University Catalog

The CU-Boulder Alumni Association sponsors a wide range of activities to benefit students and alumni. Students can join the student alumni association, the Herd, an active group that provides a community for students interested in participating in a wide range of activities, including ski trips, night hikes, movie outings, and many other events. The Herd also provides leadership opportunities for university events like Homecoming and the Teacher Recognition Awards. Student membership in the Herd is $15 annually. Members can take advantage of free meals prior to home football games, free rides on the CU ski bus, and many other benefits.

After leaving CU-Boulder, alumni can become involved in their local alumni clubs and the Alumni Association's constituent clubs, such as the Hispanic and Black Alumni Associations.

By joining the Alumni Association or one of its geographic or constituent clubs, alumni become ambassadors for CU-Boulder in their communities. Finding and recruiting the best students and awarding scholarships to current CU students are among the valuable contributions alumni can make.

The association also encourages advocacy on behalf of the campus by keeping alumni members informed through its publication, the Coloradan, which is issued four times per year. News about alumni and candid coverage of CU-Boulder and the issues affecting it help to maintain mutually supportive relationships between the campus and its alumni. Alumni also receive a monthly electronic newsletter, Buffalum Notes, which updates readers on campus and alumni activities.

For additional information, call 303-492-8484 or 800-492-7743 or visit www.cualum.org.

The Alliance for Technology, Learning, and Society (ATLAS) Institute at CU-Boulder promotes excellence throughout the total learning environment by integrating information and communication technology into curricula, teaching and learning, research, and outreach activities. ATLAS is changing the campus learning culture by enabling all students, even those in traditionally nontechnical fields, to experience firsthand the role that information technology plays and can play in their disciplines.

Through ATLAS, CU-Boulder is examining the integration of technology into its curricula, conducting research that critically assesses the impacts of technology on education and on society, and interacting with the K-12 system to help effect many of the same transformations at that level. In conjunction, CU-Boulder is providing an excellent technological infrastructure for all of its students, faculty, and staff.

The ATLAS Building, located in the heart of the CU-Boulder campus, is a 66,000-square-foot facility that includes the Byyny Teaching and Learning Center, the Faculty Teaching Excellence Program and Graduate Teacher Program, and technology-enhanced classrooms and auditoriums for use by the entire campus. A two-story Black Box performance theater and a production studio are venues for transdisciplinary collaboration among the performing arts and production departments on campus. An exhibition lobby with video wall, a second-floor wireless lounge, and a coffee shop provide gathering spaces for the campus. More information on the various initiatives of ATLAS, including the building as well as the Technology, Arts, and Media Certificate Program, can be obtained at the Alliance for Technology, Learning, and Society, University of Colorado at Boulder, 320 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0320, 303-735-4577, or atlas.colorado.edu. The certificate program is explained more fully in the Other Academic Programs section.

The CU Art Museum, founded in 1978, is the fine arts museum on campus. The museum presents an active program of exhibitions and events that emphasize the interdisciplinary significance of art. The mission is to contextualize art more broadly in people's lives; to be a lively forum for the discussion of art and related issues; and to provide access to art of the highest quality and of regional, national, and international significance, with an emphasis on diversity and work of social content.

BFA and MFA thesis shows are held in the museum, which also presents a host of educational programs. Graduate assistants and student guards help staff the galleries and receive practical training in the field.

The CU Art Museum's permanent collection, also known as the Colorado Collection, contains over 5,000 works of art. The collection was started in 1939 to be used as a teaching tool for students. This comprehensive art collection enriches the educational experience of students, faculty, and the broader campus community, as well as the Colorado public through exposure to original works of art. The collection also serves to facilitate art-historical research about larger societal issues through a greater understanding of the arts. It is the only public resource of its kind for the state of Colorado and is the only public art collection in Boulder.

The CU Art Museum's permanent collection includes works from a diversity of time periods, regions, and cultural heritages, including Japanese Ukiyo-e prints; North and South American santos; historical, modern, and contemporary photography; African sculpture; Renaissance and Baroque drawings and paintings; American paintings; Southeast Asian pottery; and modern and contemporary drawings, paintings, sculpture, and prints. It is used for instruction, research, and special study sessions, and is exhibited regularly in the CU Art Museum. Exhibitions drawn from the collection travel to communities across Colorado as part of a statewide outreach program.

The CU Art Museum is currently closed during construction of a new "state-of-the-art" museum facility. Visit the CU Art Museum's website at www.colorado.edu/cuartmuseum for updates on exhibitions and programs at various institutions on campus and in the community during construction.

Clubs and organizations of almost every description are available on the CU-Boulder campus including over 200 academic, political, social, religious, and recreational groups. The Ski and Snowboard Club, Greek Life Office, Religious Campus Organizations, Campus Ambassadors, Black Student Alliance, Program Council, College Republicans, and the Residence Hall Representative Council are examples of student organizations that offer a variety of opportunities for students to become involved with others on campus.

