Academics

From Boulder to the world: Buffs ranked No. 2 in Peace Corps volunteers

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:42:56 +0000

From Boulder to the world: Buffs ranked No. 2 in Peace Corps volunteers Megan M Rogers Tue, 04/07/2026 - 12:42

For the second straight year, ̽��Ƶ is ranked No. 2 in the nation for graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers, with 53 alumni serving around the world, according to the recently released Peace Corps 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.

Forever Buffs are currently serving in 32 countries around the world, including Albania/Montenegro, Belize, Cambodia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Eastern Caribbean, Ecuador, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

“̽��Ƶ students continue to step up when it comes to community service and giving their time to promote world peace and friendship around the world in the Peace Corps. I'm excited that we rank No. 2 for large universities once again,” said Pamela Civins, ̽��Ƶ’s campus Peace Corps recruiter. “As the strategic recruiter for the Peace Corps on ̽��Ƶ's campus, I am working to build a pipeline of future volunteers. My goal is to get ̽��Ƶ the No. 1 ranking for recruitment in future years.

̽��Ƶ has a long history of turning out civically engaged graduates, having ranked No. 1 for Peace Corps volunteers twice—in 2011 and 2012—and No. 5 all time, with 2,653 volunteers since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961.

“Student interest exists, and we want to be sure ̽��Ƶ graduates have the opportunity to serve, make a difference in the communities where they live, and grow into leadership roles in whatever profession they choose,” Civins said.

Peace Corps Prep

̽��Ƶ is one of 152 schools across the country that offers Peace Corps Prep, a partnership program dedicated to preparing undergraduates for service abroad.

Housed within the ̽��Ƶ Center for Leadership, the undergraduate certificate program integrates coursework with hands-on experience and professional development. As an official Peace Corps Prep program, earning the certificate is excellent preparation, and a likely advantage, for future Peace Corps volunteer applicants.

Launched in fall 2018, the program is open to all ̽��Ƶ undergraduates, regardless of their major, minor, department, academic year or participation in other programs.

Getting involved at ̽��Ƶ

̽��Ƶ has a part-time Peace Corps strategic campus recruiter during the academic year. Stop by UMC, Room 122, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. during the school year to learn more, or reach out at peacecorps@colorado.edu.

̽��Ƶ the Peace Corps

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, and more than 240,000 Americans have served in 144 countries worldwide. Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members across the globe on projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development.

By the numbers

2026 Top Large Colleges and Universities

University of Wisconsin-Madison (63)
University of Colorado Boulder (53)
University of Florida (44)
The University of Texas at Austin (42)
Virginia Tech (40)

*Total volunteers more than 15,000 undergraduates

Historical, Since 1961

University of California, Berkeley (3,807)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (3,466)
University of Washington (3,175)
University of Michigan (2,851)
University of Colorado Boulder (2,653)

*Total volunteers, all categories

Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2025 data, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

To better reflect the combined contributions of volunteers who serve traditional 27-month assignments and Peace Corps Response volunteers who serve for six to 12 months, the Peace Corps counted alumni volunteers who served at any point during the 2025 fiscal year for the 2026 rankings. Previously, colleges and universities were ranked on a one-day annual headcount of volunteers on the last day of the fiscal year (Sept. 30).

For the second straight year, ̽��Ƶ is ranked No. 2 in the nation for graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers, according to the Peace Corps 2026 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.

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̽��Ƶ graduate programs ranked among nation's best by US News

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:32:48 +0000

̽��Ƶ graduate programs ranked among nation's best by US News Megan M Rogers Tue, 04/07/2026 - 07:32

Two ̽��Ƶ graduate level programs are among the top 10 of their kind in the nation, environmental law (No. 7) and aerospace engineering (No. 8), while numerous others landed in the top 25, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings, released today.

“The graduate programs at ̽��Ƶ continue to rank among the top institutions nationally. That’s thanks in no small part to the exemplary research, mentoring and support that our faculty and staff provide to our students and the departments,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are very appreciative of all that they do to ensure that our graduate students not just succeed but thrive.”

New this year, U.S. News and World Report included MBA specialty rankings including executive programs, accounting, business analytics, finance, marketing, real estate and supply chain management.

