GO WESTERN.
ELEVATION
7,703 FT ESTABLISHED
1901
POPULATION
5,873
WELCOME TO GUNNISON.
GO EXPLORE
WE’RE ALL HERE FOR
That is to say, all of us aspire to lead extraordinary lives. We go Western to make that possible.
THE SAME REASONS. To prepare for bright futures. To forge great friendships. To get outdoors and hit the trails, the slopes, and the rapids. And to serve our communities wherever we go.
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SMALL TOWN. In Gunnison, there’s no hiding at the back of the class. We’re too busy raising our hands. Whether we’re answering tough questions or volunteering to pitch in, that small-town mindset permeates the air we breathe here in Gunnison.
GOOD LIFE. Above 7,000 feet, the air is a bit clearer. The people are a bit more pleasant. And the quality of life is first class.
2,584 STUDENTS
High retention: Our students stick around (and they’re a third of the local population when school’s in session)
300+
DAYS OF SUNSHINE A YEAR
GREAT NEIGHBORS. At Western, they’re everywhere you go — whether it’s the residence halls, Mad Jack’s Café or a Wilderness Pursuits trip on the Gunnison River.
3.5
HOURS FROM DENVER
INTIMATE, NOT ISOLATED. Because even in the middle of the mountains, you’re surrounded by a closeknit community of learners who support each other on the road to success.
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HUGE EXPERIENCE. Some days, you step into a classroom with brilliant professors. On others, you step out into a 1.7-million-acre learning lab. From research in the Rocky Mountains to coursework on and in the Gunnison River, you’ll have opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else.
1.7 MILLION
LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS.
ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS
Join our certified Mountain Rescue Team. Conduct research in the High Altitude Performance Lab. Do a field study in petroleum geology or land and resource management. Around here, you can use our landscape to do some really cool things — and prepare for the future as you go.
We own a mountain (yes, you read that right)
UNRIVALED ADVENTURE. When it comes to the outdoors, it doesn’t get much greater than the Gunnison Valley. We’re minutes from world-class pursuits such as fly fishing, snowboarding, kayaking and more.
30
MILES FROM CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT
43
MILES FROM MONARCH MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
Western was the culmination of who I was trying to be. Cody Washka
BIG VALUE. LOW TUITION. As college costs rise across the country, Western is committed to making a highquality education affordable. That’s why our tuition is far below the national average (see page 15). We believe college should pay off for you, not the other way around.
9
MILES FROM BLUE MESA RESERVOIR, COLORADO’S LARGEST BODY OF WATER
67
ACADEMIC PURSUITS
50+
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
: 17 1
STUDENTFACULTY RATIO
17
STUDENTS IN THE AVERAGE CLASS
ACHIEVE MORE THAN YOU SET OUT TO DO.
GO DISCOVER
What you get out of the Western experience depends on what you put in. So ask bold questions. Find better answers. And set lofty goals for yourself — they’re great reasons to keep climbing.
GO ALL OUT. ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT. FOCUSED MIND. Mountaineers are always up for trying new things, and we learn constantly from everything we do. It’s how we get better and keep moving forward.
TRY A TON OF SUBJECTS. GO DEEP INTO ONE. That’s the core of a liberal arts education. At Western, you gain both a broad base of knowledge and a deep understanding of what you’re most passionate about. That’s how you set yourself up to be a well-rounded, successful person.
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COLLEGE IS A JOURNEY. Meet your distinguished co-travelers. Our small classes spark some pretty big thinking. That’s because you get closer to all-star professors who ignite your curiosity and focus your passions. Our faculty are committed to putting you at the center of attention. (And they’re great ski partners, too.)
96%
OF CLASSES TAUGHT BY FULL-TIME FACULTY
87%
OF OUR FACULTY HOLD THE HIGHEST DEGREES IN THEIR FIELDS
1 1 -on-
ATTENTION WITH FACULTY
Western wisdom. Three professors describe what sets Western apart.
