Prospective Students

Scholarship Opportunities

Community • Cohort • Culturally Responsive Curriculum

cohort 2019-2021
The Seekers
Cohort photo 2018-2020
Kids that care
Students 1994-1996
Students 2002-2004
Echolumiina
Students 2015-2016
Euphorapour class photo
Students 2007-2009
Students 2009-2011
Students 1998-2000
Students 2010-2012
Students 1994-1995
Students 1990-1992
Students 1991-1993
Students 1992-1994
Students 1995-1997
Students 1996-1998
Students 1997-1999
Students 1999-2001
Students 2000-2002
Students 2008-2010
Students 2003-2005
Students 2004-2006
Students 2005-2007
Students 2001-2003
Students 2006-2008
What is The INVST Program?

We believe in the possibility of a just and sustainable world.  We develop community leaders who engage in compassionate action as a lifetime commitment. INVST is an academic program that admits 14 to 18 students each year in order to foster a small, interactive environment. The program combines practical skills training, meaningful community-based action, and theory in a unique, participatory model. 

Change your life, while learning to change the world, in INVST.

The specific skills and experiences that will be part of INVST will last a lifetime. 

First of all, INVST is a cohort-based learning journey. You will be admitted with up to 17 others and you'll travel with them on the Climate Justice Summer, which is important because in this kind of work, we need each other. The INVST family of alumni stretches across the nation, remaining connected long after the program completes.  

Our unique approach to eco-social change that centers relationships also extends to on- and off-campus partnerships that are deep, meaningful and lasting. 
 
Next, INVST features action. We know you will learn best about community leadership by doing it, so you are plunged into responsibilities and action-taking right away. Guided by attentive mentors, you will have opportunities to help solve eco-social problems.
 
Practicing skills is a hallmark of INVST training. We teach and practice facilitation which is leadership; small group decision making, which is the foundation of cooperation; and a variety of communication skills that are essential for change makers working on marginalized issues and with minoritized communities. For example, the activist group ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) emerged in 1987 to pressure drug companies to address the HIV crisis and improve care for people with AIDS. Imagine the challenge of communicating from a marginalized population (the gay community) about a topic no one wanted to discuss (a life-threatening illness). INVSTers learn to use narrative strategically, as they solve public problems and make history.
 

"INVST's cohort-based learning model and emphasis on leadership skills are the foundation of my career. These experiences have reached far into my life -- informing how I understand the world and how to contribute to positive change. I can say confidently that I would never have experienced such richness without INVST. "

-INVST graduate, class of 2014

INVST students are multidisciplinary, passionate, and engaging. Everyone comes from different academic backgrounds and passions, which allows for creative and multifaceted problem-solving and collaboration, as people can bring their own unique insights and life experiences. INVST students also deeply care about the world around them and use their resources and ingenuity to connect with and improve our communities. 

"I would describe INVST staff as deeply empathetic and compassionate towards their students but also challenge everyone to be the best version of themselves. They provide seemingly endless resources and care about cultivating long-term relationships that transcend students' time in INVST and at CU. Staff are always there to listen and support their students, willing to address any concerns or questions in order to make students' time in the program the best it can be."

--Jordan Camp, Former INVST Student 

Being a part of INVST feels like being part of a community that's hard to find at CU Boulder. As an INVST student, you'll feel challenged, supported, and encouraged by your community. Students form close relationships with their peers and remain connected to the community years into the future. Being an INVST student also feels hopeful. 

We offer scholarships to those with financial need. Please apply and then seek financial support if you need it, simply by sharing your most recent FAFSA summary sheet, or alternative documentation. Dreamers encouraged to apply!