So, the Metropolitan State College of Denver wants a new name. I can understand why. The current name is a bit of a mouthful, and you have to struggle through four words before you get to the one word—Denver—which tells you exactly where on the planet this fine institution is located.
The MSCD folks have offered three finalist names. As a community service, I figured DenverUrbanism should weigh in on the matter, so let’s review them one at a time:
1. Metropolitan State University of Denver
This option offers the least amount of change from the current name (which provides for an easier transition, I suppose), but it suffers from the same “I have to get to the end before I learn where they’re located” problem, while adding an additional three letters to an already long name. I doubt anyone will be upset if they pick this option, but it doesn’t accomplish much in the re-branding department either.
2. University of Central Colorado
This option is just plain awful. Central Colorado… talk about vague. No one will know where the school is located and, besides, Colorado Springs is closer to the geographic center of Colorado than is Denver. This name adds nothing but confusion as to the institution’s location while also being remarkably boring at the same time. This name should be avoided at all costs.
3. Denver State University
This name has merit! It is the snappiest of the three options and it tells you as efficiently as possible what you need to know: It is a state university located in Denver. The abbreviation of DSU also rolls off the tongue nicely and the other universities in the country that go by “DSU” are all located far away and have tiny enrollments compared to Metro State’s hefty 24,000 student population. The name is also different enough from the University of Denver to avoid upsetting the Pioneers.
Thank goodness MSCD has steered clear of suburban-subdivision-sounding names like “The State University at Central Colorado” or using the word “Auraria” in their name, like “Auraria State University”. Auraria is a wonderful name steeped in Denver history and perfect for the name of the overall campus. But for everyone outside of metro Denver, they won’t get it. They’ll either spell it wrong or confuse it with Aurora (and we don’t want that).
I’d like to offer one additional option: Mile High University (or Mile High State University). This name capitalizes on two of the most positive, powerful, and universally recognized place-defining words out there, and immediately identifies the institution’s location as Denver, Colorado while giving the university a cool, cheerful name. Mile High University may sound to some people like a technical school or something, so that’s why it may be better to stick the word “State” in there to give the name a bit more gravitas. Mile High State University: serious, but hip at the same time.
Anyway, we here at DenverUrbanism wish Metro State the best in their renaming efforts and hope they pick a name that’s not lame.
Mile High State University sounds to me like the nickname for Colorado is the “Mile High State.” And I think the word “high” in the name of a university gives the wrong connotation (at least academically) to serious students. I like Denver State University.
I like DSU as well. It’s certainly no crazier than UofC being known as CU, or UofD as DU. Anyway – If they had to bridge the gap between new and old names Denver Metropolitan State Univ. might be OK. While I love the Mile High nickname for the state, stadium, city, etc I agree it’s probably not the best for a college looking to be taken seriously… “I’m in a mile high state at Mile High State!”
As a MSCD alumni, I’ll concur with Corey and Jeffrey. I like Mile High State, and maybe it would be a good nickname, but I think Denver State University is perfect. It describes EXACTLY what the institution is, as you mention above. But moreso, I think DSU will stand the test of time better than MHS. I’d be worried that we’d have another round of renaming in 20 years when MHS gets stale. If they went with MHS, I probably wouldn’t change my resume from MSCD. If they went DSU, I’d definitely change my resume.
I like DSU. Its a nice compliment to the already great DU
I like Denver State also, that’d be my vote. But I think they’ll probably choose the first option. The “Metro” moniker does have good name-recognition. It’d be a shame to give that up entirely.
Mile High might be a bit of a challenge if Metro ever aims to attract more international students, professors, or researchers. What’s a mile? I go to “1.6 Kilometer High University.”
“Denver Metro State University” anyone? Best of all possible worlds. Still long, though, I admit, but the location features prominently and it retains “Metro” in the name…which becomes far more descriptive and accurate now that we know *which* metro.
Let’s face it. Metro isn’t chasing the international student market and is overwhelmingly an institution focused on teaching rather than research.
