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Records of the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education

 Collection
Identifier: UCDE

Scope and Contents

The Records of the Colorado Department of Education consists of documents dated 1949 to 1974, with the bulk falling from 1960 to 1968. The contents relate to finances, student enrollment, research, reports, and planning for CSU and higher education in Colorado.

Dates

  • Creation: 1949-1974

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

History

The Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) oversee all public institutions of education within the state, including Colorado State University (CSU).

The Colorado Department of Education was created in 1858 with a territorial provision for an elected superintendent of public instruction, Henry H. McAfee. When Colorado became a state in 1876, Joseph Shattuck became the superintendent of public instruction and worked on the Board of Education with the Attorney General and Secretary of State. The Board remained similar to the function of territorial superintendence until 1948. That year, the Colorado Constitution was amended to create an elected board with power to select the Commissioner of Education and establish a staff at the Department of Education. The first Board of Education was elected in November 1950, with Nettie S. Freed serving as the first Commissioner of Education.

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) is an 11-member, bipartisan council appointed by the governor with at least one member from each Congressional district and serves as a coordinating body, not a regulatory entity. The CCHE was established in 1965 by the Colorado Legislature and replaced an association, which met informally, to consider matters related to higher education. It is the only body charged with examining the higher education needs of the state and coordinating policies to help meet those needs. Additionally, the CCHE establishes the distribution formula for higher education funding and recommends statewide funding levels to the legislature; approves institutional capital construction requests and recommends capital construction priorities to the legislature; administers statewide student financial aid programs through program evaluations and allocation of funds; collects and analyzes student data; and evaluates programs and outcomes and reports best practices.

Extent

1.5 linear feet (1 record carton)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Records of the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education consists of materials relating to finances, student enrollment, teaching, research, reports, and planning regarding institutions of higher education in Colorado, specifically Colorado State University.

Arrangement

The collection consists of 1 series in 1 record carton:

Series 1: Records, 1949-1974 and undated

Acquisition

The Records of the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education was acquired by Archives and Special Collections in several increments. Records were transferred from CSU administrative offices in 1973 and 1974; from the Morgan Library in 1974; and from an unknown office in 1975.

Related Collections

Records of the State Board of Agriculture (USBA)

Collection on Legislation (ULEG)

Records of the University Organization Study (UUOS)

Records of the Committee on the Responsibilities and Standing of the Academic Faculty (UCOS)

Records of the Financial Administration (UFIA)

Processing

Processing was completed in July 2017. Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and one box, and metal paper clips were removed.

Title
Guide to the Records of the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Prepared by Jessy Morris
Date
Copyright 2017
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the CSU Libraries Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Fort Collins Colorado 80523-1019 USA
970-491-1844