<P> Lory and the State Board had challenges of their own back on campus . In response to claims that the university was falling behind national standards, the board retired or demoted several senior professors and administrators deemed past the peak of their proficiency, and hired new doctorate - holding personnel while consolidating sections of lecture courses . A student petition led to the governing - board to change the college's name to more accurately reflect the diversity of its academic programs, and in 1935 the school became the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, or Colorado A&M for short . After 31 years of leadership, President Lory announced his retirement in 1938 . </P> <P> Soon after Pearl Harbor, Colorado A&M began to look like a military post, with the college serving as many as 1,500 servicemen . New President Roy Green tried to prepare for the sudden departure of students and arrival of servicemen by improving ROTC facilities, and introducing military - training programs . Although servicemen filed onto campus, student enrollment at Colorado A&M, 1,637 in fall 1942, dropped to 701 by fall 1943, and female students outnumbered their male counterparts for the first time . When the war ceased in 1945, soldiers returning from Europe and the Pacific filled U.S. higher - education institutions . Nearly 1,040 students attended the college in fall 1946, and about 1,600 students enrolled by spring 1946 . Close to 80 former "Aggies" died in World War II including football talent Lewis "Dude" Dent . </P> <P> Colorado A&M shed its image as a narrow technical college and became a university in appearance and title during the 1950s under president Bill Morgan . Providing adequate student housing for an increasing number of youth approaching college age and improving cramped instructional facilities were among the first tests of Morgan's leadership . He responded, and five new residence halls were completed between 1953--1957 . </P> <P> Academic offerings grew to include advanced degrees . The State Board of Agriculture approved a doctoral degree in civil engineering in 1951, and three years later allowed other qualified departments to offer doctorates . Morgan believed students earning this advanced degree should hold it from a university, and so began a campaign to change the name of Colorado A&M . In 1957, the Colorado General Assembly approved the new name of Colorado State University . </P>

When did colorado a m become colorado state