In the fall of 2017, President Jill Tiefenthaler released an addendum to Colorado College's strategic plan, Building on the Block 2.0. In this plan, Colorado College affirmed its commitment to college access by naming it as a priority for the college.

Out of this goal, the college has committed to launching the Stroud Scholars College Preparatory Program to support college access and forge accessible pathways to Colorado College, in collaboration with schools and community organizations in the Pikes Peak Region.

The three-year, no-cost program is designed for high promise youth who aspire to attend college and have the potential to thrive in an immersive, high-commitment college preparatory program. Specifically, the program aims to support youth from communities historically excluded from higher education who can enrich the financial and sociocultural diversity of college communities, and who face environmental barriers to college acceptance and success. Demonstrating the extent of Colorado College's commitment to college access, youth who successfully complete the program will earn admission to CC with comprehensive financial aid packages.

We launch this program as a signature initiative to extend and deepen Colorado College's commitment to college access. Yet, the development of this program builds on a rich history of college access work by diverse stakeholders at Colorado College. We aim to leverage and connect these existing efforts, and employ a multi-faceted, coordinated approach that works toward access goals with various stakeholder groups at multiple levels of deep and broad impacts. The vision and mission articulated below orient our Stroud Scholars, as well as a broader set of access initiatives at Colorado College.

Vision

To lead liberal arts institutions in building a more just and equitable system of higher education through minimizing the influence of social inequality on college acceptance, affordability, and success.

Mission

To harness our institutional capacity to support college access and forge accessible pathways to Colorado College, in collaboration with schools and community organizations in the Pikes Peak Region.

Our Approach

We take a multi-faceted approach that aims to: (1) lower barriers to admission to Colorado College beyond academic potential; and (2) support youth who would benefit from additional precollege resources to successfully transition to and thrive in college. Toward the first goal, Colorado College has launched the Colorado Pledge and our test-optional policy as strategic initiatives. The college preparatory program supports the second goal by working directly with youth and serving as a resource to their support networks to provide academic preparation, mentorship, and guidance navigating admissions and financial aid processes to CC and beyond. Through this work, we aim to cultivate and broaden collegiate aspirations, provide access to educational opportunity, and prepare youth to thrive in college.

Goals

For Colorado College's college access initiatives