Guiding Former Students Toward Completing Their Degree
CU Complete is a service designed to help former degree students learn about their options to complete their degree. We have academic, financial aid, and career advisors on staff to assist students in returning to CU Boulder. We can also provide assistance and referrals for enrollment at a variety of colleges or universities in the state. Since we started this service in 2009, we have worked with over 600 students and graduated over 200.
If you are ready to take the next step toward completing your degree, please complete our readmission form. Completion of this form will reactivate your existing CU Boulder student record and allow our academic advisors to verify what you need to complete your degree.
If you would like to learn more about CU Complete, or if you have questions or concerns about completing your degree, our advisors are happy to speak with you. Please call us at 303-492-5148 or email us at ceadvise@colorado.edu.
You can also use some of our career exploration and job search resources.
Complete with a Distributed Studies Degree
The College of Arts & Sciences, in partnership with the Division of Continuing Education, offers a Distributed Studies major at CU Boulder. This interdisciplinary major allows former CU students—who left the university in good academic standing—to complete their bachelor’s degree through online, evening, and/or daytime courses.
The major is designed to allow students to complete a set of required courses from diverse disciplines within the divisions of Arts and Humanities, Natural Science, or Social Science. For example, a student who has completed several courses in Arts and Humanities (e.g. Philosophy, History, or Theater) and specifically within one department, such as History, would be an excellent candidate for a Bachelor of Arts in Distributed Studies in Arts & Humanities with an emphasis in History.
Talk to a CU Complete advisor if you are interested in this degree completion option.
CU Complete History
When we started this project in March 2009, we were surprised to learn that more than 1,000 students who had enrolled at CU between 2002 and 2006 had not completed their degrees despite being in good academic standing and being at least half-way done with their degree requirements. There is no reason, we thought, that we cannot help these students. The Director of Extended Studies at the Colorado Department of Higher Education said even one student would be a good start.
One year later, we had contacted around 375 students, heard back from about 100, and were able to assist 14 in re-enrolling at CU. Analyzing the information we gathered from our intake forms and surveys, we determined that time and money were the primary barriers standing in the way of degree completion for most students. In addition, many students needed more flexibility – online and evening courses – to fit their educational goals into their already busy lives.
To date we have worked with over 600 students and graduated nearly 200 with more on the way. Inspired by these students and many others, we seek to address the barriers that can stand in between a student and his or her degree. Working strategically with academic departments and individual faculty, we have been able to increase our offering of evening and online courses, making degree completion easier for working adults.
We were thrilled to receive additional funding from Colorado Department of Higher Education, allowing for the creation of a scholarship program for CU Complete students. When this funding, approximately $54,000, was exhausted in the summer of 2013, the Dean of Continuing Education agreed to continue offering scholarships funded by tuition revenues to CU Complete students. As of fall 2013 we have awarded over $100,000 to students working toward their degrees.
We still have scholarship funding available to help address the financial barriers that keep so many students from earning their degrees. CU staff and faculty remain determined and excited to assist students on the path to graduation.
CU Complete Scholarship
Continuing Education is delighted to offer a scholarship opportunity designed to assist adult students who are trying to complete their first undergraduate degree.
Scholarships of up to $500 may be awarded to students enrolled in five or fewer credits in one term and scholarships of up to $1,000 may be awarded to students enrolled in six or more credits in one term. Students are eligible for a scholarship only once and must meet all eligibility requirements. Awards are based on availability of funds.
Eligibility
- Students may be degree-seeking or nondegree seeking students.
- Scholarship may be applied to CU Boulder credit courses only.
- Students must be enrolled in a course or courses in order to receive an award.
- Students are eligible for this scholarship only once.
- Scholarships are dedicated to students completing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Students must have taken at least one calendar year off or be in their final semester for consideration.
CU Complete Scholarship Application Process
When you apply to the CU Complete service, you are automatically considered for a scholarship. Applications are considered as they are received.
Download the CU Complete Scholarship Form, fill it out, and send it to:
- ceadvise@colorado.edu (Preferred)
- CU Complete Scholarship
Continuing Education
1505 University Avenue, 178 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309 - Fax: 303-492-3962
For questions about CU Complete or the scholarship, please call 303-492-5148 or email ceadvise@colorado.edu to speak with an academic advisor.