My goal in teaching is to have fun and get my students engaged. I really love this stuff. I can’t teach any other way than really loving this stuff, and I want you to love it, too.
I didn’t want to teach to huge auditoriums. The wonderful thing about Western is that it’s essentially a private college experience at a public university price.
Dr. Maria Struble
Dr. John Mason
Associate Professor of Politics & Government
Assistant Professor of Physics
In Environment & Sustainability, we translate concerns into experiments for a more sustainable future. Our ‘classrooms’ include mountain ecosystems and our nationally ranked green campus. Dr. John Hausdoerffer Professor of Environment & Sustainability and Philosophy
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GO FIGURE. Even for a public university, Western offers an incredible value. For starters, we’re a great school, ranked one of the Best in the West by Forbes. But where our value really shows is our price of admission. At $3,295 below the national average, our tuition rate prepares our graduates for better futures by not overloading them with student loans.
LOWER COSTS
$5,844
$9,139
Western State Colorado University In-State Tuition
National Average Tuition
Source: collegedata.com
FEWER LOANS
MORE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Western students graduate with OF STUDENTS CONSIDERED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
LESS DEBT than the national average.
with merit-based awards ranging from $2,000 to $9,000 annually.
Source: Project on Student Debt
STRONG RANKINGS
2015–2016 COST OF ATTENDANCE COLORADO RESIDENTS
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS
$5,844
$16,848
FEES
$2,757
$2,757
Top 10 Colleges where Merit Aid Is Most Common U.S. News & World Report
DOUBLE ROOM
$4,923
$4,923
Top Military-Friendly School GI Jobs
BOARD (15-meals-a-week plan)
$4,384
$4,384
TOTAL ANNUAL COST
$17,908
$28,912
(IN-STATE)
(OUT-OF-STATE)
Top 100 schools in the West Forbes One of “America’s Smartest Colleges” Business Insider
TUITION
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Choose a general Business Administration major or dive into an area of emphasis:
• Entrepreneurship • Latin American Business • Management • Marketing • Professional Land & Resource Management • Resort Management (Hospitality & Tourism) • Coordinated double major with Environment & Sustainability
BUSINESS
LEARNING TO
SCALE.
23%
OF WESTERN STUDENTS MAJOR IN BUSINESS
$160,000
Business Administration is the most popular major on campus. When you do business the Western way, you don’t just make connections — you build lasting relationships. Mountaineers go on to successful careers in big fields, such as land and resource management, marketing, accounting, and finance. At the School of Business, our job is to keep creating new, exciting paths for our graduates.
IN PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS
22
BUSINESS SCHOOL GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME CORPORATE CEOS
Thalia went to Western to play soccer. Along the way, she learned to stand out in the field of business. The professors are high caliber, and invest their time helping every student integrate into Western and develop as a person and as a young professional.
Thalia Garcia
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Western graduates take a range of different paths in education: • College professors and administrators • Induction and mentor coordinators • K–12 teachers • Literacy coaches • Math specialists • Online teachers • Outdoor educators • Professional development coordinators and trainers • Reading specialists • Special education teachers • Teachers in international schools • Tutors
EDUCATION
WE’RE STEPPING UP TO LEAD
TOMORROW’S CLASSROOMS. With an evolving curriculum, innovative teaching strategies and dedicated faculty focused on student needs, Western stands at the head of the class in preparing leading educators. As an education student, you’ll complete a yearlong clinical residency in a school, working directly with children, teachers, administrators and parents. It’s an immersive experience that prepares you better than most traditional student teaching programs. We also send students to state and national conferences, where you can engage in local policy and reform discussions, apply for awards, and serve on education-related committees. Many alumni go on to graduate school, where they further their study in fields such as special education, school counseling, curriculum and instruction, teacher leadership, and administration.
Kevin went looking for adventure and new knowledge. He returned inspired to teach others.
