Students of CSU-Pueblo were given an opportunity to speak with President Lesley Di Mare and other administrative employees during a meeting Feb. 24.
Advertised as an event called Nachos with the President, the meeting was a free informal luncheon for students wishing to express their concerns and discover any changes occurring within the university.
The Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs, Rick Kreminski, and the Director of Finance and Administration, Karl Spiecker, were also present.
Students filtered in and out throughout the hour-and-a-half meeting, eating the nachos and dessert provided at the event. Though the total number of students at the meeting never reached more than 11, topics of conversation were not sparse, ranging from financial aid to the growth of the ROTC program.
One prominent concern was about the future of the PROPEL Center, a science and math tutoring program for students. The grant for the center is due to expire on Sept. 30, and three student employees expressed their interest in wanting the program to stay afloat.
Kreminski, an avid supporter of PROPEL, offered a response to the troubled employees, explaining that the funding for the center is the result of a specific grant, Title III, which would have to be renewed.
“If we get another grant, then no worries,” he said.
However, Kreminski said that as a long as program fees are approved, there will always be math and science tutors provided for students.
The three administrators also addressed the issue of the decrease in enrollment for 2015-2016.
She explained the strides that are currently being implemented to combat the problem, such as the use of a “multi-faceted marketing campaign,” which aims to reach high school students as early as their sophomore year. Di Mare said the university sends perspective students a series of advertisements such as brochures and pamphlets.
Di Mare also said that students can now apply for the university through their mobile phones, a process that was not offered before. She and Spiecker said it is estimated that up to 80 percent of students apply on their cell phones.
Kreminski also hinted at the possibility of creating an event in which students of different majors call high school students and tell them of all CSU-Pueblo has to offer.
However, despite some of the complications that the university has been having, Di Mare, Spiecker and Kreminski seemed hopeful about the future.
Speaker spoke about the Wi-Fi project in the residence halls, which is projected to be finished at the end of the semester.
Additionally, the director was particularly thrilled for the expansion of the Occhiato University Center, which is an over $30 million project.
“You’re not going to recognize the inside of the OUC when it’s all done,” he said.
