President Emeritus Tim Foster presents on the history of CMU during its 100th year
As part of Colorado Mesa University’s 100-year celebration, President Emeritus Tim Foster gathered community members and campus faculty and staff to take a look back at how far CMU has come over the course of its history. From the years leading up to the university’s inception in 1925, to its formative years gaining momentum, to a look towards the future and the next 100 years, Foster’s history series was a moment to learn, reflect and engage.
About the presentations:
Becoming CMU: 100 Years in the Making Part 1: THE STRUGGLING YEARS
This presentation explores the origins of Colorado Mesa University and the many challenges faced in its earliest years: battling at the state house with the Klan and the University of Colorado, limited resources and infrastructure, and uncertainty about long-term viability. It highlights the critical roadblocks that made establishing the institution difficult and examines how progress often depended on perseverance in the face of setbacks. Central to the story is the unwavering support of the local community — whose belief, advocacy and investment created the momentum needed to move the university forward. Through this lens, the first of a three-part series illustrates how a shared vision and community buy-in transformed obstacles into opportunities, allowing local youth to pursue college with impressive results and laying the foundation for the thriving university CMU is today.
Becoming CMU: 100 Years in the Making Part 2: THE YEARS OF GROWTH AND MATURATION
The second part of the presentation focuses on Colorado Mesa University’s evolution in the years following World War II, a period marked by growth and expanding ambition. It traces how Grand Junction Junior College began to come into its own — by strengthening academic programs, increasing enrollment and responding to the educational needs of the community, including its returning veterans and a growing regional population. This section details the pivotal transition from a two-year junior college to a four-year institution, highlighting the deliberate effort to expand liberal arts and degree offerings while preserving the strong foundation of technical and vocational education that defined its mission. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the institution experienced steady growth and renewed vitality, emerging as a thriving center of learning shaped by innovation, adaptability and a commitment to serving western Colorado.
Becoming CMU: 100 Years in the Making Part 3: BECOMING A REGIONAL UNIVERSITY
The final part of the presentation highlights the Colorado Mesa University we know today — an institution that continues to be defined by innovation, adaptability and a clear vision for the future. This section explores key milestones that reflect CMU’s modern identity, including the elevation of CMU Tech to strengthen and celebrate the trades, the expansion of academic offerings to include master’s and doctoral degrees, and the university’s continued commitment to workforce-ready education. It also examines CMU’s achievement of record enrollment at a time when confidence in higher education is declining nationwide, underscoring the trust students and families place in the institution. Grounded in a strong sense of purpose, this portion of the presentation looks ahead to CMU’s next 100 years—demonstrating how the university continues to grow by leaning into the same community support and shared belief that have sustained it since the very beginning.
The three full presentations are available now on YouTube. Learn more about the CMU Century project at cmucentury.com.