A message regarding the executive order to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education
Colleagues — President Trump issued an Executive Order this afternoon directing his Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps permitted by law to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. In announcing this move, President Trump noted specifically that Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for special education will be preserved, with responsibility for those transferred to other departments.
A message from Chancellor Tony Frank to the CSU System campuses
Colleagues – by now I imagine that most of you are aware of the Dear Colleague letter from the Department of Education concerning what it terms “illegal” DEI activities. The Department has promised more guidance in the days ahead, and while we’ll see what that holds, the 2-week time frame referenced in the letter has been driving us to think through options to remain in compliance with the new interpretation of federal law.
Tony Frank: On the National Western Stock Show
The National Western Stock Show kicked off its 119th year last weekend with a record opening day, welcoming the world to Denver for 16 days of livestock, entertainment, exhibits, and a full-throttle celebration of American agriculture. Even with the cold temperatures outside, there’s no warmer place to be in January than at the National Western Center for this greatest of Colorado traditions.
Tony Frank: On the work ahead
I’ve been thinking lately about a photograph. It’s the only photo on the desk in my office. It’s small, faded, and black and white. It’s a kid in his baseball uniform sitting dejectedly on first base, looking straight ahead across an empty ball field backed by flat cornfields as far as the eye can see. It’s a pretty depressing photo, actually, but perhaps I read more into it because I was the subject. We’d just lost our final game of an epic Little League season (or so I remember it) on an error I had committed, and my dad snapped the photo unknown to me.
Tony Frank: On the dreams of a new generation
I’ve written in this space before about first-generation students – those who are the first in their families to earn a college degree. But nothing I’ve said captures the importance of the first-generation journey better than the simple observation I’ve shared above from one of our first-year students at CSU in Fort Collins. First-generation students are the foundation of the Morrill Act of 1862 and what it means to be a land-grant university.
On the harvest
Fall on the Midwest farm where I grew up meant pulling a 2-row corn picker with an ancient John Deere M. We kids groaned at it. We lusted after the new Uniharvester, or at least a tractor with a cab! Fall meant running the cattle and hogs in the corn stalks, digging the potatoes out of the garden, getting the apples into the cellar, eating the last watermelon right before the first frost, and the chance for a pheasant dinner with a side of #4 shot.
Chancellor’s message on fair campaign practices
As we head into the final stretch of this election season, I want to take the opportunity to remind everyone within the CSU System of the responsibilities we have as members of a public university community when it comes to free speech, elections, and campaigning. As public employees, there are also some fundamental rules we all need to keep in mind when it comes to election season. There are a few specific points I want to highlight for our CSU System community.
Tony Frank: On election season
Almost half the people on our shared planet will partake in elections this year. Many have done so. It’s a fascinating thing, really – that we, at least in theory, have rejected the idea that either divine or earthly “power” should direct our course into the future. We have chosen instead to rely on an imperfect collective process where – again, at least in theory – we listen, think, share our opinion, then collectively agree to abide with the majority.
Tony Frank: On perceptions
In my last newsletter, I wrote about the widespread misconceptions about the cost of public higher education. I asked, at the end of my column, for your ideas on how we can better communicate the straight facts … and I want to thank everyone who responded with such thoughtful ideas and comments. Clearly, this issue hits close to home for a lot of us.
Tony Frank: On the price tag
This week and next, our flagship campus will start sending out financial aid awards to returning students. This is happening later than usual at CSU and every other campus because of the revamping of the federal FAFSA forms – and we know that students and families are anxious to learn what kind of support they’ll receive in paying next year’s college costs.