CSU Pueblo has had an ongoing search for a permanent university president that became confidential on August 29, 2025. Reporters went to the Occhiato Student Center to speak with students and hear their thoughts about how the search is progressing.

There were a significant number of students unaware that CSU Pueblo is conducting a presidential search. For those who were aware, they were then asked if they knew the search was made confidential, and if they knew what the confidential process entailed. There were mixed responses–some uncertain overall, and some aware of the search but unclear on the exact process.

Students were asked the following questions based upon how long they’ve been at CSU Pueblo and whether or not they were familiar with the search. A selection of anonymized responses reflecting student awareness and opinions on the presidential search are below.

Our campus has seen some significant presidential turnover recently, how do you feel about that as a student?

• “I feel like the campus has gone through so many changes and just even the small things, like the food catering changing… There’s so much happening and the fact that we don’t have a clear presidential candidate right now, or someone clearly leading us makes me a little worried.”

Did you know that the university is in the process of finding a new president? 

• “No. Did that happen because someone stepped down from their position last year? Was that the result of that?”
• “Yeah, it expires soon, January 1st we have to roll over and have a new president.”
• “Yes, I did know we are currently looking for a new president.”

Were you aware that the presidential search became confidential. Do you know what that means and does that matter to you? 

• “I did see that it became confidential. To me personally, I don’t understand why it would need to become confidential, because I feel like this is something that’s affecting our student population as a whole. It’s something that I think everyone should be fully briefed on and not something that just becomes kind of like less known, or less information given out.”
• “It seems, I don’t want to say sketchy, but a little bit off-putting.”
• “No, I wasn’t. That’s so interesting. I think students, faculty, and people just want to know what’s happening, who’s being considered, and what their goals and plans for the school are. It being confidential is definitely a little hard on us. It makes us feel even more left out than we did previously.”
• “It’s kind of like you want to find someone that’s good, you don’t want any problems on the back end of things, but it’s also like people aren’t aware of who you’re talking to, or what kind of person they are.”
• “I know it was open and we got Rico Munn as our interim, and at the beginning of this semester they sent out a notification that the search became confidential because they hadn’t found a candidate.”

Do you feel student life can be impacted by the role of university president? If so, in what ways?

• “Hearing what students have to say or complain about, and trying to fix them. They get to decide on major topics. They help point the campus and the community in certain directions, I’m assuming so I think that’s a big. They can have a big impact on all of our lives.”
• “They oversee our entire university. By reaching out to students and making more experiences, and having students participate could impact student life on campus.”
• “I think the role of the president is really important because he manages all of the university. When it’s about costing and how much people need to pay, that could actually impact somebody’s life.”

On a scale of 1-5, 5 being very much so, to what extent do you feel your opinions as a student are taken into consideration when it comes to hiring administrators?

• “I’m going to say a three… because I am on a lot of boards, my voice is heard a little bit more, but I feel like as a student overall, most things the school does administrative wise feels a little bit like student voices are heard but not actually listened to.”
• “I feel like three because especially if I as a student didn’t even know that this was happening I feel like my opinion isn’t really taken into consideration.”
• “A three or four because I’ve never sent them so I don’t know if they actually respond or reply to people who actually say something.”
• “About two. I think it would depend on the department, for example, I’m in the CHASS department, there’s a certain level of communication that they do have with students when new faculty comes on. But I think overall, especially with the higher leadership positions, there’s not a lot and it’s normally just like an email too.”
• “If you don’t check your email or if you’re not overly aware of what’s happening on campus, you might be left out. I wish there were more events or more clear guidelines on what’s happening, and when it’s happening.”

What would you like to see from our next university president?  

• “Someone who is more engaging with the students because I know past presidents I haven’t personally known… Interacting more with students could be good, getting their name out there, and meeting students so people know who they actually are.”
• “I would like to see more meetings like the city does to know what’s going on.”
• “Someone who’s really communicative. I’d love someone who hosts events often, who makes himself accessible, who shows up to games and just walks around.”
• “I would love someone who really makes an effort to communicate their goals with us, more so than just an email and a brief little welcome.”
• “I would love to see a university president who prioritizes the order of fixing our buildings. The music building has been passed up like three times for renovations and um it needs them badly.”

Is there anything else you’d like to comment on regarding these concerns?

• “The email’s been a little informal and random at best…I wish there was a little bit more of a consistent way, or more public facing way, of helping the students understand what’s happening.”

In December of 2025 the CSU Board of Governors hopes to make a final decision on candidates based upon the findings of the 11 person committee who has been conducting the search as Interim President Rico Munn will be moving onto another role Jan. 1, 2026.