All clubs and organizations provide an excellent way for students to become involved in current events, student activities, and community service. For more information, interested students may consult the University of Colorado Student Union's Club Guide, available in UMC 125, visit castle.colorado.edu/guide/guide_Frames.htm, talk with their associate dean's office or an academic advisor, or stop by a student organization's office in the UMC. Students interested in forming clubs and organizations on campus can contact the Student Organizations Finance Office in UMC 231 or call 303-492-6366.

The Colorado Space Grant Consortium provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in designing, building, testing, and operating space missions, as well as in analyzing data from space engineering and science experiments. Students in a variety of disciplines are trained to carry NASA and the U.S. space program into the 21st century. Space Grant students receive actual research experience in space science and engineering. They also have a chance to apply their classroom learning to exciting mission opportunities and are recruited by prospective employers.

Students earn scholarships, research assistantships, and/or independent research credit. The Colorado Space Grant Consortium provides courses to prepare students for designing, building, operating, and analyzing data from space missions. Courses include Gateway to Space and Independent Research Studies.

Space Grant students gain valuable hands-on experience in space science and engineering projects by participating in one of several missions. Along with other students from colleges and universities throughout Colorado, they work on BalloonSat payloads, sounding rocket payloads, CubeSat design, and orbiting satellites.

For information, contact the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, University of Colorado at Boulder, 520 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0520, 303-492-3141.

CU Concerts presents the Artist Series, CU Opera, Takacs Encore Series, and the Holiday Festival.

The Artist Series in Macky Auditorium features a wide array of internationally renowned performing artists in classical music, jazz, dance, and world music. Wynton Marsalis and Christopher Parkening are two of the outstanding performers who have appeared recently as part of the Artist Series.

CU Opera presents the best in opera and musical performance in Macky Auditorium and the Music Theatre. Recent performances have included La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, Don Giovanni, The Music Man, and other works.

The Takacs Encore Series features concerts by CU's Grammy Award winning Takacs Quartet in Grusin Music Hall; and the annual Holiday Festival in Macky Auditorium features students and faculty in a celebration of seasonal music.

Students may purchase concert cards that entitle them to a 50 percent savings on tickets for Artist Series and CU Opera performances. A free brochure and concert calendar may be obtained by calling 303-492-8008, or visiting www.cuconcerts.org.

For information on either of the programs described below, call 303-492-4985. The FTEP website is located at www.colorado.edu/ftep, and the PTSP is at www.colorado.edu/ptsp.

Faculty Teaching Excellence Program +

President's Teaching Scholars Program +

More than 1,100 students currently participate in CU-Boulder's approximately 20 Greek social organizations, emphasizing service, leadership, scholarship, and involvement in campus life. Many of these organizations have houses off campus where members can live after their first year. The university works through the Greek Life Office to establish an educational, growth-oriented environment for sorority and multicultural Greek organization students that integrates them fully into the campus community.

The Greek system is autonomous from the university. The university has established a Registered Fraternal Organization Agreement outlining the university's expectations of fraternal organizations, including requirements for spring recruitment and live-in advisors. As of fall 2005, all Panhellenic sorority chapters and multicultural Greek organizations have agreed to abide by all requirements in the agreement.

National Interfraternity Council fraternity chapters have not signed the agreement and are not recognized by the university.

A hazing tips line has been established at the university. Anyone who witnesses or experiences hazing in any form should report it to 303-492-0140.

Additional information on the Panhellenic sororities and multicultural Greek organizations may be obtained by calling the Greek Life Office at 303-492-6359.

Outstanding student scholarship is recognized at the University of Colorado at Boulder through national and local honor societies. The national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, was established at CU-Boulder in 1904. Phi Beta Kappa recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. The campus also has a chapter of Sigma Xi, an honor society for scientists. Sigma Xi's goals are to advance scientific research, to encourage communication among scientists, and to promote the understanding of science.

Other national honor societies with local chapters at Boulder are Beta Gamma Sigma (business), Phi Delta Kappa (education), Tau Beta Pi (engineering), Kappa Tau Alpha (journalism), Order of the Coif (law), and Pi Kappa Lambda (music). The criteria for membership in honor societies and their activities vary.

For more information on both national and local societies, consult the individual college and school sections or associate deans' offices.

The University of Colorado is a member of the Big 12 Conference, and sponsors teams in a variety of intercollegiate sports. Competing at the national level, the Colorado Buffaloes pride themselves on many individual and team championships.

