A Colorado State University student-run program that introduces all aspects of agriculture to elementary-aged children is on the road at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. A scaled-down version of the Ag Adventure program is currently in full swing at the 2009 National Western Stock Show, which continues through Sunday, Jan. 25.

Hands-on activities

Ag Adventure teaches school groups and other visitors about livestock production, crop production, animal husbandry, land stewardship and the “farm-to-plate” process through a series of hands-on activities.

Last year was the inaugural year for Ag Adventure at the National Western Stock Show. The efforts resulted in educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of visitors who traveled through the Stock Show during the 16-day event. In 2008, the Ag Adventure booth won the “Most Educational Display.”

“In our first year working with the Ag Adventure program, the National Western was highly impressed by the motivation, professionalism and passion that the CSU students had for their industry,” said Angie Cue, senior manager of Commercial Exhibits at the National Western Stock Show. “We look forward to building a strong relationship with the Ag Adventure program in the future.”

Embarking on 9th year

The Ag Adventure program is embarking on its 9th year overall. Every fall, nearly 1,700 third graders from more than 30 different elementary schools come to the Colorado State Agricultural Research and Development Education Center, or ARDEC, to take part in the adventure. More than 100 Colorado State students coordinate the program each year.

Agricultural and Resource Economics professor Marshall Frasier serves as adviser to the student group that organizes the program. “Ag Adventure upholds two missions of a land-grant university: education and outreach,” Frasier said.

The Ag Adventure booth at the 2009 National Western Stock Show is open to the public on the 3rd Floor, Hall of Education. The booth houses five different stations with age-appropriate, interactive lessons on agriculture.

FORT COLLINS – Business Week’s online edition has named AVA Solar, a Colorado State University spinoff, one of the most successful startups in the nation for 2008 and one of 25 “hot” companies.

The online magazine listed the company among an exclusive list of organizations nationally that had raised the most venture capital in the 2008 calendar year. AVA Solar raised $104 million – the most venture capital for any Colorado firm for the year.

AVA is expected to start production by the end of 2009 on pioneering, patented solar panel technology developed by mechanical engineering Professor W.S. Sampath at Colorado State University. Produced at less than $1 per watt, the panels will dramatically reduce the cost of generating solar electricity and could power homes and businesses around the globe with clean energy for roughly the same cost as traditionally generated electricity. The company’s initial market will be large power users.

The company is in the process of retrofitting an existing building in Longmont into a 200-megawatt factory that will make 2-foot by 4-foot panels capable of powering large-scale utility solar power plants.

Based on the average household usage, 200 megawatt panels will power 40,000 U.S. homes.

“During the past year, we’ve successfully raised $104 million to fund the completion of our first 200 megawatt manufacturing facility, recruited industry-leading global customers and grown from a small team of 35 to more than 150 as we continue to ramp-up in preparation for manufacturing in 2009,” said Russ Kanjorski, vice president of marketing at AVA Solar. “We welcome the opportunity to take on new challenges this year as we transition from a startup perfecting its technology to a high-volume manufacturer competing with the leading manufacturers in the solar industry.”

Of AVA, Business Week editors said the company “has perfected a process for producing solar photovoltaic modules at a cost below $1/watt, significantly reducing the cost of generating solar electricity. Its founders are optimistic about its prospects, despite the recession, with Vice-President of Marketing Russell Kanjorski explaining in an email that ‘while some things have gotten tougher and valuations have certainly suffered, the outlook for solar PV is still very strong in Europe. Plus, the environment in the U.S. and other parts of the world appears to be growing as well.’”

For the ranking process, Business Week “followed the money, looking at deals that took place in the four most recent quarters available, from October 2007 to September 2008, based on the MoneyTree Report from the National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. We then reached out to a selection of the seed and early-stage companies that raised the most money.”

To read the AVA Solar profile, go to http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/12/1217_hottest_startups/2.htm.

Click here to read more!

