White Papers

The following white papers and reports outline issues facing the Colorado State University System.

Fulfilling the Colorado Promise: A Model to Drive Fundamental Change in Funding Higher Education in Colorado
Larry Edward Penley, January 2007
To lead in fulfilling The Colorado Promise, Colorado must provide a first-rate system of higher education and a home-grown, highly educated population. In his January 11 “State of the State” address, the Governor reinforced this message, highlighting the importance of educational access and the need to align economic development strategies with the state’s educational offerings. Working in collaboration, higher-education leaders have made a clear case for the importance of a highly skilled workforce and a diverse mix of colleges and universities to the state’s economy.

Transforming Colorado: Higher Education and the Future of Our State - A Blueprint for Success
Larry Edward Penley, December 2006
The future of Colorado - its quality of life and economic prosperity - depends on the transforming potential of its colleges and universities. To capitalize on existing strengths and better position Colorado as a globally competitive, dynamic and economically prosperous state, we must begin today to better position higher education as a transforming force in Colorado. To do so will require the leadership of the Governor and Legislature, in cooperation with the business community, in placing the health and vitality of Coloraod higher education at the forefront of the state's agenda in the decade ahead.

Investing for Economic Growth in Colorado: Linking University Funding to Policy Goals
Larry Edward Penley, February 2006
Continued economic growth and vitality in Colorado depends, in part, on the state’s willingness to explore alternative models for funding higher education and adopt approaches that meet Colorado’s needs.

Supporting Excellence: The Funding Challenge for Colorado Higher Education
Larry Edward Penley, March 2004
As a state, we must resist efforts to privatize our state’s public system of higher education, particularly the research universities that provide such an extraordinary value to the state as a whole. Such trends run the risk of limiting higher education’s ability to support economic development and the ability of the state to promote improvement in the lives and welfare of its citizens. To use a simple analogy, research universities are a major engine of economic development, and they need energy to run at high speed.