Every year since 1989, between 10 and 13 programs have been ranked annually in the top 25 in the nation (out of 16 varsity sports overall). In 2004, CU became just the fourth school to sweep the NCAA cross country championships when both the men's and women's teams claimed titles. In 2006, CU won its 17th national title in skiing and third in men's cross-country, raising the school's overall total to 23, fourth-most by a Big 12 Conference member school. The football program owns the 16th most victories all time, won the 1990 national championship, and most recently has won four Big 12 North Division titles and the 2001 league title. Several other programs are regular participants in the NCAA postseason, most notably women's basketball, soccer, and volleyball along with men's golf. The track teams regularly send multiple individuals into the postseason as well.

In its 117-year athletics history, over 500 student-athletes have been named All-American, with thousands earning academic honors.

There are over 300 student-athletes involved in intercollegiate athletics annually (roughly 53 percent men and 47 percent women). The average GPA for student-athletes was 2.83 in 2006-07, near the average for the entire Boulder campus.

Men's varsity sports include football, basketball, cross-country, track and field, skiing, and golf. Women's varsity sports include basketball, cross-country, golf, track and field, skiing, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

Folsom Field, a 53,750-seat stadium, serves as the home of the Colorado Buffaloes football team. The basketball teams practice and compete in the Coors Events/Conference Center, a facility that seats 11,064 people. The golf and tennis teams use local clubs as their headquarters, and the CU-Boulder ski team takes advantage of Colorado's many ski resorts, including its home mountain, Eldora. The women's volleyball team uses both the Coors Events/Conference Center and Carlson Gymnasium for matches and practices. The soccer team uses the Prentup Field on CU's East Campus for its games.

Boulder's diverse terrain and a running-conscious community combine to create a vigorous atmosphere for track and cross-country training. The track teams practice and compete at Balch Fieldhouse on the Main Campus and at Potts Field on the East Campus. Cross-country has a world-class course on the grounds of CU's future South Campus.

The Office of International Education (OIE) houses the International Student and Scholar Services and Study Abroad Programs. OIE serves as a liaison for international activities among academic departments, administrative units, international universities and governments, and U.S. governmental agencies and foundations. This liaison stimulates and provides administrative support for students and faculty members who desire to study or conduct research overseas; for international students, faculty members, and visitors who come to CU-Boulder; and for all members of the campus community who wish to develop an international dimension in their teaching, research, or study.

Specific functions include expediting the exchange of students and faculty, sponsoring undergraduate study abroad programs, arranging the programs of international visitors, promoting special relationships with overseas universities, and advising on international scholarships. OIE also sponsors the Smith Hall International Program (SHIP), a residential academic program for first-year students interested in adding an international focus to their studies.

Study Abroad Programs +

International Student and Scholar Services +

The International English Center (IEC), as a unit of CU-Boulder's Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, provides intensive English-language instruction to students from all parts of the world. Classes are offered in eight-week sessions (with a four-week option in summer) at four levels of English-language proficiency and in all language skills. The program is designed to prepare international students for academic study at colleges and universities in Colorado and elsewhere in the United States. At advanced proficiency levels, IEC students are permitted to enroll concurrently in selected academic courses as additional preparation for a degree program.

The IEC's curriculum is particularly appropriate for University of Colorado applicants who have been informed by the Office of Admissions that they are academically qualified but cannot be granted admission because of inadequate English-language proficiency. Such students are automatically eligible for study at the IEC. For IEC students who have not applied to CU-Boulder or any college or university in the United States, the IEC provides academic placement advice.

Through its English as a Second Language for Degree Students (ESLG) program, the IEC offers non-intensive credit and noncredit courses for graduate and undergraduate degree students who need further work in ESL. A recommendation is required to register for ESLG courses based on an English Placement Test administered at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Registration for ESLG courses is through the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies.

The IEC provides online writing instruction for graduate students who need to improve their writing for their course work, thesis, or dissertation. The four noncredit modules include support and evaluation from an online instructor. The IEC also offers non-intensive evening classes in English as a second language for international visitors and local residents.

Full information may be obtained from the International English Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, 63 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0063; in person at the IEC offices at 1030 13th Street; by phone, 303-492-5547; by fax, 303-492-5515; or visit www.colorado.edu/iec.

With over 400 public concerts annually, the College of Music is a major musical resource in the Boulder-Denver metropolitan area. In addition to faculty and student recitals, the college features its own symphony orchestra, bands, and choirs in regular concerts. Music for many tastes is also provided through smaller performing organizations on the Boulder campus such as the Jazz Ensembles and the Early Music Ensembles.

Guest artists, speakers, and special events provide a vibrant and diverse musical atmosphere at the university. Acclaimed artists Marilyn Horne, Randy Brecker, Martin Isepp, Wynton Marsalis, James Galway, George Crumb, and alumnus David Grusin have appeared on campus. Many have presented free master classes open to students and to the public.

