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MSC~.UCD me·rger [
by Frank Mulle.n
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The Colorado State Senate May I dealt a major blow to Seante Bill 523 by killing :;ome of its sweeping changes in higher ·~ducation governance including the proposed merger of Auraria's two largest institutions. SB-523, introduced by Sen. Hugh Fowler (R-Littleton), included provisions for replacing some major governing boards responsible for sevetal institutions with newly-appointed governing boards for each institution. The bill include.d a provision for the merger of Metropolitan State College (MSC) and the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD) under· a new board. The amendment to SB-523, introduced by Sen. James Kadledcek (D-Greeley) retains the status quo in Colorado higher education governance. Kadledcek's amend-. ment removed the "core" of his sweeping reorganization bill, Fowler said.
"The amendment changes the basic reason for the act," Fowler said. "It leaves intermediate boards between the legislature and 11 institutions. "Those are the institutions which need the most help from the legislature." MSC Acting President Richard Netzel said the language of the amendment contains some "mistakes" concerning MSC. He said Kadledcek has agreed to change the wording of the amendment. SB-523 is still on the Senate floor as of May 2. The bill, introduced late in the session, could be postponed indefinitely or sent to the House with the new amendments. MSC lobbyists at the session said they were surprised at the early rejection of Fowler's changes. Fowler presented the bill to the Senate in an hour-long speech and the Senate voted "On amendments immediately after. "What you have just seen (rejection of Fowler's proposals) is a vote of confidence
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for MSC", said Prof. Yale Huffman of the MSC political science department. John Marvel, president of the Consoriium of State Colleges, said the bill's changes were rejected early because the senators took the time to read the 323 page document and realized its implications. Marvel's board w.ould have been replaced by several new governing boards if the original provisions had become law. He said the bill brought up some issues that should be dealt with but the changes can be made within the existing system. He said the institutions at Auraria must now work to eliminate duplicative programs and consolidate support services. House Bill 1498, now before the House of Representatives, would place Auraria under the state's '"sunset provision" . If the bill becomes Jaw, Auraria would be reveiwed by February 1980 and the campus could face restructuring, continuation or termination at that time.
"There are changes needed at Auraria," Kadledcek said. "But that doesn't ,mean we have to move so fast we have to destroy the system. T!ie amendment doesn't preclude the possibility of merger." Kadledcek's amendment received support from Sen. Ruth Stockton, a Republican member of the Joint Budget Committee. Stockton told the Senate the present governing boards have made much progress in solving their problems during the last year and they should be allowed to "continue along the path they've sta.rted." The amendment also killed a provision in the bill which would· have given the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) the power to approve and review programs at institutions. Higher education lobbyists have opposed the CCHE provision of the bill, saying the new powers would create a "super board" over state postsecondary education. Fowler said he will continue to fight for "what is left of the bill."
This issue of 71ze Metropolitan is: a) late; and b) sm~ll. The typesetting equipment usually used to produce this newspaper passed away peacefully last Saturday after 14 years of service to a host of different masters. In an attempt to serve students to the best of our abilities, The Metropolitan is publishing a smaller edition typeset off-campus. Cost and time prevented us from publishing our usual larger edition. Please excuse us until our equipment situation is rectified. Thank you. The staff of 711e Metropolitan.