Celebrating the history of academics during CMU's 100th anniversary
As part of Colorado Mesa University’s Centennial Celebration, the campus faculty, staff, students and community members came together for the Academic Passport Open House, a new event that invited guests to explore CMU’s diverse academic programs while in each of the academic buildings, celebrating 100 years of educational excellence that has evolved into many forms.
Starting at either Houston Hall or the Health Sciences building, the open house offered students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members an opportunity to travel across CMU’s academic landscape. Visitors received “passports” and collected stamps at each presentation location. The event was an engaging opportunity for department faculty and attendees alike, allowing a venue for the unique history of academics to be brought to the forefront.
Each exhibit told a story of CMU’s growth, from its origins as Grand Junction Junior College in 1925 to its current role as a comprehensive university serving western Colorado and beyond, offering the full range of degree offerings from technical certificates to doctoral degrees. Departments highlighted milestone achievements, faculty-led projects and student success stories that reflect the Maverick spirit of discovery and community impact.
The variety in presentations and exhibits was diverse and spanned across many disciplines. Over 20 departments and academic programs participated. To name a few:
- The Geology department created a video about the history of geological sciences.
- The Department of Languages, Literature and Mass Communication created visual presentation boards that displayed the evolution of the program, highlighted key faculty and an oral history overview by department faculty.
- The Davis School of Business covered the Gallegos Board room conference table with past and present business school marketing materials, program booklets and swag items.
- The Nursing department students and faculty walked attendees through their building, showing the evolution of nursing and health science technologies over the past 100 years.
- The Political Science program invited alumni back to campus during the Homecoming celebration to fill out a timeline, identifying what time of CMU’s history they left their mark.
The full list of departments and programs that created presentations and exhibits included: Psychology, Political Science, Music, Center for Teaching and Learning, Teacher 2 Teacher, Tomlinson Library, Environmental Science, Hutchins Water Center, Computer Science and Engineering, Math and Statistics, Geoscience, Physics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Teacher Education, Davis School of Business, Language, Literature and Mass Communication, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Nursing and Radiological Science.
Head of the Academic Achievements Committee and Professor of Political Science Tim Casey, PhD, emphasized the importance of highlight academics during a monumental year in CMU’s history.
"CMU has offered so much to our community and state over the last 100 years, but at the heart of it has been a quality, affordable and accessible higher education experience for our community,” said Casey. “The Academic Open House was a way to celebrate that education as it has changed and grown with the university over the years.”
The event was one of many in CMU’s Century Project, a year-long celebration recognizing the university’s 100-year legacy of learning, leadership and innovation. Visitors left with stamped passports, made new connections and refreshed old ones, and a renewed appreciation for the role CMU has played — and continues to play — in shaping the region’s future of education.
For more information about CMU’s Centennial events, visit cmucentury.com.