CU launches unique community college admissions program

The University of Colorado today announced “CU Guaranteed,” the only transfer program of its kind in the United States, which guarantees admission for eligible community college students to any Arts and Sciences program on CU’s campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver.

Students must have earned 30 semester hours of transferable coursework at a Colorado community college with a grade-point average of at least 2.7. Most guaranteed admissions programs require the completion of an AA degree, typically 60 hours.

“This agreement will enhance our strong partnerships with Colorado’s community colleges and will allow thousands of transfer students to take advantage of programs at our research universities,” said CU President Bruce Benson. “It will also help us meet state and national goals of increasing the number of individuals with college degrees, which is critical to our economic health and competitiveness.

“CU Guaranteed dovetails with national and state imperatives for educational attainment, including Gov. Ritter’s recently announced Complete College Colorado initiative,” Benson said.

The program is effective beginning spring semester 2011. In 2009, transfer students from Colorado two-year institutions make up 6 percent of new undergraduates at CU’s Boulder campus, 23 percent at Colorado Springs and 21 percent at Denver.

Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community Colleges System, said the program will benefit community college students and the state.

“The Colorado Higher Education Strategic Plan promises access, quality and successful completion for all Colorado citizens,” McCallin said. “CU Guaranteed allows those promises to be translated into reality with the guarantee of a smooth, seamless transfer from Colorado Community Colleges to CU’s three campuses.

“We are excited about this wonderful opportunity for CCCS students who have met the transfer benchmarks and elect to transfer to CU. I thank CU’s leadership for implementing the program.”

Vicki Leal, who coordinates transfer activities at CU, said improving processes related to transitions between community colleges and four-year institutions will increase the likelihood of a student attaining a bachelor’s degree while also reducing completion time and therefore, cost. CU Guaranteed also complements existing state programs such as gtPathways and other statewide articulation agreements, she said.

For more information contact:

Ken McConnellogue
303.815.8481
ken.mcconnellogue@cu.edu