At the end of the 2008 football season, Steve Fairchild and the CSU football team had a 6-6 record and became bowl eligible; far exceeding expectations for our first- year football coach and his team.  On December 20, CSU beat Fresno at the New Mexico Bowl to the surprise of many, and delight of all, including 3.43 million viewers.   However, some rightly question why attention and funding are directed toward athletics, especially when most public universities today are facing severe budget issues. 

I have to confess that my husband Joe and I are die-hard Ram fans.  And indeed, winning is fun.  But there are a number of reasons why I believe sports can elevate universities in unique ways.  First, sports for the right reasons and in the right way, teach team work, leadership, hard work and commitment toward common goals.  Certainly winning a conference title and a bowl game are goals of athletic programs and their fans.  However, even more important is the “student” side of student-athlete.  Sports in the right way – the CSU way—educate athletes to become engaged and productive graduates and citizens.   At CSU, the graduate rate for our student- athletes is 66% compared to 63% of our student non-athletes and second highest four-year grad rate in the Mountain West conference.  This is not the case at all universities, but for CSU, education always remains our highest priority.
 
Athletics also helps tell the University story to a diverse and large audience.  It is common practice now to see university advertisements during a televised game.  These advertisements highlight university values and academic programs of excellence and serve as important communication and recruiting vehicles.    This type of broad exposure is invaluable to universities as today they must compete in an academic world, just as companies compete in the business world. 
  
However, what draws me most to athletics is its ability to create community.     The students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who came to the New Mexico Bowl immediately formed a strong bond because of our pride in our athletes, our fabulous band and cheerleaders – and ultimately, in CSU.  And athletics was the vehicle that brought us all together — as well as those watching in Colorado, nationally, and world-wide. 

The best athletic programs are not about wins and loses.  The best athletic programs are those who win while not only maintaining an academic standard of excellence for their student- athletes, but who also are an integral part of the entire University Community.  The best universities don’t choose between athletics and academic programs.  Instead a synergy is created that makes both better and stronger.  That to me is the CSU Way under Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk and his coaches and the standards set by Interim President Frank.   

To learn more about Athletic Director Kowalczky’s vision for CSU Athletic program go to http://csurams.cstv.com/index.html

Go Rams!
       

FORT COLLINS – Colorado State University’s reputation for outreach and community partnerships has earned it a label as a Carnegie Community Engagement university, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has announced.
The elective Community Engagement University classification was first offered in 2006. Such classification, offered every two years, is designed to assist universities in demonstrating and enhancing outreach and partnership efforts.
A Carnegie Community Engagement University is one that encourages collaboration between the institution and the larger communities “for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity,” according to the organization. In Colorado State’s case, engagement includes curricular engagement as well as outreach and partnerships.
CSU is one of 119 organizations recognized as a Community Engagement university in 2008.
“Credit for this honor goes to our faculty and staff who have embraced the land-grant university mission of engaging campus and the surrounding community for the benefit of the state, nation and globe,” said Tony Frank, interim president of Colorado State. “The value of community partners in creating an educated community is critical to our land-grant mission of improving lives though research.”
“I want to thank the campuswide committee that worked on this effort and the new opportunities for coordination that resulted,” said Lou Swanson, vice provost for Outreach and Strategic Partnerships who chaired the committee. “As we build on the achievements of CSU Extension, the Colorado Water Institute and other longstanding outreach partners, we have a better understanding of the ways in which CSU actively pursues and benefits from community engagement.”
Highlights of Colorado State University’s community outreach in recent years:
-Creation of the vice provost for Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, a position charged with engaging state residents with assistance on economic development and agriculture, among other areas.
-Partnership between the CSU Office of Economic Development and the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. to create and fund a regional economist.
-Participation in the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, a group of business, government and economic development leaders devoted to promoting clean energy business in the region.
-New University Center for the Arts, which provides theater, music and dance performance space for community-university collaborations as well as classes for student and community arts courses.
-Participation in UniverCity Connections, which is a unique “town and gown” partnership designed to create sustainable and meaningful connections for community building such as participation in Fort Collins’ Zero-Energy District, known as FortZED.
-Three research Superclusters for cancer, infectious disease and clean energy, which ensure that the business community can effectively navigate the complexities of academia to more readily obtain access to key university discoveries.
-CSU Global Campus, a virtual campus that was created for learners who cannot physically attend campus to obtain professional development, complete degrees and obtain in-demand degrees.
-A Community Relations Coordinator in the Office of Public Relations to provide more effective two-way communications between the university and such organizations as the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association and Poudre School District.

