DENVER – Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees is starting to take shape – with two members approved Thursday by a state Senate committee.
The members, Ernest House Jr., executive director of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and a native of Cortez, and Richard Kaufman, former president of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, were unanimously approved by the state Senate Education Committee.
This will be House’s second term on the board, but he is no less excited to represent and guide the college and its unique connection to Native American tribes, he said.
“Fort Lewis is known throughout Indian country as being (a) really top, premiere higher education institution for Native American students,” he said.
Kaufman said he has been impressed with FLC since his time on the Higher Education Commission.
The recent awarding of Fulbright scholarships is just one representation of what the college brings to Southwest Colorado, he said. “I mean three Fulbright scholarships – the only other school in America was the Naval Academy to have three – which really speaks about the academics, instruction and quality of students at Fort Lewis.”
But not everything is sunshine and rainbows for higher education and by extension FLC.
Kaufman said recent revenue forecasts, which have projected a budgetary shortfall of up to $500 million, have him on guard for potential cuts to colleges and universities across the state.
“I think there’s some rough waters ahead, and in the past what happens is the only two places the Legislature … can actually cut money is higher ed and transportation,” he said.
House shared the budgetary concerns and what it could mean to FLC tuition rates.
“We’ve been really proud that we’ve been keeping not only resident but nonresident really low compared to other colleges and universities in Colorado,” he said.
FLC President Dene Kay Thomas was also at the hearing, and she expressed her gratitude for the quality and appropriateness of appointees under Gov. John Hickenlooper. “Clearly the governor has paid attention to who we are,” she said.
Thomas also offered an update on legislation that would move the obligation for funding the Native American tuition waiver – qualified Native American students can attend the college for free under a 1910 agreement between the federal government and the state of Colorado – from the state to the nation as a whole.
Thomas said the bill should be introduced in Congress in the next few weeks.
“They have the wording ready to go, and I will be going back to D.C. for the introduction,” she said.
Kaufman’s appointment will be added to the calendar and considered by the full Senate in the coming days.
In addition to the two members confirmed Thursday, the Board of Trustees also added Dianne Pacheco-Van Voorhees, a lawyer from Arvada, in December.
Pacheco-Van Voorhees’ confirmation hearing is scheduled for next Thursday.
lperkins@durangoherald.com
