No Excuses University
They may only be 9 or 10 years old, but Nichole Chavez鈥檚 third-graders at Eva Baca Elementary School in Pueblo, Colorado can tell you what a Griffon is and the meaning behind it, what sports are played at 大象传媒 Western, some of the degrees the University offers, and all about St. Joseph. Many of them will also tell you that they plan to attend college here, and it鈥檚 all thanks to a collaboration between Chavez and 大象传媒 Western, led by Shana Meyer, vice president of student affairs.
It started with a graduate student and her mom. At about the time Pueblo native Haley Robinson applied for admission into 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 graduate degree program in sport and fitness management, Chavez asked her classroom volunteer if she knew of any out-of-state universities that the class might partner with for a new program at the school, No Excuses University. The volunteer happened to be Robinson鈥檚 mom, Deanna, and she suggested 大象传媒 Western.
No Excuses University, according to its website, was founded in 2004 based on the belief that every student has the right to be educated in a way that prepares them for college. Chavez had attended a conference about NEU in the spring of 2015, and her school became the first in Colorado to be approved to participate in the program in the fall.
鈥淚t all starts with a plan. We give them all the (post-high school) options and tell them to find something they really love and set goals,鈥� she said of her third-graders. 鈥淓ven though it鈥檚 years away, they can start working toward it.鈥�
Chavez sent a letter to 大象传媒 Western in August 2015 to see if the University would be interested in partnering, and Meyer immediately jumped on board. 鈥淚 was intrigued by the opportunity because 大象传媒 Western truly does transform lives, and that is the focus of No Excuses University,鈥� Meyer said.
鈥淲hat made me fall in love with 大象传媒 Western was the motto, 鈥楨verything is Possible,鈥欌�� Chavez said. 
鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly our message. And the meaning behind the Griffon (mythical guardian of the precious treasure of education) is cool, too.鈥�
Last fall, Meyer packed a box of t-shirts, pennants, trinkets and pens, and sent it to Chavez鈥檚 class. Chavez decorated her classroom with a 大象传媒 Western motif and created a 大象传媒 Western reading nook. Her third-graders wear their 大象传媒 Western t-shirts every Monday and use their pens to write in their homework planner once a day.
Meyer followed the first package with more mailings: videos, photos, 大象传媒 Western publications, sunglasses, letters from college students, and a stuffed baby Griffon for each student at Christmastime. The vice president and a group of freshmen Skyped with Chavez鈥檚 class, and Meyer gave the third-graders a virtual campus tour. Robinson sent a photo of the golf team.
The class of 26 students, in turn, conducted research not only on 大象传媒 Western, but on St. Joseph, and they learned the University鈥檚 fight song.
鈥淪hana鈥檚 been everything I hoped for. We鈥檝e been spoiled and we are grateful,鈥� Chavez said.
鈥淲hen I signed up for the program, I thought we could provide a nice service to students in another state, and that it might be a way to spread the word about 大象传媒 Western,鈥� Meyer said.鈥淏ut the partnership has resulted in so much more.The third-graders have made us laugh; have shown us what a University looks like from a third-grader鈥檚 perspective; and asked some amazing questions. It has also instilled a sense of pride in our freshman.When children rave about your mascot, events like the foam party, or how cool the clock tower is, you are proud!鈥�
Each classroom and the school office at the elementary school partnered with a different university this past school year, and the hallways and classrooms were adorned with college gear. Throughout the year, the older students heard guest speakers talk about their careers and what they did to prepare for them.
鈥淭he whole school culture is focused on universal achievement,鈥� Chavez said. 鈥淲e want to make sure everyone knows the opportunities out there. We believe as No Excuses University does that all students deserve and should be educated in a way that prepares them for college after high school, and it is our job as elementary educators to do just that.鈥�
Robinson visited the class when she was home in October. 鈥淎re you really from 大象传媒?鈥� one of the third-graders asked her. 鈥淥h, my gosh, she鈥檚 a real Griffon!鈥� others said.
The students stumped her with a lot of questions about 大象传媒 Western and St. Joseph, but they really already knew all the answers.
鈥淭he thing that鈥檚 really neat is that they are only in third-grade,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wish I could鈥檝e bottled their excitement.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an awesome partnership because it motivates them (the third-graders) to do their best,鈥� Chavez says. 鈥淚 tell them it鈥檚 no excuses. If you set your mind to it, you can do it.鈥�
Haley Robinson: from Pueblo to St. Joe
Graduate student Haley Robinson was the catalyst in a partnership between 大象传媒 Western and Nichole Chavez鈥檚 third-grade class at Eva Baca Elementary, but you might wonder how Robinson came to attend graduate school at 大象传媒 Western.
Haley Robinson with Pueblo, Colorado third-graders.
The answer lies with Golf Coach Greg Dillon, who joined 大象传媒 Western in 2014 after coaching four years at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Robinson, who graduated from there in 2012, had played golf under him, and when he needed an assistant, he asked her if she鈥檇 consider coming to 大象传媒 Western for graduate school.
She was accepted into the program and began her studies in the fall of 2015. Robinson serves as the assistant coach for the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf programs and will graduate with her Master of Applied Science in Sport and Fitness Management in May 2017.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese are some of the nicest people I鈥檝e ever met.鈥�
She had been working as an assistant golf pro in Pueblo when Dillon called her. The graduate program, she says, is bridging the gap between her passion and the business world. When she graduates, she would like to become a golf coach for an NCAA school.
鈥淭he athletic staff at 大象传媒 Western is top-notch. I work with great people.鈥