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Adams State president reports Valley enrollment gains, new partnerships
Summary
Adams State University President reported a 73% increase in San Luis Valley student enrollment, new facilities projects funded by the state, and expanded partnerships with local health and business organizations.
Adams State University President Dr. Tandberg told the Alamosa City Council that the university has increased enrollment of students from the San Luis Valley by 73 percent since 2022 and recorded a rise in spring applications compared with last year.
The enrollment gain, Dr. Tandberg said, reflects deliberate outreach to valley high schools and programs such as a direct admissions initiative and the Adams Promise tuition support for families earning $70,000 or less. ‘‘Every graduating senior in the Valley gets a letter signed by me that says congratulations — you’ve been admitted to Adams State,’’ Dr. Tandberg said.
The university also highlighted several ongoing capital and academic projects that it said will affect the local community. Dr. Tandberg described a new facilities building funded by the state, an IT building expansion and an energy performance contracting project intended to lower operating costs and conserve resources. Jake Brissler, vice president for advancement, accompanied Dr. Tandberg and was introduced to the council.
Dr. Tandberg said Adams State has expanded partnerships aimed at local workforce needs, citing a collaboration with SOV Health to place more students into nursing roles and a larger Opportunity Now grant to develop career pathways. ‘‘If we can get a student from the Valley to enter our degree program, graduate and then work at one of those high-need areas, they stick around,’’ he said.
Council members congratulated the university on the enrollment trend and on campus initiatives that serve the broader community, including cultural events and athletics. Councilor Carson and others described Adams State as an important civic and economic asset to Alamosa.
The presentation included plans to maintain outreach and convert applications into enrollments; the president said applications were up about 60 percent year-over-year at the time of the report, but noted conversion to enrolled students remained the key challenge.
Councilors asked no formal questions requiring follow-up and no formal action was taken by the council on the presentation.
