In the years following the Great Depression, the idea for a college in Pueblo was revived through the efforts of a local school teacher at Centennial High School, Eric T. Kelly.

At the time, Pueblo's primary employer, steelmaker Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp., was no longer hiring, drought and dust storms were plaguing all of Southern Colorado and the city still was trying to recover from the devastating floods of 1921.

Kelly organized a committee that was composed of several local business leaders to discuss the possibility of getting a college started, among them Frank Hoag, Jr., publisher of The Pueblo Chieftain and Star-Journal newspapers, Dr. C.N. Caldwell and J. Arthur Phelps.

The school originally was planned to be named San Isabel Junior College, but by the time the school had received incorporation it was changed to Southern Colorado Junior College (SCJC). The name change was made in an effort to broaden the recruitment area for the college.

The first classes at SCJC were held in the fall of 1933 in three vacant rooms on the third-floor of the Pueblo County Courthouse. Sixty-three students (31 full-time and 32 part-time) enrolled and the staff consisted of two full-time and eight part-time instructors, a registrar and Kelly, who agreed to serve as the dean of students, of that first class of students, 17 would earn a degree with the first graduating class of 1935.

By 1935, the school's enrollment was steadily increasing, and the need to find a permanent location was imminent. With land donated by the CFandI and local money from the City Federation of Women's Club and the Works Progress Administration, construction of the college's first building—a 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2) arts building—began in 1936. The property donated for the college was bordered by the Bessemer ditch, Marilyn Place, Orman Avenue and the alley at Orman and Arthur and became known as the Orman campus.

Kelly gave up his position as dean in 1936, and L.R.Wren took over as president and served in that position until 1939. A year later, Pueblo County residents formed the Pueblo County Junior College District, which allowed for the college to receive tax dollars.

The university has operated under five different names:

Southern Colorado Junior College provided two years of college instruction in the arts, literature, and science, adult education and vocational opportunities, and coursework to complete a high school program.

Taking advantage of the Junior College Act of the General Assembly, the Pueblo County Junior College District was formed, making the college part of the public school system supported by county-wide taxes. The name change to Pueblo Junior College brought with it a change in mission. The institution offered the first two years of general study at the college level, providing the educational foundation for students seeking to transfer to complete their higher education degrees at four-year colleges and universities, and continued to offer a range of practical courses for those not seeking a higher education degree.

The 30th anniversary year saw the State enact legislation making the institution a four-year degree granting college and a member of the state system of higher education. The first juniors were enrolled in 1963, followed in 1964 by the first seniors and the first bachelor's degrees awarded in 1965. The name change to Southern Colorado State College reflected recognition of the need for more advanced degrees and an increase in the number of students pursuing a four-year degree in the southeastern region of Colorado. In 1964, Colorado State Senator Vincent Massari led the college's push to become a four-year university. Senator Massari was instrumental in obtaining funds for a new campus in the Belmont area of Pueblo, moving from the old junior college campus on Orman Avenue.

As the demand for higher education programs increased, the number of academic degrees offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels increased. The first graduate program to be offered was the Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in industrial education beginning in 1972. The institution was granted university status and renamed the University of Southern Colorado. It was designated as Colorado's only polytechnic university. In 1985, USC was integrated into the newly created Colorado State University System (CSU System) with Colorado State University, Colorado's land-grant university, and Fort Lewis College. In 2002, Fort Lewis College chose to be a separate entity.

With its long history of collaboration with Colorado State University (CSU) and being a Colorado State University System (CSU System) member since 1985, eventually a name change was forthcoming. Also, an independent study of Higher Education in Colorado recommended to change the university's name to reflect the unique relationship with CSU. In May 2002, Governor Bill Owens signed legislation changing the institution's mission and name to Colorado State University–Pueblo effective July 1, 2003. Today, the university has a focus on professional studies such as business, nursing, social work, teacher education, and liberal arts.

In 2002, CSU-Pueblo was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the United States Department of Education.

In 2008, CSU-Pueblo was awarded the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

In 2015, CSU-Pueblo was announced as the winner of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Solution Generation Leadership in Climate Change Award.

Prior to the 1995–96 academic school year, the University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University–Pueblo) adopted the "ThunderWolf" as its mascot. The ThunderWolf came to life as USC looked to modernize its image following more than 60 years as the "Indians." The legend of the "ThunderWolf" is as follows:

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