[EDWARDS] — Bachelor’s degrees at Colorado Mountain College have generated so much interest on the Western Slope that donors from Eagle County are supporting a proposed new degree that is in the planning stages.
Women in Philanthropy, a group of philanthropists in the Vail Valley who have united to support Colorado Mountain College, voted recently to make a $100,000 charitable commitment to establish a Distinguished Chair for Classroom Leadership for a still-being-studied bachelor’s degree in teacher education.
“Teacher education is one of the degrees we’ve been studying for some time, based on initial interest from our local school districts,” said Dr. Brad Tyndall, senior vice president for academic affairs at the college. “In addition to anticipating what the changing job climate might bear, another major question with which we are grappling is related to the finances that would be required to sustainably run a successful program, and this commitment will certainly help.”
As was the process for the now-offered bachelor’s degrees in business administration and sustainability studies, a robust series of internal approvals will be required if the college is to offer a degree in teacher education. If internal approvals are met, the college will seek external approvals from the college’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, as well as from several state offices.
“This generous commitment from Women in Philanthropy inspires us as we investigate a teacher education program,” said Tyndall. “That said, we must be pragmatic and exhibit due diligence so that we keep the college’s and community’s best interests in mind every step of the way.”
Donors to be honored with naming rights
Created by 30 founding members in February 2012, Women in Philanthropy will be recognized for its commitment to Colorado Mountain College by having the group’s name placed on the virtual library at the college’s campus in Edwards. The virtual library was constructed as part of the campus’s 35,000-square-foot addition, which opened in July 2011.
“We are pleased to create the Women in Philanthropy Virtual Library at CMC-Edwards in honor of this visionary investment in the intellectual capital of our college and our community,” said Matt Spencer, chief executive officer of the Colorado Mountain College Foundation.
Designed to inspire and empower accomplished women to become visionary donors, Women in Philanthropy provides a collective and powerful way for women to support scholarships, faculty, capital and cultural enrichment at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. To date 30 women have given more than $1,000 each toward projects of the group’s choosing. This year those funds have gone to support scholarships and toward the distinguished chair at the campus.
[Media contact: Debbie Crawford, Colorado Mountain College’s public information officer, Central Services in Glenwood Springs, 970-384-8535, dcrawford@coloradomtn.edu]