Western State College is now Western State Colorado University

“Today we celebrate a new name, but also the rich educational environment synonymous with Western,” said President Jay Hellman. “While our new name preserves our Western Colorado heritage, it also reflects the broadening opportunities available to us as we move toward the future as Western State Colorado University.”

Taking effect on August 1, the name change culminates a five-month plan initially approved by the school’s Board of Trustees in March. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed bill HB-12-1331 on June 4, officially changing the name of the institution to Western State Colorado University.

A new branding effort accompanies the new name including a university logo developed by BFT International. Presented in the school’s traditional crimson and slate colors, the new logo features a stylized outline of the Rocky Mountains above the bold initials “WSCU” and signature “Western State Colorado University.” The tagline, “Learning. Elevated.” references WSCU’s status as the nation’s highest four-year university campus at 7,700 feet.

WSCU’s athletic teams will also sport a new graphic identity featuring a ruggedly, updated version of the traditional Mountaineer mascot .

WSCU will welcome its first “university” class of freshmen when classes begin for the fall semester on August 28.

About Western
Founded in 1901, WSCU is a public, liberal arts university located in Gunnison, Colo. With an enrollment of 2,300 taught by 120 faculty members, WSCU offers bachelors of arts degrees in 22 areas of study, a bachelor of fine arts, master of arts in education and a master of fine arts in creative writing.