Rankings breakdown

̽��Ƶ’s graduate offerings in the following areas rank in the teens nationally: environmental or environmental health engineering (11); Earth sciences (11); audiology (12); psychology (12); physics (13); education policy (16); real estate (16); chemical engineering (18); engineering, overall (18) and clinical psychology (19).

Several other ̽��Ƶ departments and programs are ranked in the top 25 nationally for graduate level offerings in the categories of: speech-language pathology (22); education curriculum and instruction (24); part-time MBA (24); civil engineering (24) and marketing (25).

A full list of ̽��Ƶ graduate rankings is available on the U.S. News website (U.S. News College Compass subscription required for full access).

By the numbers

7 Environmental law
8 Aerospace engineering
11 Environmental or environmental health engineering
11 Earth sciences
12 Audiology
13 Physics
16 Education policy
16 Real estate
18 Engineering (overall)
19 Clinical psychology
22 Speech-language pathology
24 Education curriculum and instruction
24 Part-time MBA
24 Civil engineering
25 Marketing

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Latest rankings: College in top 10, nearly all graduate degrees in top 20 (College of Engineering & Applied Science)

Leeds Shines in Latest U.S. News and World Report MBA Rankings (Leeds School of Business)

̽��Ƶ's environmental law and aerospace engineering graduate programs were among the top ranked in the 2027 U.S. News and World Report rankings.

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Finals prep: Tips to finish strong

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:23:40 +0000

Finals prep: Tips to finish strong Megan M Rogers Fri, 04/03/2026 - 09:23

Finals will be here before you know it! It's never too early to get organized and ensure you’re on track to finish the semester strong.

Finals will be here before you know it! It's never too early to get organized and ensure you're on track to finish the semester strong.

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Interested in integrating community-engaged learning into an undergraduate course?

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:08:31 +0000

Interested in integrating community-engaged learning into an undergraduate course? Megan M Rogers Thu, 03/19/2026 - 09:08

Apply by May 10 for the Experiential Learning Design Accelerator, which supports ̽��Ƶ faculty members with the design of undergraduate courses that integrate community-engaged, experiential learning partnerships.

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Implementing the Common Curriculum: Progress and milestones

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:16:02 +0000

Implementing the Common Curriculum: Progress and milestones Megan M Rogers Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:16

̽��Ƶ is moving from planning to implementation of the Common Curriculum, an innovative, faculty‑driven framework that ensures every undergraduate student achieves a shared set of learning outcomes by graduation, regardless of their degree or major.

Through the learning outcomes of the Common Curriculum, ̽��Ƶ’s faculty make a commitment that all ̽��Ƶ students will graduate with foundational, durable skills and habits of mind that will enhance and support their future learning, well-being, career paths and civic participation.

The Common Curriculum will roll out in fall 2027 and will apply to all new students, including first-year and transfer students.

Why we are adopting a Common Curriculum

̽��Ƶ’s Academic Futures strategic initiative recommended it.
̽��Ƶ’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, requires it.
̽��Ƶ’s faculty developed and approved it.

What the Common Curriculum is (and isn’t)

It is a shared set of learning outcomes embedded within existing degree requirements.
It is a faculty pledge that every ̽��Ƶ undergraduate academic experience includes agreed‑upon skills, habits of mind and overarching learning goals.
It is not a prescribed set of required core courses.

How the Common Curriculum is designed

Theme and overall purpose: Sustainable Futures: Self, Society, World
Framework includes:
- Three habits of mind (discovery, reflection, engagement)
- Three essential skills (communication, information literacy, critical thinking)
- The overall purpose (sustainable futures)
Three learning outcomes apply for each component of the framework:
- Total: 21 learning outcomes (19 included in the initial fall 2027 rollout)

Key implementation decisions

A Boulder Faculty Assembly working group representing all schools and colleges offering undergraduate degrees, including all three divisions of the College of Arts & Sciences, developed foundational principles for implementing Common Curriculum learning outcomes that Provost Ann Stevens has accepted.

College and school requirements will deliver 11 learning outcomes connected to discovery, reflection, engagement, communication and information literacy, primarily through existing general education or core requirements.
Required courses within each major will deliver six learning outcomes, including all critical thinking outcomes and select learning outcomes connected to engagement, information literacy and sustainable futures.
A required school or college course for incoming students will deliver two learning outcomes focused on reflection and information literacy.
Most “overall purpose” learning outcomes related to sustainable futures will be addressed through future curricular development, allowing colleges, schools and departments time to innovate and adapt.