Dear Alumni and Friends,
I wish you the best of the season and a happy new year.  Thank you for being part of the Colorado State University family.

Very best,
Dr. Joyce Berry

December 19, 2008

Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) trees are gracing the halls of the Governor’s Mansion, the Colorado State Capitol, the CSU President’s Office, and the atrium in CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources this holiday season. The trees were grown by nature on state land in Larimer County.

Forest management technique reduces overcrowding

In past years, fir trees selected for Christmas trees were harvested from the Colorado State Forest near Gould as part of a comprehensive forest management plan on the forest. While the trees may not be as full or perfectly shaped as trees sold at local lots, their unique character – shaped by nature – tells a story about the conditions in which they grew.

Boyd Lebeda, Mike Hughes, Todd Ruffner and Daniel Beveridge, all with the Fort Collins District of the Colorado State Forest Service, harvested the trees to reduce the competition for sunlight, nutrients and moisture in a stand of trees on state land that was overcrowded. This forest management technique allows the remaining trees in the stand to grow more vigorously and increase their resiliency to insect and disease infestations.

Tree harvesting improves health of state land

We encourage you to visit our State Capitol to enjoy this Colorado native with the knowledge that it not only brightens your holidays, but that its removal will improve the health and productivity of the state land from which it was harvested.

And please remember to recycle your own tree when you’re done enjoying it. Many local municipalities chip trees for use in landscaping. Contact your local nursery to learn more about recycling and to obtain a list of recycling sites.

For more information about Colorado’s forests and forest stewardship, we encourage you to take a tour of our website or call us at http://csfs.colostate.edu or call (970) 491-6303.

December 15, 2008

Lasso-up your friends and family for this year’s CSU Day at the National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 17!

Wear your green and gold to the National Western Stock Show and connect with other alumni and friends of CSU during CSU Day at the National Western Stock Show.

Grounds open at 9 a.m. and the rodeo is at 11 a.m. Cam the Ram, both four-legged and two-legged, will be available at the CSU booth for photos and autographs.

Discounted CSU tickets

Discounted CSU tickets include admission to the fairgrounds, as well as the popular afternoon rodeo at 11 a.m., which provides a great atmosphere for families and young alumni, alike.

Tickets are available in two discounted price points $14 (retail of $15) or $15 (retail of $17), plus you avoid fees associated with buying tickets elsewhere. Tickets are available at http://www.CSUAlum.com/registration.

Your $14 or $15 ticket includes grounds entry, the ProRodeo (11 a.m.) and all of the other fun that comes along with the stock show including a petting zoo, mutton bustin’ competitions, shopping, entertainment and much more.

Reserve your tickets no later than Jan. 8!

Department of Animal Sciences Social

The Department of Animal Sciences will host the Animal Sciences social from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Centennial Room, third floor, Hall of Education, on the Stock Show grounds.

The social is open to all. Reservations are not required, but would be appreciated. Contact Katie Boeder at (970) 491-0993 or Katie.Boeder@colostate.edu.

University to celebrate the fall graduating class December 19 and 20

Fall 2007 graduates celebrate with friends and family.

Colorado State University will confer degrees on fall 2008 graduates at commencement ceremonies Dec. 19 and 20. College ceremonies and an ROTC commissioning will recognize 1,483 undergraduates and 340 graduate students, of which 70 are doctoral students. Fourteen students will graduate summa cum laude, 36 will graduate magna cum laude and 70 will graduate cum laude.

