Phil Castle, The Business Times

An institution that offers a range of career and technical education programs has a new name and new sign on the outside. What goes on inside the Grand Junction campus continues.

“Learning is learning,” said Alison Griffin, chairwoman of the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees.

And for many students at what’s now CMU Tech, that learning comes at no direct cost to them, said Brigitte Sundermann, vice president for community college affairs at CMU.

Griffin and Sundermann were among the officials who joined in a ceremony to unveil the new sign at CMU Tech, a division of CMU. 

CMU President John Marshall said the name change from what was Western Colorado Community College culminated a year-long initiative called Forming the Future. The process involved students, faculty, staff and CMU trustees as well as community members. 

The change highlights the importance of career and technical education programs and a commitment to preparing students for jobs in a variety of industries, he said.

Griffin said CMU Tech constitutes the latest iteration of 40 years of efforts to bring together various educational and training programs at one location in the Grand Valley. “This is the beginning of the next 40 years of success.”

CMU Tech offers 30 certificate and associate degree programs, concurrent enrollment to high school students and a variety of noncredit professional and personal development courses.

Sundermann said college enrollment has doubled over the past 10 years even as high school enrollment has tripled.

Many of the programs are available at no cost, she said, include those offering training for such high-demand fields as construction, early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement and nursing.

A new mobile learning lab will support welding and commercial driver license training programs. Another mobile  learning lab offering mechatronics courses to high school students, adult learners and employees enrolled in company training.

Instructors at CMU Tech come from industry and know what students need to succeed on the job, Sundermann said. “I think that’s key.”

In addition, CMU Tech offers businesses customized training. It’s usually a matter of a business owner or manager calling to inquire about setting up training, she said. “The answer is yes.”

Marshall said the name change constitutes another step in continued efforts at CMU Tech. “This really is just the beginning and the next phase of this journey.”

For additional information about programs and training offered at CMU Tech, call (970) 255-2600

or log on to the website located at www.coloradomesa.edu/tech.