What the Common Curriculum means for students

Students will not enroll in separate Common Curriculum courses.
Learning outcomes are met through the courses already required for their degree and major.
The structure supports:
- Changing majors or colleges
- Transfer students
- A cohesive undergraduate experience from entry through graduation

What’s happening this spring semester

A draft policy for a new standing campus curriculum committee, advisory to the provost and responsible for oversight of the common curriculum among other responsibilities.
Colleges and schools align degree requirements with their designated Common Curriculum learning outcomes, supported by the Division of Academic Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education.
Expanded staffing in the Office of Undergraduate Education to support curriculum, the first‑year experience and residential learning communities.

What’s next

Late spring to fall 2026: Departments identify required courses that deliver their major’s designated Common Curriculum outcomes, supported by Academic Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education.
Fall 2026: Campus curriculum committee policy is adopted and a committee is appointed.
Ongoing work on assessment planning, operational planning and student‑facing clarity.

Send questions to commoncurriculum@colorado.edu, or visit the Common Curriculum webpage for more information.

With a rollout in fall 2027, the Common Curriculum is an innovative, faculty‑driven framework that ensures every undergraduate student achieves a shared set of learning outcomes by graduation, regardless of their degree or major.

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New graduate student fellowship honors planetary science leader

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:54:45 +0000

New graduate student fellowship honors planetary science leader Megan M Rogers Thu, 03/05/2026 - 09:54

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics has established a graduate fellowship honoring LASP planetary scientist Frank Crary to support students studying the impact of the space environment on planets in our solar system.

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Sesquicentennial Scholars program created to commemorate ̽��Ƶ's 150th anniversary

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:08:18 +0000

Sesquicentennial Scholars program created to commemorate ̽��Ƶ's 150th anniversary Megan M Rogers Thu, 03/05/2026 - 09:08

The new program was established to support exceptional student leaders who demonstrate academic excellence, community engagement and a commitment to positive impact during ̽��Ƶ's sesquicentennial year. Applications are due March 23.

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Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program extends impact through 2032

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:13:21 +0000

Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program extends impact through 2032 Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/03/2026 - 13:13

College of Engineering and Applied Science

A renewed commitment from Kiewit Corporation will empower ̽��Ƶ engineering students to lead in the infrastructure and construction industries for years to come.

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AI and teaching at ̽��Ƶ

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:15:56 +0000

AI and teaching at ̽��Ƶ Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/27/2026 - 11:15

Center for Teaching & Learning

Generative AI is raising novel questions about how we work, learn and create, and ̽��Ƶ is meeting this moment with intention, flexibility and a strong commitment to learner‑centered education.

̽��Ƶ’s colleges and departments across campus are addressing generative AI in ways that reflect their disciplines and the university’s shared values. Currently, there are at least 13 university courses with AI in the title, with nearly 600 students enrolled this spring.

For example, the College of Engineering & Applied Science offers a variety of courses on AI, including a fully online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MS-AI) via Coursera. In the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information, faculty are creating space for critical dialogues about the implications of AI for creativity, authorship and identity.

Spring Teaching and Learning Conference

Thursday, March 5 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
CASE, Room E390 Virtual option via Zoom
This annual conference hosted by the Center for Teaching & Learning will feature lightning talks by faculty and students showcasing diverse perspectives on AI, teaching and learning.

Deadline to RSVP for the catered lunch is Friday, Feb. 27.

Best Should Teach Award ceremony

Thursday, March 5 6–9 p.m. CASE, Chancellor's Hall
Following the conference, the Center for Teaching & Learning will host their annual Best Should Teach Award ceremony—an open-invite celebration.

A campuswide AI Literacy Foundations Canvas course, developed by the Office of Information Technology and the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL), introduces faculty, staff and students to what generative AI is, how it works, ethical considerations and CU‑approved AI tools, among other topics. From there, students can explore AI through their coursework, career preparation and co‑curricular opportunities.