My professors know exactly where I am in my development, and they challenge me to be a better educator.
Kevin Donaldson
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Study biology via live stream. Here you won’t need to search for ecology videos on YouTube. The real thing is right in our backyard. Dr. Kevin Alexander teaches lessons by taking students right into the Gunnison River.
Tom set out to explore. He came back ready for a career.
Our Petroleum Geology professors have lots of industry experience, which is really important when you’re trying to gain entrance to such a competitive field. Their industry contacts really like Western and the type of students the university produces.
Tom Jeute
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
EXPLORE AREAS OF
BIG IMPACT. Start with Petroleum Geology, one of the hottest career paths in the country. Salaries for entry-level petroleum geologists average $96,000 a year (and the job offers don’t require any digging).
EXERCISE SCIENCE
AT THE PINNACLE OF EXERCISE SCIENCE. Our High Altitude Performance Lab tests human performance at the highest level : 7,717 feet, to be precise. Students can take part in this cutting-edge research as undergraduates. If you enjoy the work, make it your major — Western graduates go on to careers in exercise science labs across the country.
Who says you can’t learn new things by going in circles? Not Dr. John Mason. A few years ago, he and his Physics class built a merry-go-round on campus, and ever since, learning about advanced quantum mechanics has been nothing short of a 360-degree experience.
The summit of sustainability. Princeton Review calls Western one of the most environmentally responsible campuses in the country. That’s probably because sustainability to us is more than a subject — it’s a way of life. Learn more at western.edu/sustainability.
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FIND YOUR STARTING LINE. With more than 70 majors and academic programs, Western lets you pick the best path for you. No matter which you choose, you’ll mature intellectually and grow personally, as you prepare to take on constructive roles out in the world — and at every phase of your life.
Accounting (Financial or Professional Analysis)
Actuarial Science
Anthropology
Art
Art Education K–12
Art History & Theory
Art, Studio (Ceramics, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture)
Biochemistry
Biology
Business Administration
Cell Biology
Chemistry
Clinical Psychology
Communication Arts
Computer Science
Counseling Psychology
Creative Writing
Criminal Justice
Data Analytics (minor)
Economics
Education
English
Entrepreneurship
Environment & Sustainability
Environmental Biology & Ecology
Environmental Science (minor)
Exercise & Sport Science
Exercise Science
Experimental Psychology
Film Studies
Geoarchaeology
Geography & Geospatial Analysis (minor)
Geology
Global Studies
Graphic Design
History
Latin American Business
Latin American Studies (minor)
Management
Marketing
Mathematics
Music
Music Business
Music Education K–12
Music Technology (minor)
Outdoor Environmental Education
Outdoor Leadership
Petroleum Geology
Philosophy (minor)
Physical Education K–12
Physics (minor)
Politics & Government
Pre-Allied Health
Pre-Medicine
Professional Land & Resource Management
Psychology
Recreation & Outdoor Education
Resort Management (Hospitality & Tourism)
School Psychology
Secondary Education
Sociology
Spanish
Spanish Education K–12
Sport & Fitness Management
Sport Psychology (minor)
Strategic Communication
Teacher Licensure
Theatre & Performance Studies
Water Studies
Wildlife Biology
Master of Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Arts in Education
Master in Environmental Management
Master in Gallery Management & Exhibit Specialization
Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science: High Altitude Exercise Physiology
Red boxes indicate graduate programs.
Pre-Law
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TEN WAYS TO GO WESTERN. There’s no way to show the full Western experience in a single glance. We host more than 50 student organizations, play 28 sports, and take on dozens of different recreational activities. Here’s a quick snapshot of what you might do on campus at any given moment.
1
BECOME AN HONORS PROGRAM MEMBER.
2
GEAR UP AND JOIN THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM.
3
DIVE IN AT THE AQUATIC CENTER.
4
HIT THE CLIMBING WALL.
