GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa University and Mesa County Valley School District 51 have expanded their partnership to extend the network of qualified instructors delivering CMU courses at local high schools, allowing more high school students to earn college credit prior to graduating.
Under a new teacher compensation agreement, qualified D51 instructors will join the ranks of CMU’s adjunct faculty. In addition to adjunct pay, these concurrent enrollment instructors will gain access to university benefits and amenities, including recreation center memberships, library access, professional development through the Center for Teaching and Learning and other campus resources.
The agreement is the latest step in CMU’s radical affordability commitment and supports the university’s 10-year vision to increase educational attainment rates across Western Colorado. It enables top-tier instruction for students without placing additional strain on district budgets.
“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to radical affordability and our 10-year vision to increase educational attainment across the region,” said CMU President John Marshall. “By compensating D51 teachers as CMU adjunct faculty and providing them access to campus amenities and professional development, we compensate local qualified teachers for their collegiate-level instruction while saving local families money on college — all while working with the district to stretch a dollar further.”
“This next step in our partnership with CMU creates even more opportunities for our students and our staff,” said Mesa County Valley School District 51 Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill. “Our students will have greater access to college-level courses and the opportunity to earn college credit while they’re still in high school, helping make their next step more affordable and attainable. At the same time, this recognizes the incredible expertise of our D51 educators and creates new opportunities for them to grow professionally as members of CMU’s adjunct faculty. It’s a win for our students, our staff and our community.”