The biggest concern about Denver State University is that it invites confusion with the University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver. It invites the assumption that CCD is part of DSU (although, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea why we really need to have both Metro and CCD as separate entities, after all Metro could offer two year programs).
But, MSUD is no better than the status quo and University of Central Colorado is indeed bizzare. I’d start looking for it somewhere around Leadville or Salida with a name like that.
Denver Metro university.
Keep it the same.
DSU. I am a graduate and a returning student of MSCD. When I was there the first time they added Denver to the end of the name. That made sense. Then they rebranded at “The Met” which never stuck. I would love to see DSU. I feel like I am getting a good education but to those that are not familiar with Metro I think they assume it is a community college. I really do not like saying I go there. I would be happy to say I go to DSU.
I don’t like Mile High State University. It sounds like a for profit technical school. How about “Commuter U”? ; )
I love DSU!!
I think the name shouldn’t be changed. “Metropolitan State College of Denver” is perfect because it speaks to the school’s identity in a way that the proposed names do not. Metro’s focus is primarily on undergraduate four year degrees and some master’s degrees. The term “College” doesn’t mean they don’t offer graduate degrees (think of Boston College or Dartmouth College) and “Metropolitan State” seems to fit because it primarily caters to students in the Denver Metropolitan area. The current name just seems to fit the institution’s goals and focus better than any of the other names. How could anyone think it’s located anywhere other than Denver, CO with it’s current name?
Denver City University?
Better than DSU in my humble opinion, if somewhat deceptive about ownership and control.
What I find interesting is that Metro was originally going to be named Denver State College. My vote is for DSU, I love that name!
Denver Metro University? DMU, doesn’t really roll.
Metropolitan Denver University? MDU, sounds a bit better.
Metropolitan University of Denver? MUD, nah
I guess it’s pointless to think of additional names since they have narrowed it to the three being discussed. Still it’s fun. How about Hickenlooper University?
Cowtown University
Without a doubt, Denver State University is the best name of the bunch.
But I’m leaning towards Nick’s Downstairs College.
My degree says I attended Metropolitan State College. Any attempt to confuse MSC with Gov. Evans’ University of Denver is pretentious, like renting a cheap Colfax harlot, dressing her in Givenchy, and trying to pass her off as Elle McPherson’s sister.
I had the money to go to DU, but as an adult, non-traditional student I felt Metro was more aligned to my vision and mission. I would hate to see the name changed and Metro’s mission of inclusiveness and diversity lost over this foolish identity crisis.
Where I now reside, the state system of higher education tried rebranding their state teachers’ colleges from Town State College to Town University of Pennsylvania, trying to glom onto the Ivy League cachet. What a joke that was! No one was fooled.
Keep Metropolitan State College at Denver.
This is a very good point. If Metro is to change the Department of Higher Ed. needs to find a suitable replacement to Metro’s niche. Possibly extending four year degree programs to Red Rocks CC, Front Range CC, Denver CC, and/or Arapaho CC. Just as they are discussing with Colorado Mountain College on the West Slope
Yes, Denver State is also the favorite of the Metro faculty.
Can’t say I favor Mile High State Univ, a nick name doesn’t hold clout. Would you attend Big Apple State? Big Easy State? Windy City State?
and p.s. to the above: the meritocracy is real in academia. Denver State University holds the clout of the city and university and will not be confused with the other Metro in Minneapolis. It will only improve degrees held from it.
DSU is by far the best. gotta say Mile High U is way too unprofessional.
Denver State University accounts for all they are looking for. Everyone in the state associates Denver to city/metropolitan area, however is it really that important. If Metro is serious about broadening its image via a name change maybe something more associated with what people outside the state consider Denver. Mile High University sort of does this but, as mentioned above, it is too close to the states name and really kind of tacky. Why not Rocky Mountain State University. Outside the state, Colorado is immediately associated to the mountains and giving the name to a school may enhance the image for out of state students looking to attend. That is if Metro is REALLY serious about the whole University thing. . .