5
WRITE FOR TOP O’ THE WORLD STUDENT NEWSPAPER.
6
BRANCH OUT AT THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER.
7
JOIN THE ART LEAGUE.
8
GET YOUR VOICE ON KWSB RADIO.
10
JUMP ALL OVER THE IN-GROUND TRAMPOLINE AND FOAM PIT.
9
GO LEARN WITH THE GEOLOGY CLUB.
Western is the only place I know where I can have any experience I want — from classical and jazz to performing on the steel pan to academic research opportunities. Kevin McCall
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MOUNT UP. Because we never pass up a little friendly competition. Mountaineers live for action, and we love to compete. We hold 93 titles in 15 different sports in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Whether it’s running down the field or racing down the mountain, students have tons of exciting ways to get involved.
NCAA Division II Sports Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer | W Swimming and Diving | W Track and Field Volleyball | W Wrestling | M
Club Sports Baseball | M Boxing | Co-ed Cheerleading | Co-ed Climbing | Co-ed Dance Team | W Ice Hockey Lacrosse | M Rugby Soccer Swimming | Co-ed
93 15 TITLES -in-
JOIN A CLUB OR INTRAMURAL TEAM. If shoulder pads aren’t your thing, you can go out for flag football. Likewise, you don’t have to lace up skates to play floor hockey. And there’s no swimming necessary with inner-tube water polo.
SPORTS
TAKE ON A NEW CHALLENGE. We’re surrounded by rugged landscape, so Western Mountain Sports are hard to beat. The same can be said of Dave Wiens, the world-famous mountain bike racer who leads and manages our outstanding programs.
22
MOUNTAINEERS HAVE GONE TO THE OLYMPICS IN THE PAST CENTURY
2 ND
WESTERN TOOK SECOND PLACE IN THE 2014 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
ONLY
WE HAVE THE ONLY CERTIFIED COLLEGIATE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM IN THE COUNTRY
Mountain Sports Alpine Ski Racing Cross Country Mountain Bike (XC) Endurance Ski Racing (Skimo) Freeride Ski (Big Mountain) Freeride Snowboard (Big Mountain) Freestyle Ski (Park and Pipe) Freestyle Snowboard (Park and Pipe) Gravity Mountain Bike (Downhill) Media Team Nordic Ski Racing Trail Running
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STEP INTO THE FIELD. Our state-of-the-art Field House draws top athletes and active students from across the country. Stop in for a quick run. Flip into our massive foam pit. Or swing for the fences at the batting cage. This 65,000-squarefoot, LEED-Gold-certified facility provides top-notch athletic, educational and recreational programs, so you can stay fit and be well during your time on campus.
Gear up. Wilderness Pursuits is your allpurpose outfitting station. Before you venture out, stop in and get the equipment you need.
We’re on top of the world. Our study-abroad opportunities include a new partnership with Harlaxton College in the United Kingdom — ranked the No. 1 studyabroad experience for American students by bestcollegereviews.org.
Dine in.
90%
OF WESTERN STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS (OR WITHIN A 10-MINUTE BIKE RIDE)
Even with world-class hiking, fishing and skiing at Western, it’s quite possible that some of your best experiences will take place in the dining hall. That’s because our chefs prepare fresh, delicious meals for all palates, whether you prefer meats or greens.
Live together, learn together. If you want to meet and grow with people who share your interests, you can join a Living Learning Community. You’ll find a solid foundation for future success, both in your academic pursuits and overall experience at Western. Living Learning Communities Art Education Environmental Business Exploratory Health & Wellness Honors Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Men’s Community Outdoor Pursuits Science, Technology & Math Women’s Community
27,341 ALUMNI
GRADUATES LIVE IN
22 COUNTRIES
1,000
ALUMNI CELEBRATE HOMECOMING IN GUNNISON EVERY YEAR
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR EMBARK ON YOUR NEXT BIG STEP.
