How CWA Works
Anchored by the campus tradition of the Conference on World Affairs, our team develops and executes programming that highlights CU Boulder’s status as a premier public research university. Our mission is two fold:
Engage diverse voices in an open exchange of opinions on the most pressing issues facing the world.
Foster critical thinking, civic engagement, and transformative dialogue that advances CU Boulder’s impact as Colorado’s leading public research university.
CWA Planning Team
The CWA team collaborates with campus and community partners to create programming that enhances the CU experience for students, elevates the achievements of faculty and staff, and strengthens connections with the Boulder community.
We understand the importance of everyone’s time and commitment, and we strive to maximize reach, deliver impactful content and fulfill CU Boulder’s institutional values: leading with purpose, innovating with intent, and making a meaningful impact. Join us in celebrating and advancing these efforts through CWA’s powerful programming.
Arts
Join the arts committee and add to the creative mix that is CWA. Through brainstorming and drawing upon each other’s ideas and connections, the committee brings timely, thoughtful and sometimes provocative artists and creatives to participate in the programming of panels and events in any number of disciplines: poetry and spoken word, music, dance, theater, visual arts, photography, sculpture, architecture, animation and film. Programming can include art installations, interactive events and performances. You can help select titles for the CWA Book Club or be part of the classic Ebert Interruptus film event. It's a big box of fun and we split it up so you can do what interests you.
Business
The business committee takes a multidisciplinary approach to provide a business perspective to the Conference on World Affairs. Whether you're interested in geopolitics, sustainability, finance or any other niche, it can all be explored in the business committee. We use many disciplines to discuss a large variety of topics and how they can be applied to real-world business situations. The business committee seeks to connect people, departments and interests by creating engaging and relevant panels that provide value to students and community members. If you're interested in discussing many topics through a business lens, stop by one of our committee meetings.
Human Condition
The CWA human condition committee provides global and inclusive perspectives on what it means to be human. Community and student members bring together writers, scientists, scholars, public officials and others to discuss human desires, needs, rights and societies. We typically explore topics in areas such as education, health, human rights, recreation, relationships and social issues. Past programs have focused on the criminal justice system, education reform, gun safety, human displacement, love and sex, sports, and more.
International Affairs
In a fast-changing world with a growing interdependence of all nations, the CWA international affairs committee is composed of a globally oriented group of volunteers who discuss and create panels for the conference based on the most pressing international issues. Diplomatic strategies, national security concerns, environmental issues, global trade, economic growth and development, and creating effective foreign policies are a few of the many thought-provoking topics that our committee delves into. Every year, we help develop panels that consistently include high-caliber speakers of diverse backgrounds and expertise levels
Politics and Media
The CWA mission states that the conference is committed to free speech, thoughtful discussion of ideas and a willingness to understand opposing points of view. A key group working to fulfill that mission is the politics and media committee, composed of students and community members. Speakers include journalists, professors, politicians, commentators and other national leaders. Recent CWA panel topics that showcase these speakers have included U.S. domestic policies, the Constitution, the impact of media, Supreme Court issues and the current political climate.
Science and Technology
The science and technology subcommittee recruits panelists who bring diverse perspectives to the development, application and implication of current and emerging issues in science, technology, engineering and medicine. Members take a broad view, engaging expertise ranging from artificial intelligence, astrophysics and neuroscience to communication, religion and science fiction. The science and technology subcommittee is as likely to host panels on science and bioethics as it is panels on extraterrestrial life or GMOs. It pursues panelists who can effectively engage in informative and spirited dialogue on a broad range of contemporary and controversial topics.
CWA starts recruiting students and community members for our program committee as the new school year begins. We kick off weekly informational meetings where new members can learn about committees and their roles.
Committees dive into conference planning by identifying and inviting speakers, brainstorming panel topics, and developing themes for the upcoming event.
Speakers are confirmed, and committees focus on finalizing panels and programming details.
We kick off the spring semester with “Planning Saturday,” where all committees come together to present panels and lock in the conference schedule.
It's all about the final touches—sharing itinerary details with speakers, launching marketing campaigns, prepping volunteers and confirming last-minute programming elements
It's Conference on World Affairs month!
We wrap up the year with a recap meeting to review reactions from audiences, speakers and volunteers, and nominate new committee chairs for the upcoming year.