Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack plans CSU course on helping small farms survive, thrive

Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks into a microphone on a stage.

During his first stint with CSU, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack played a central role envisioning CSU Spur as a new kind of university campus that would engage learners of all ages in problem solving and discovery related to food, water, and human and animal health. Now Vilsack is returning to CSU, this time to establish a unique course that will provide students with insight and experience to counter a challenge he knows well from his time as Agriculture Secretary: the steady disappearance of small to mid-size farms.

4 takeaways from the 2024 Water in the West Symposium

Conference attendees listen to a keynote talk entitled, "Teaming with Intention."

The 2024 Water in the West at CSU Spur brought together more than 150 stakeholders representing everything from the state and federal government to academia and tribal nations. One common theme rang through: progress through collaboration isn’t always easy, but it is possible. Here are some other key takeaways.

In good taste

Chocolate samples in metal dishes.

Helping entrepreneurs develop products and find markets is among the ways that CSU Spur supports innovation and drives economic development. The Food Innovation Center, based in CSU Spur’s Terra building, includes the Ardent Mills Teaching and Culinary Center commercial kitchen, a sensory testing lab, the soon-to-open Leprino Foods Dairy Innovation Center, and other multi-purpose labs.

Drone camp at CSU Spur supports lofty career ambitions

Students gather around another student operating a drone remote.

Sumer drone camp, offered for free to Colorado high school students and select educators, is designed to reach a broad audience while exposing young people to careers ranging from drone-assisted research or photography to commercial aviation. The week-long program mixes intensive flying lessons and a behind-the-scenes airport visit with finely tuned test-prep sessions focused on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 exam, which must be passed by those wishing to receive compensation for operating a drone.

‘Eye-opening’ research experience at CSU Spur provides more than a taste of lab work

Group photo in lab coats.

Eleven CSU System undergraduate students joined a summer research program at the CSU Spur campus in Denver, offered through CSU’s Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry, or OURA. After an initial two-week immersion in lab techniques from Gram staining to pipetting, the students, representing a range of majors and two campuses, spent six weeks embedded in one of the labs at Spur.

Administrative management of Spur shifts to CSU campus

Aerial view of the CSU Spur campus with downtown Denver in the background.

The CSU System Board of Governors has voted to transfer operational oversight of CSU Spur from the CSU System Office to the flagship campus in Fort Collins, with continued funding by the CSU System. The administrative shift will have minimal impact on Spur’s core mission and day-to-day operations. It also will not impact salaries and reporting lines for Spur staff.

From at-home chemistry to wildflower seed spheres, 6 new Wiz Kid videos showcase the wonders of science at CSU Spur

Wiz Kid with an orange bandana.

Wiz Kid, in addition to being a fan of bedazzled lab coats and colorful bandanas, is the host of six new YouTube videos aimed at connecting kids – and the young at heart – with the wonders of science. These episodes dropped on April 4 and feature a variety of at-home science experiments and activities for everyone, furthering CSU Spur’s mission to break down barriers and provide inclusive, accessible education for future generations.

A taste for food innovation

Group photo in front of a blue wall.

Twelve full-time students started the Agribusiness and Food Innovation Management masters program in the fall of 2023, taking classes on food innovation, marketing, and accounting on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.