Among this year’s commencement speakers are Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John R. Stulp; Mike Applegate, president & CEO of Applegate Group Inc.; CSU emeritus Computer Science Department Chairman Rodney Oldehoeft; and CSU instructor Kathy Hutcheson.

Times, dates and locations for the individual college commencement and ROTC commissioning ceremonies are listed below.

Webcasts

Ceremonies will be broadcast live on the Web beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 19th.

• Events in Moby Arena – http://cope.colostate.edu/moby_live
• Events in the Lory Student Center – http://cope.colostate.edu/lsc_live

Alumni Association programs

New graduates are now important members of the extended CSU alumni family. Visit the Alumni Association for information on alumni groups and programs.

• Benefits and services for new graduates
• Students Graduating with Distinction – Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude
• Graduate Profiles

Dear Friends, With President Penley’s recent announcement of his resignation, I want to thank him for his dedication to Colorado State University. President Penley’s vision that Colorado State University be a premier public research university took us to a new level of excellence and prominence. President Penley also recognized the critical role that private support plays in building and maintaining world-class public universities in the 21^st century. Under his leadership, Colorado State University doubled private giving during the past five years and built a stronger culture of philanthropy.  The Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Tony Frank interim president. As Colorado State’s provost and senior vice president, Dr. Frank had more than 16 years of Colorado State experience as a faculty member, Department Head, Vice President for Research, and Provost. He is greatly respected by his colleagues, students, alumni and constituents of Colorado State University. Under Dr. Frank’s outstanding leadership, and the leadership that exists in every Colorado State college and division, we are confidently moving forward. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Frank as Interim President.  I invite you to read his message below.  Best regards,

Dr. Joyce Berry A Message from Dr. Tony FrankDear Colleagues:As you now know, President Larry Penley on Wednesday announced his intention to resign as president of Colorado State University and Chancellor of the Colorado State University System, effective Nov. 30. While this news came as a surprise to many of us, President Penley leaves the University in a good position to face the challenges ahead. His leadership over the last five years has helped elevate CSU’s profile on the national stage, and his tenure has seen record levels of private and research support, as well as a focus on sound strategic planning and budgeting. During his presidency, the University has taken important steps to strengthen CSU’s engagement with the Fort Collins community and statewide economic development efforts, and these will continue to be institutional priorities. As a community, we wish President Penley and Yolanda Penley well on their future endeavors, and we thank them for their dedicated service to higher education and Colorado State. The Board of Governors has asked me to serve as interim president, and I have agreed. Lance Perryman, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will serve as interim provost during this time.I accepted this responsibility because of my deep affection for this campus—the same sense of pride and possibility I felt when I came here nearly 16 years ago as a faculty member in pathology, made stronger by time and experience. Colorado State University, by nature of its land-grant mission, is helping to prove a uniquely American hypothesis: that broad access to higher education is essential to preservation of a democracy, and that elevating the individual through knowledge, skill, and understanding elevates society as a whole.  Like you, I respect this mission and consider it a privilege to uphold it.But let’s be clear: The success of Colorado State University in the future will have less to do with who occupies the president’s chair than who is teaching our classes, who is leading our research programs, and who we admit and graduate. In that light, CSU today is in good stead. We have an experienced and engaged governing Board and a strong leadership team in all our academic colleges and vice presidential and vice provost areas. We have an outstanding, competitive faculty and staff that deserve full credit for the strength of CSU’s reputation and stature. And we have a student body that is responsible, service-oriented, and passionate about the world and their ability to make it better. This is the basis for all Colorado State will achieve in the years to come. The job of the president and central administration is to help our campus community gain access to new opportunities, to continuously improve in service and quality, and to assure we have the resources needed to fulfill our mission creatively and well.As a lifelong Cubs fan, I know all too well that success is never guaranteed. But character, collaboration, and a commitment to academic excellence will take us a long way. I am honored to serve you and this institution, and I look forward to working closely with you in the months ahead.Tony FrankInterim President