Career readiness is a central part of this work. For example, the Office of Academic and Learning Innovation provides CU students with free access to Career Academy, through which they can gain skills working with generative AI tools and earn job-ready credentials equivalent to entry-level experience at companies such as Google, IBM and Microsoft.

These opportunities complement ̽��Ƶ’s continued commitment to fostering uniquely human skills that technology cannot replace, such as critical thinking, ethical judgment, empathy, creativity and intercultural competence.

̽��Ƶ is also taking a clear and values‑driven approach to academic integrity in the context of generative AI. Instructors are strongly encouraged to define course‑specific expectations through AI syllabus statements, developed with a Boulder Faculty Assembly working group and in dialogue with students.

Transparency and dialogue are key to ensuring students understand precisely what uses of AI are and are not permitted in each course, given widely varying policies. In support of creating that dialogue, instructors have access to CTL guidance and tools around teaching, learning and AI, while student academic integrity is supported via restorative justice practices that prioritize learning, trust, respect and responsibility.

Of critical importance, ̽��Ƶ maintains strong faculty governance. Instructors retain full autonomy over whether and how generative AI is used in their courses, with campus support provided to all campus educators regardless of their individual course policies.

For example, CTL facilitates a biweekly Teaching, Learning, and AI Community of Practice and a two-day AI Summer Design Studio to bring educators from across campus together to explore and discuss diverse perspectives on AI in the classroom. CTL and Continuing Education also host AI Literacy Ambassador programs through which instructors develop teaching and learning innovations to address AI in their discipline.

As generative AI evolves, ̽��Ƶ faculty, staff and students are actively shaping its role in teaching and learning. Through shared reflection, open dialogue and collaboration across campus, we are approaching AI thoughtfully and intentionally, grounded in academic freedom, ethical responsibility and a deep belief in human learning.

̽��Ƶ is taking a thoughtful, values‑driven approach to AI in teaching and learning. Read more and plan to attend the Spring Teaching and Learning Conference on March 5, followed by a bonus event: the Best Should Teach Ceremony.

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The role of the Writing Center in an AI-powered world

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:12:09 +0000

The role of the Writing Center in an AI-powered world Megan M Rogers Mon, 02/23/2026 - 07:12

The ̽��Ƶ Writing Center is an important campuswide resource for helping writers think critically, communicate clearly and develop their own voice.

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Academics

From Boulder to the world: Buffs ranked No. 2 in Peace Corps volunteers

Peace Corps Prep

Getting involved at ̽��Ƶ

̽��Ƶ the Peace Corps

Related Articles

̽��Ƶ graduate programs ranked among nation's best by US News

Rankings breakdown

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Finals prep: Tips to finish strong

Off

Interested in integrating community-engaged learning into an undergraduate course?

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Implementing the Common Curriculum: Progress and milestones

Why we are adopting a Common Curriculum

What the Common Curriculum is (and isn’t)

How the Common Curriculum is designed

Key implementation decisions

What the Common Curriculum means for students

What’s happening this spring semester

What’s next

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Academics

From Boulder to the world: Buffs ranked No. 2 in Peace Corps volunteers

Peace Corps Prep

Getting involved at ̽����Ƶ

̽����Ƶ the Peace Corps

Related Articles

̽����Ƶ graduate programs ranked among nation's best by US News

Rankings breakdown

Related Articles

Finals prep: Tips to finish strong

Off

Interested in integrating community-engaged learning into an undergraduate course?

Related Articles

Implementing the Common Curriculum: Progress and milestones

Why we are adopting a Common Curriculum

What the Common Curriculum is (and isn’t)

How the Common Curriculum is designed

Key implementation decisions

What the Common Curriculum means for students

What’s happening this spring semester

What’s next

Related Articles

New graduate student fellowship honors planetary science leader

Related Articles

Sesquicentennial Scholars program created to commemorate ̽����Ƶ's 150th anniversary

Related Articles

Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program extends impact through 2032

Related Articles

AI and teaching at ̽����Ƶ

Related Articles

The role of the Writing Center in an AI-powered world

Related Articles

Getting involved at ̽��Ƶ

̽��Ƶ the Peace Corps

̽��Ƶ graduate programs ranked among nation's best by US News

Sesquicentennial Scholars program created to commemorate ̽��Ƶ's 150th anniversary

AI and teaching at ̽��Ƶ