During the fall and spring semesters, CU-Boulder offers state residents, who are 55 years of age or older, the opportunity to attend classes on a tuition-free, space-available basis. The only costs to senior auditors are books, if they wish to buy them, and a small processing fee due at registration. No record is kept of attendance; no examinations are taken for credit; and class participation is at the discretion of the instructor. Senior auditor privileges include the use of the university's libraries. For information, call 303-492-8484.

Service learning courses integrate academic course work with community service in a way that benefits students and faculty as well as communities. Service learning courses offer students an interesting way to apply and enhance their growing knowledge and skills, to gain work experience, to meet people in professions of interest, and to learn more about community dynamics.

Currently, over 50 faculty, 30 departments, and an average of 1,700 students at CU-Boulder annually participate in service learning courses. Linguistics students gain insights by teaching adults in literacy programs; engineering students design devices that provide greater functionality for people with disabilities; sociology students learn about community needs by working for homeless shelters; and students in scientific writing courses gain proficiency by writing proposals that bring in needed funds for K-12 science classes and scientific nonprofit organizations. Participating students gain confidence and expertise in their subject areas as they gain understanding about people and community needs.

The Service Learning Program Office works with faculty, students, community organizations, and other campus programs. To learn more about service learning opportunities at CU-Boulder, contact the Service Learning Program Office at 303-492-7718, at servicel@colorado.edu, or www.colorado.edu/servicelearning.

Facilities for theatrical and dance presentations include the University Theatre Mainstage, the beautiful outdoor Mary Rippon Theatre, the Loft Theatre, and the Charlotte York Irey Dance Studio/Theatre.

The Department of Theatre and Dance presents six to eight major theatre productions each academic year, as well as four to six student produced and directed theatre workshops. The 2007-08 season included The London Merchant, the musical She Loves Me, Cloud Nine, Danceworks 2008, and Marat/Sade; and the world premiere of the musicals Beneath the Surface and Here I Am Here I Stay. The dance division presents six to eight concerts featuring student, faculty, and guest artist work.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) is presented each summer in the outdoor Mary Rippon Theatre. One of the few repertory groups in the nation to have completed the entire Shakespearean canon, the festival has had 50 years of distinguished history, and features the most advanced students in the CU-Boulder Theatre and Dance program as well as professional actors, directors, designers, and outstanding performers and technicians from MFA training programs throughout the country. CSF "alums" include Jimmy Smits, Annette Bening, Joe Spano, Tony Church, and Val Kilmer. Also in the summer, the department hosts the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop and Frequent Flyers Productions' Aerial Dance Festival.

CU-Boulder offers several ways for undergraduate students to participate directly in research and creative work. Through such involvement, students acquire knowledge and skills seldom attained through classroom experience alone. Project results sometimes are presented at national professional meetings or published in scholarly journals.

College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program +

Independent Study +

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program +

The United Government of Graduate Students (UGGS) represents more than 4,400 graduate students, law students, and business students on the Boulder campus. UGGS, the graduate student link to the Graduate School and other administrative bodies, actively pursues goals intended to enrich the quality of life on campus and the quality of graduate work for the university. As such, UGGS is committed to full health and child care benefits for graduate student employees of CU, clarification of policies regarding research and teaching assistants, improved teacher training programs, and provision of a multicultural campus.

UGGS holds bimonthly meetings during the academic year and monthly meetings during the summer. Graduate students from each department choose or elect representatives for the legislative governing body; UGGS officers are elected from among the departmental representatives. All are welcome to the general meetings.

For more information on the United Government of Graduate Students, call 303-492-5068, drop by at UMC 127, or visit the website at uggs.colorado.edu.

Through the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU), students make policies and control many Boulder campus facilities and programs. Based on its budget of more than $33 million, half of which comes from student fees and the other half from self-generated revenues, UCSU is the nation's largest student government. UCSU operates facilities such as the Wardenburg Health Center, the University Memorial Center (UMC), the Student Recreation Center, and the campus radio station, KVCU. UCSU also offers students off-campus housing assistance, legal counseling, and many other services.

UCSU is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The UCSU executives, elected each spring by fee-paying students, head the executive branch. In representing the students, the executives work with the Board of Regents and the CU-Boulder administration on university policies and decisions. Support staff includes student administrators who work in key administrative offices and serve as liaisons between the students and the administration.

The legislative branch of UCSU is composed of an 18-member Legislative Council. Nine seats are occupied by representatives of the colleges and schools; the remaining nine seats are occupied by elected representatives-at-large. The joint boards on which council members and any interested student may serve include those in the environmental, recreation, health, finance, cultural events, and UMC areas.

The Appellate Court is UCSU's judicial branch. The seven students appointed by the executives as justices to the court are responsible for interpreting the UCSU constitution and ruling on specific appeals brought before them.

For more information regarding UCSU and getting involved, call 303-492-7473 or stop by UMC 125 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.