The University of Colorado (CU) concluded its 2025 Presidential Outreach Tour with a visit to Mesa and Montrose counties on the Western Slope. The tour was led by CU President Todd Saliman, Regent Ray Scott, and system administration leaders. Over two days, they met with K-12 educators, higher education partners, nonprofit organizations, business leaders, and local residents in Grand Junction and Montrose.
The outreach effort aimed to strengthen CU’s relationships with communities across Colorado. The university highlighted its focus on affordability, access, and opportunity for students from all regions of the state.
“At the University of Colorado, we know there is a place at one of our four campuses for every student from the Western Slope who wants to pursue a degree,” said CU President Todd Saliman. “We’re focused on ensuring that cost and culture are never a barrier to anyone looking for their educational path to success. Our visit this summer – and our ongoing work with community leaders – are all about growing our existing partnerships and exploring new ways we can align with community-identified needs.”
In Grand Junction, the tour included a stop at the recently completed Grand Junction High School. The $144.5 million facility was funded through a bond measure approved by Mesa County voters in 2024.
CU leadership also participated in an outdoor recreation manufacturing roundtable attended by industry representatives and Colorado Mesa University officials. Discussions centered on how CU Denver’s Outside Lab could support innovation in the region’s outdoor sector.
“I want to make sure that CU is connected to Colorado and that we’re doing things that are relevant for our state,” Saliman said. “What I see in meetings like that is that the answer is that we are.”
Later, CU leaders visited Colorado Mesa University to observe the CU Boulder/Colorado Mesa University Engineering Partnership Program. This collaboration allows students to complete initial coursework at CMU before finishing their engineering degrees with CU Boulder faculty based locally.
At Montrose High School, officials learned about the district’s Career and College Readiness Program for grades 6-12. The program provides hands-on learning through career pathways, technical education, concurrent enrollment opportunities for college credit at no cost, and industry credentials.
CU plans to expand concurrent enrollment opportunities with Montrose schools as part of efforts to prepare future teachers through direct pipelines into local teaching programs.
A business roundtable in Montrose brought together university leadership with local business owners and civic leaders to discuss economic needs and potential collaborations between higher education institutions and regional industries.
“It’s through those kinds of partnerships where we can provide added value to the business community or to families or to students,” Saliman said. That’s what we’re all about.”
The tour ended with a Community Info Night event where residents met admissions staff from all four CU campuses: Boulder, UCCS, Denver, and Anschutz Medical Campus. Information was provided about financial aid initiatives such as CU Promise and Boulder Tuition Guarantee as well as details about transfer options within Colorado colleges.
“In Colorado, it’s affordable,” Saliman said. “There are ways to go to college in Colorado. People need to pursue post-secondary education. We’re making it easier to transfer credits. We have lots of financial aid options. We’re making it cheaper to go to college and people need to check it out.”
