Colorado is blessed with some of the most distinct and beautiful lands in America. Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state, with more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain peaks over 10,000 feet high and 54 towering above 14,000 feet. Coloradans are unabashed nature lovers whose weekends are often spent skiing, camping, hiking, biking, or fishing. For Coloradans, preserving the environment and the state's rich mining and ranching heritage are of equally vital importance to the quality of life. The State's largest city, Denver, buzzes with jazz clubs, restaurants, and art galleries housed in carefully restored century-old buildings. The culturally diverse populace avidly supports the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the new Museo de las Americas.
In Colorado one will find a national model for the delivery of state-of-the-art higher education. The Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System guides and supports 14 community/junior colleges in innovative approaches to developing the State's human resource potential and contributing to its economic growth and vitality. The System is breaking new ground in the application of technology for education, and partnerships and innovative initiatives with the state's public 4-year higher education institutes. A student attending one of Colorado's community/junior colleges can complete a common core of general education that will meet the lower-division general education requirements of most baccalaureate degree-granting programs in Colorado's public supported four-year institutions.
Time was, community college was the last place a high school graduate, ambitious working adult or an international student would look to as a path to success. But that's changed…because the nature of work, the highest quality instruction and competition in the global economy are changing. In Colorado, there are more freshmen and sophomores in community colleges than in all of the public four year colleges combined! Surprisingly reasonable tuition, excellent instruction, small class size, convenient locations throughout Colorado, flexible scheduling, free tutoring and personalized career counseling are just some of the reasons students are enrolling in Colorado's community colleges with plans of transferring to a four year institution after 2 years.
The core offerings expose students to the mainstreams of thought and interpretation in humanities, science, communications, mathematics, social science and arts and develop students' understanding of the interrelationships among these fields of study. The core also expands students' interpersonal, intercultural and international understanding, and develops their perceptions of the evolving nature of societies, and the interdependence among all peoples. Developing students' skills in leadership and in group dynamics and increasing knowledge of the value of physical and environmental well-being are also goals of the Colorado core curriculum. No matter where you chose to study in Colorado, the core curriculum will be a part of your education.
Many of the Colorado Community College's offer English as a Second Language Courses, a semi-intensive program, designed to meet the needs of non-native English speakers. The program serves students who wish to improve their English reading, writing, and speaking skills. Special courses are designed to improve the skills necessary for international students to succeed in college-level coursework at a 4-year college or university. Community colleges allow international students to learn American English in a safe, caring environment, share their ethnic background with classmates and gain cross-cultural awareness while studying in Colorado.
Students interested in enrolling in a Colorado Community College as an international student must complete the following steps:
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Submit a completed application for admission
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Supply one official copy of
A high school transcript indicating completion of graduation date
A college transcript from any other college or university attended
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Submit certified documentation of English proficiency as indicated by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an acceptable equivalent examination
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Present proof of current, adequate medical and health insurance
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Supply a statement of the student's or the sponsor's financial resources in United States currency.
After the community college has reviewed all materials, a United States Immigration Form 1-20 AB or IAP-66 will be issued.
Once an international student has successfully completed the Core Curriculum at one of the state's community colleges you'll be ready for a smooth transfer to a Colorado 4-year institution. A community college international student academic advisor works with students to insure an easy transfer. The sky is the limit at Colorado colleges and universities. Programs in architecture and planning, arts and sciences, business and administration, engineering and applied science, music, journalism and mass communication and preprofessional programs such as medicine, law and veterinary sciences, are just a few of the possibilities.
There's an environment for everyone in Colorado! If you like the city lights, or the country air, the mountain peaks, or the prairie, there's an excellent opportunity for you in Colorado. If you're looking for a place where you can combine quality education with an environment that meets your needs, Colorado is the place for you!
Check out Colorado Community Colleges on the web at www.cccoes.edu
Author
Geri Anderson
Front Range Community College
