Richard Bateman, Summit County Trustee

Colorado Mountain College's trustee from Summit County felt that the Summit Campus needed to strengthen its math and science curriculum, but he didn't wait until he became a CMC trustee to do something about it. Richard J. Bateman, Ph.D., volunteered to help design a better program for the college while working as an adjunct (part-time) professor teaching chemistry for the campus in Summit County.

But Bateman has even more to offer the college. The board of trustees is responsible for governing CMC's fiscal operations and establishing and monitoring the achievement of the college's academic goals and objectives. Bateman has an extensive background directing high tech and scientific research programs, including being a senior manager with E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. But even though he feels his business background is valuable for Colorado Mountain College, Bateman said that there is a difference between a college and a business. Even though business principles are useful, "colleges aren't businesses,” he said.

In December 2007, Bateman was sworn in for his second full term as Summit County trustee. He said he first became involved with CMC while taking some classes and found that many of the adjuncts (part-time teachers) were experts in their fields, instead of just having academic backgrounds. He said that he was so impressed with the quality of the teaching that he wanted to become involved with the college.

As a trustee, Bateman has become committed to all of the college's campuses. He would like to see CMC extend its educational role with seniors, increase its opportunities for minorities and develop more programs to see that two-year graduates go into more four-year programs at other colleges and universities. Bateman also has another role as a CMC trustee: "I represent the owners of the college - the citizens of our district - and I am here to listen to them."

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