Academic & General Information
Accreditation
Colorado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411. Phone: (800) 621-7440 / (312) 263-0456; Fax: (312) 263-7462 . info@hlcommission.org.
Per HLC requirements, the college participates in a ten-year accreditation cycle. During this cycle, the college must undergo a virtual Assurance Review in year four and an on-site comprehensive evaluation in year ten of each accreditation cycle. Accreditation is reaffirmed concurrent with its comprehensive evaluation in year ten. Reaffirmation is contingent on the institution demonstrating, through these reviews and concurrent completion of a Quality Initiative, that it meets HLC standards and focuses on continuing improvement.
Our most recent ten-year reaffirmation review took place in February of 2018. The final ten-year report is available here.
The college's most recent mid-cycle review took place in summer of 2022. The final report from the mid-cycle review is available here.
All teacher preparation programs at Colorado College, both undergraduate and the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program are accredited jointly by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
CDHE: 1560 Broadway, #1600, Denver, CO 80202. Phone: (303) 862-3001, Fax: (303) 996-1329
CDE: 201 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203. Phone: (303) 866-6600, Fax: (303) 830-0793
To obtain or review documents related to the college's accreditation, contact the Office of the Dean, Armstrong Hall 204. Phone: (719) 389-6682; Fax: (719) 389-6934.
Degree Programs and Program Highlights
Colorado College offers a variety of undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A). Complementing the B.A. program is the First Year Program, which allows students to develop research, writing, analytical, and creative skills that are applied to the discipline or topic. Also available are special studies, interdisciplinary courses, 3-2 program options, and pre-professional advising.
The College also offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), leading to both a master's degree and teacher licensure.
The College's Summer Session offers both on and off-campus undergraduate courses and graduate courses, as well as thematic institutes designed to integrate academic, practical, and professional experience.
Satisfactory Progress
The college has a policy on what constitutes satisfactory academic progress. Please see the Catalog of Courses for additional criteria related to satisfactory progress for all students in general and for students receiving financial aid in particular.
Faculty
Colorado College faculty serve as scholars, teachers and mentors. Faculty counts by primary function, are also reported in College Navigator. Please note that counts listed in College Navigator may lag due to time between institutional reporting and posting on the College Navigator site.
Campus Facilities
CC's website includes an interactive campus map which details academic and administrative buildings, housing, campus greenspace, and athletics facilities. This map also includes accessibility information, parking areas, and where all-gender restrooms are located.
Student Activities
CC's students may participate in a variety of campus activities, including clubs and organizations, evening and block break programming, and leadership and service opportunities.
Facilities and services for students living with disabilities
Colorado College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all students. The mission of Accessibility Resources at CC is to collaborate with the Colorado College community to ensure that all aspects of campus life are accessible, equitable, and inclusive for people who experience disabilities. College Navigator also provides the percentage of students who were formally registered with Accessibility Resources.
Career Services
The Colorado College Career Center offers career development services and programs to students.Children's Center
In partnership with the families, faculty, staff and students of Colorado College, the Colorado College Cheryl Schlessman Bennett Children's Center provides early care and education center that supports excellence in learning that is an integral part of the campus community.
Student Body Characteristics & Diversity
Colorado College makes available enrollment statistics, admission statistics, and information on the status of Federal Pell Grant recipients. Enrollment statistics include information regarding the home origin of first time, full time, degree or certificate seeking undergraduates. Admission statistics include the total number of undergraduate students who applied, were admitted and enrolled (first-time, first-year and transfer), and the middle 50% range test scores of the most current enrolled freshman class.
Privacy of Student Records - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law put in place to protect the privacy of student education records, which gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records before the age of 18. Additionally, schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, and dates of attendance.
The college's Privacy and Release of Student Education Records policy provides more information on release of student records and personally identifiable information, or what the College has designated directory information. The college also provides students with a request form to suppress directory information.
Transfer of Credit Policies
Colorado College accepts transfer credit for previous college work done by students and also awards advanced standing credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB), and courses taken through off-campus programs.
Copyright Infringement, File Sharing, & College Policies and Procedures for Handling Violations
Copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Copyright is legal protection of intellectual property, granted by law, to the owners of copyright. Types of works that are covered by copyright law include (but are not limited to), textual works (such as poetry, novels, articles), music, films, photographs, computer software, digital works, and architecture. This covers all forms of a work, including its digital transmission and subsequent use.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), signed into law in 1998, was an effort by Congress to update U.S. copyright law for the digital age. It addresses a number of issues including the circumvention of access protection systems, fair use in a digital environment, and online service provider liability.
Policies and Sanctions Regarding Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office.
For more information on the college's policies with respect to unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, including disciplinary actions that are taken against students who engage in unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using the college's information technology system, see our Intellectual Property and Copyright Policy as well as our Acceptable Use Policy.
Technological Deterrents
The College uses a system (Procera® Networks, Inc.) that classifies all traffic heading to and from the college. This uses network objects, service and protocol objects, firewall and shaping objects to create firewall rules that allow the college to manage traffic, including blocking any traffic that is classified as peer-to-peer. As part of the college's subscription, it receives real-time, automatic updates of new peer-to-peer networks to be blocked.
Alternatives to illegal downloading and file sharing
There are many alternatives to illegal file sharing and downloading. EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association focused on information technology in higher education, offers a list of legally downloadable online content.
Plagiarism
Though plagiarism is wrongfully taking others' thoughts, writing, productions or expressions of others and representing them as one's own work. Per U.S. law, words and original ideas are considered intellectual property and are protected by copyright law. This is not limited to writing, and includes images, music, and videos. Accredited Schools Online provides more information on plagiarism (such as what it is, its consequences and how to avoid it).
Teacher Preparation Program Report
Each institution must annually provide a Teacher Education Program Report to the state and to the general public which includes goals and assurances, pass rates, program information, and other items. States submit to the Department of Education, and make available to the public, an annual report containing institutional and state-level information.
Observance of Constitution Day
Colorado College observes Constitution Day on September 17 or as close to that date as possible. Students are made aware of the day and of Constitution Day events through the campus digests.
Student Grievance Policy
The Student Grievance Policy is available online.
Foreign Gifts
Colorado College has not received foreign gifts or contracts worth more than $250,000 within the previous calendar year.