UC Denver Business School receives $1 million gift from EnCana

UC Denver received $1million from EnCana Oil & Gas Inc. to begin renovations at the campus's Business School. [Photo by Ken Abbott

The University of Colorado Denver received a $1 million gift from EnCana Oil & Gas Inc. to begin renovations at the campus's Business School, located in downtown Denver.

University officials announced the award, facilitated by the University of Colorado Foundation, on Wednesday, June 24, during a Business School event attended by local business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Business School Dean Sueann Ambron said the gift would allow the school to establish a permanent home for its Global Energy Management, or GEM, degree program.

"We have the opportunity to bring all of the Business School's programs, students, faculty and staff under one roof," she said. "The location of the building will promote the school's position as a source of business talent, innovation and collaboration for businesses throughout the region, helping to grow local businesses and jobs."

EnCana, a Canadian corporation with U.S. headquarters in Denver, is the largest producer of natural gas in North America.

The company has supported the UC Denver Business School with the development of an energy accounting course in 2006, and the development and launch of the GEM program, which enrolled its first students in January 2009.

EnCana's gift to UC Denver will go toward initial renovations of the Business School Building located at 1475 Lawrence St. The school plans to honor the company by naming a suite after it.