In-Person CU Boulder Event Builds Community Among Online Graduate Students

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:16:54 +0000

In-Person CU Boulder Event Builds Community Among Online Graduate Students Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/06/2023 - 12:16

BOULDER, CO – More than 80 students, community members, and guests gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder's Discovery Learning Center this evening for an open house. The interdepartmental networking event was specifically tailored for online learners in the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MS-EE), Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM), Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS), and Master of Science in Computer Science (MS-CS) programs.

The occasion opened with a warm welcome from Keith Molenaar, dean of engineering and applied science. Afterward, faculty directors Sriram Sankaranarayanan, Christy Bozic, Brian Zaharatos, and Kevin Gifford provided updates on their respective programs. The remainder of the event was dedicated to students and their guests, allowing them to interact with faculty and staff, network with industry professionals, and share stories with peers.

"This event provided valuable insights into the program's structure and connected me with professors who offered invaluable guidance for my research project," shared one engineering management graduate student.

Randall Fullington, assistant vice provost and executive director of academic and learning innovation, underscored CU Boulder's dedication to building and recognizing the community of off-campus learners. "At CU Boulder, we relish the opportunity to connect with our off-campus students through virtual education and tangible real-world connections. In addition to creating a space for community building, our hub city meetups offer in-person networking opportunities with open houses in Colorado and other locations, as well as on-campus commencement ceremonies." The Office of Academic and Learning Innovation provided additional support for the biannual gathering.

These unique graduate programs offered by CU Boulder, accessible through the Coursera learning platform, present a rare opportunity for learners worldwide to attain fully accredited master’s degrees from a top-tier institution, irrespective of their academic credentials. Featuring a flexible, pay-as-you-go tuition structure and simplified admissions criteria based on performance in three "pathway" courses, these degrees are breaking down barriers and, expanding access to graduate education beyond the confines of traditional university boundaries.

Data science student Gabriel Colbert spoke with staff members, highlighting his attraction to the program because of its open, online, and accessible nature. He emphasized, "It can be accessible anywhere in the world and is taught by awesome faculty.”

The University of Colorado Boulder, a leading public research university, is dedicated to providing accessible and high-quality education to learners worldwide. Learn more about CU Boulder's innovative online master's degrees designed to meet the evolving needs of today's learners in electrical engineering, engineering management, data science, and computer science on the university website.

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