Colorado State University - Global Campus

Colorado State University - Global Campus Overview

Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) is an online public university within the Colorado State University System, founded in 2007 and based in Aurora, Colorado. It offers online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs tailored to non-traditional, adult professional students and those unable to attend a traditional campus setting.

CSU Global was established with a $12 million loan from the CSU Board of Governors, which it has since fully repaid. Its primary objective is to cater to the educational needs of adult learners in Colorado and beyond through high-quality online programs. Originally named CSU-Colorado, it later adopted its current title.

In May 2008, the CSU System Board of Governors granted CSU Global the authority to oversee academic, personnel, and financial matters in line with the powers granted to CSU and CSU Pueblo. The university officially opened in September 2008 and was legally sanctioned as a third, independent university on March 18, 2009, under the State of Colorado Senate Bill 09-086, solidifying its position as an online university within the Colorado State University System.

CSU Global prides itself on being the first statutorily-defined, non-profit, online state university in the United States. The university offers degree completion programs, where learners can combine college credits from previous institutions, life and work experiences, CLEP and military credits to complete their degrees. There are 15 bachelor's degree programs and 30 bachelor's degree specializations available.

Students at CSU Global can choose between two degree tracks, the burgundy track, and the gold track, which determine class start dates and availability. Most courses are eight weeks long and require the completion of a Portfolio Project. In 2018, CSU Global transitioned from Schoology to Canvas as its primary learning management system.

The Board of Governors, consisting of voting members from diverse fields like agriculture, business, and public service, oversees the entire Colorado State University System, including Colorado State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, and Colorado State University Global. It comprises nine voting members appointed by the Governor of Colorado and confirmed by the Colorado State Senate, along with four elected non-voting members. Additionally, each university has a student and faculty representative serving as non-voting Board members, and a Chancellor is appointed to oversee all university Presidents.