History of the Colorado State University System
On July 1, 1985, the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System (then the State Board of Agriculture) created a higher education system incorporating Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Lewis College, and the University of Southern Colorado. The board designed the new Colorado State University System (CSUS) to assist the institutions in accomplishing their objectives and to provide staff support to the Board itself.
Colorado State University's first main building, Old Main, was built in 1878.
The departure of Fort Lewis College in 2002 reduced CSUS to two institutions, Colorado State University and the University of Southern Colorado. By statute enacted in 2002, the latter institution's name was changed to Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo), effective July 1, 2003.
In providing its support, the CSUS recognizes the unique and special characteristics of each institution and addresses its efforts to further develop those characteristics.