Local Involvement
Making connections—for the difference
The inventive spirit of the Rocky Mountain West inspires us to accomplish great things for our students, our region and the world. We're proud to be a part of a city as diverse and vibrant as Denver, and we work closely with surrounding communities to solve problems together. Our law clinics support the needs of veterans and protect the environment, and students from our Four Corners Social Work program work with Native communities to advocate for the welfare and education of Native American children. We've also created a contemporary art gallery and an anthropology museum for artists and scholars exploring underexposed themes and perspectives, and our Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute develops plans to conserve and protect Colorado's green spaces.
As we work with the people and organizations of our region, everyone benefits from a shared sense of cultural and intellectual vibrancy. We advance student and faculty research to strengthen and enrich our local and global communities. Our students continue to draw on their skills and knowledge as they face the most pressing challenges of our time. Join us and discover the inspiration that drives us to create change for the greater good.
Community Service
Each year, our students and faculty contribute thousands of hours of community service for causes in our local neighborhood and beyond the Colorado border. It's a key component of our student experience and part of our Four-Dimensional (4D) Experience.
Through programs like the Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship & Learning, the Public Good Fund and hundreds of partnerships, we improve communities and support students' personal and educational growth. Our students are busy improving our region, delivering services for homeless youth and working to better conditions for our neighbors in lower-income neighborhoods. We also strive to include students from outside our campus in the higher education experience, offering leadership events and academic opportunities for local K-12 students.
We’re also thinking—and acting—globally, challenging our students to tackle environmental issues and fight for a healthier planet. We’re working to cut food waste through our Center for Sustainability, and our students have their own organizations devoted to combating climate change and helping instill sustainable practices on campus and beyond.
Two Campuses, One Experience
Announced in October, the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus brings new dimensions and opportunities to the 4D Experience. Learn about our vision for DU students at this new mountain complement to our urban offerings.
+6.4% 6.4 percent increase in international student population
+500k 532,638 hours of community service performed during the 2015–16 academic year alone
$100k $100,000 awarded to faculty each year for public-good research
K-12 Education
We support local schools and educational programs with the goal of making college a reality for young people of all backgrounds. We introduce students to higher education through special visit days, and our social work students work directly with youth in local high schools.
Growth & Change
Pioneers are exploring new ways to support our community and each other. Our students, staff and faculty come together with the community to discuss issues of diversity and inclusiveness at our annual Diversity Summit, which attracted over 1,000 participants last year. We've also cut waste and reduced the carbon footprint of our campus, with a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in the near future.
Arts
Via performances at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, public art at our contemporary galleries, and our presence in Denver's art venues and jazz clubs, our students and faculty make important cultural contributions throughout our community.
Campus Master Plan
We're promoting community growth and working to improve our neighborhood and expand the dining, shopping, affordable housing and entertainment options around campus. Check out the DU District master plan to see how we're collaborating with our neighbors and others.
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