DANA NUNN
University Journal
December Commencement
M
ore than 475 Colorado Mesa University students
graduated on Dec. 14, with about 275 walking
across the stage in Brownson Arena. This was the second
December commencement ceremony held by the university.
Those completing their degree requirements in the fall have
the option of "walking" in December or in the traditional
May ceremony.
Degrees awarded included 14 masters, 250 bachelors,
107 associates and 105 certificates.
Unconventional Energy Center Seeks Ideas
T
he Unconventional Energy Center at Colorado Mesa
University is looking for ideas from business, industry,
academia and the community at large for ways to help
Mesa County achieve its goal of becoming an epicenter of
energy innovation.
After receiving a $1.6 million grant from the Mesa
County Federal Mineral Lease Board earlier this year,
the university matched the grant 100% to create a $3.2
million endowment. The goal is to invest funds each year
in targeted applied research and workforce development
projects in the region.
2
Spending from the Unconventional Energy Center
endowment is directed by one committee focused on
applied research projects and another focused on workforce
development and curriculum enhancement. The Applied
Research Committee expects to award up to $100,000 in
2013 while the Workforce Development and Curriculum
Enhancement Committee is slated to award approximately
$60,000. Beginning immediately, interested parties may
submit proposals to the center for consideration.
"By establishing this center, our community has put its
money where its mouth is with respect to environmentally
sound economic development and becoming an epicenter
of energy innovation," noted John Redifer, Ph.D, of the
Redifer Research Institute at CMU. "Our committees will
focus on proposals that bring matching funds to the table
in order to get the most bang out of every buck in this
endowment."
The energy center is part of the Redifer Research Institute.
To learn more about the Unconventional Energy Center
or to download a copy of the requests for proposal, visit
coloradomesa.edu/energy/proposals.html.
Montrose Campus Renovation (pictured above)
L
ast fall, the Montrose Campus unveiled the results of a
$1.5 million transformation. The 1935 school building
that houses CMU and the Montrose County Library is now a
state-of-the-art higher education learning center.