GO FORWARD
MOUNTAINEERS
Western prepares you to do big things with your life. After all, the real value of college is putting your education into action.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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DO GOOD.
30+
STUDENT-LED SERVICE CLUBS
Maybe it’s through service, when we help build a new house for someone in need. Maybe it’s through leading in our communities. As Mountaineers, we do well for ourselves by doing good for the world around us.
3,000
SERVICE HOURS DONATED BY WESTERN FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES EVERY YEAR
GIVE BACK. Mountaineers are always looking for new ways to give back to our communities. At Western, there are plenty of ways to volunteer your time and energy to further a good cause. Off Campus
On Campus
• Alley Loop Nordic Race at Crested Butte
• Academic Resource Center
• Community Cleanup
• Athletics Highway Cleanup
• Gunnison Arts Center
• Multicultural Center
• Gunnison Center for Adult and Family Education
• Organics Guild
• Gunnison Trails • Gunnison Valley Mentors • Habitat for Humanity • Hartman Rocks Cleanup Day • Latina Girls Club • Latino Boys Club • Mountain Roots
• Admissions Office
• Program Council • Relay for Life • Western Responsible Alcohol Program
Our students are learning how to integrate their knowledge. And that’s a wonderful tool to have when they graduate and start their careers.
Clarissa Benavides Gaubatz
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GETTING TO WORK. Whether it’s working for a health network, a ski resort or a Fortune 500, Western graduates take on exciting professional roles and land dream jobs after college.
WHERE WESTERN GRADS ARE WORKING
DENVER
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GO WESTERN.
PREPARE TO GO ANYWHERE. With a strong work ethic, the drive to do great things and the preparation to make it all possible, Mountaineers find big success in the world.
SPARKING CREATIVE ENERGY. As a Western Business major, Sam Degenhard landed his first internship at Red Bull. When he graduated, the company liked him so much they offered him a full-time job in their marketing department. Now he spends his days promoting one of the world’s most powerful brands.
ON THE ROAD TO A BETTER LIFE. Before Western, Sean Markey made his living by driving commercial trucks. Today, he’s one of the top neurosurgeons in the Denver area. After graduating in 1993, Dr. Markey rose to prominence in the field; today he consults for the Denver Broncos and serves on the Western Foundation Board of Directors.
WESTERN GRADUATES GO GLOBAL.
MOUNTAINEERS LEAD BIG TEAMS AND BOLD ADVENTURES.
DIVING DEEP. Famous as the first to discover and salvage a wrecked pirate ship, Barry Clifford began his adventure at Western. He has since become a world-class undersea explorer, leading enough notable expeditions to carve his own name into the history books.
TRUSTED LEADERSHIP. Many Western graduates go global. Nancy Chisholm took her talents to Tyco Retail Solutions, where she is president of the $1 billion business unit of Tyco International. She also lends her valuable perspective as a member of Western’s Board of Trustees.
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HERE’S THE
BIG PICTURE. Chipeta Hall
A2
Moffatt Hall President’s House The Pinnacles
B2 B2 B3
Gateway Field Mears Hall Robidoux Hall
C1 C2 C2
Ute Hall Mountaineer Field House Tenderfoot Child & Family Center
C2 C3
Borick Business Building Taylor Hall Welcome Center Crawford Hall Leslie J. Savage Library University Center Paul Wright Gymnasium Whipp Maintenance
D2 D2 D2 D3 D3 D3 D3 D4
Quigley Hall Studio Theater Colorado Hall Dolores Hall Escalante Terrace Mountaineer Bowl Crested Butte
E2 E2 E3 E3 E3 E4 E4
Aspinall-Wilson Center Hurst Hall
F1 F2
Kelley Hall Crystal Hall Tomichi Hall
F2 F3 F3
C4
A
B
C
4 3 2 1
All you need now is a way to get here. For a step-by-step guide on getting started:
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GO. WESTERN.EDU