CCCS, CSU Forge New Civil Engineering Pathway

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Associate of Engineering Science pathway streamlines transfer process from community college to CSU

May 16, 2023 (Fort Collins, CO) – Today the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and Colorado State University (CSU) forged a new civil engineering pathway that streamlines the transfer process for community college students to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia and CSU President Amy Parsons signed the agreement at Ditesco, a leading civil engineering firm based in Fort Collins. The transfer pathway ensures all credits earned through an Associate of Engineering Science degree at any of CCCS’s 13 colleges will transfer to CSU’s Civil Engineering bachelor’s degree program, potentially affecting thousands of community college students across Colorado.

“This important partnership lays the groundwork for many more community college students to seamlessly pursue a four-year degree in civil engineering at CSU, preparing them for successful in-demand careers in our state,” said CSU President Parsons. “Partnerships like this further our mission of access to academic excellence for any student with the desire and talent to earn a degree, and we will do all we can to support them on their journey to graduation and success.”

We are excited to launch this new pathway to simplify the transfer process and deliver a skilled civil engineering workforce to the state.
Joe Garcia, Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System

 

CSU faculty collaborated with colleagues at CCCS to develop a seamless two-year curriculum that prepares community college students for advanced courses in civil engineering. Upon transferring, associate degree graduates will be able to complete a bachelor’s degree with CSU in two to three years. CSU and CCCS signed a similar agreement in 2021 for mechanical engineering.

“As the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the state, we’re always looking to expand transfer opportunities for our students and to support their academic and professional goals,” said Chancellor Garcia. “We are excited to launch this new pathway to simplify the transfer process and deliver a skilled civil engineering workforce to the state.”

The agreement comes as the state looks to fill significant shortages for civil engineers. About 1,200 positions go unfilled every year and are expected to grow by 25% over the decade, according to the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report.

“Ditesco is eager to see the impact this agreement will have on Colorado students pursuing civil engineering,” said Jill Burrell, Senior Project Manager at Ditesco. “Our firm has a long-standing relationship with CSU. We were founded by a CSU Ram; our staff is made up of a majority of CSU alumni, and we are routinely fortunate to have a successful internship program that cultivates CSU interns into graduates that join Ditesco. This is a significant milestone and will make a distinguished difference in the civil engineering industry.”

For more information, visit: https://www.engr.colostate.edu/future-students/transfer/.

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About CCCS

The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, delivering more than 1,000 programs to over 115,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 35 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college. Learn more at cccs.edu.

About Colorado State University

Colorado State University is a top land-grant public research university with nearly $460 million in research expenditures, and a five-year average enrollment of more than 33,400 students. One of eight colleges at CSU, the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering trains students to engage the global environmental challenges of the day through research, education, innovation and outreach. The college offers experiential undergraduate and graduate programs in chemical and biological, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, mechanical and biomedical engineering, and features top-ranked graduate-only programs in Atmospheric Science and Systems Engineering. Visit www.engr.colostate.edu to learn more.

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