I am a huge proponent of a name change. Metro State has zero brand awareness outside of the metro area and much brand image confusion within the metro area. Getting a job or going to grad school is quite a bit tougher when it looks like you went to an online school or an ITT Tech rather than a school that has some brand awareness.

Metro State could be anywhere or nowhere.

When we get grad school here we officially become a university. There is already a Metro State University in Minnesota so that name cannot and should not be used. It also makes little sense to keep the college moniker when we have earned the right to be a university. Eliminating the word college will dispel the perception that we are actually a community college (yes, there is that perception even locally).

Some names I would suggest:

Denver State University

Central Colorado University

Central Colorado State University

A name change will serve you well. Schools change names all the time. CSU-Pueblo was University of Southern Colorado up until a few years ago. That transition went very well. A name change is a chance to reintroduce the brand and what it stands for. All other brand elements like colors, slogan, etc. can be kept the same.

Darrin Duber-Smith, MS MBA

President Green Marketing, Inc.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing

Metropolitan State College of Denver

I’m one who would like to see Metro State change its name to something more distinctive.  My suggestion is Auraria College (or University), which would identify us with the Latino neighborhood we displaced.

Jim Aubrey, Professor of English

Metropolitan State College of Denver