T h e

Va l u e

o f

D u

e D u c a T i o n

S Ta rT f r o m a h i g h e r P l a c e

Were focused on the impact that the

Du experience has on the lives of our students. We measure our success by what they have learned, by how they think, by the manner in which their minds have expanded, and by the way in which self-examination in the context of our community has served to deepen their values and sharpen their commitments.

Dr. robert coombe, chancellor

2 o 1 1 2 o 1 2

IngredIents for success

World-class facilities. robust learning opportunities. extensive student-faculty relationships. an effusive spirit of optimism. and this is just the beginning. The learning experience at the university of Denver is one where the intellectual energy is palpable and innovative thinking is prized; where a can-do attitude surrounds you and meaningful service is a given; where leadership is cultivated and a global understanding is achieved firsthand. These are the ingredients when you start from a higher place. We hope youll read on to discover how they combine to give you an edge as a Du graduate.
1

Youll become a collaborative and flexible thinker who can apply your knowledge in relevant ways.
learning for the sake of learning is admirable and certainly adds meaning to your life. But being able to apply that knowledge with purpose and relevance is what allows you to take action on the great issues of the day and make a differencenot to mention, succeed in an increasingly complex and demanding global economy. at the university of Denver, you will be immersed in a learning environment that not only expands your intellectual capital, but also prepares you to use it. Thats why even in this tough economy, Dus job placement rate as of graduation day is almost double that of the national average.
2

Top 10 Skills Employers Want You to Gain*

Written and Oral Communication Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning Apply Knowledge in Real-World Settings Complex Problem Solving Ethical Decision Making Teamwork Skills in Diverse Groups Creativity and Innovation Knowledge of Science and Technology Information Literacy Knowledge of Global Issues 89% 81% 79% 75% 75% 71% 70% 70% 68% 67%

*The percentages indicate the proportion of employers nationwide who say colleges should place more emphasis than they currently do on teaching these skills. (Source: American Association of Colleges and Universities.) DU does focus on these skills. So when you gain them, youll have an advantage in the job market.

Versatility Matters
Phillip Harris, a 2010 graduate, credits the versatility of his DU education with launching his NASA career in flight planning and operations for the International Space Station. While doublemajoring in computer science and Russian, he also completed a NASA co-op program. DU allowed me a lot of opportunity because they were willing to work with me, he says. I was able to integrate work I had done at NASA into my courses and expand on it. I didnt have to live two different lives.
3

learning across the curriculum

from day one, the Du learning experience focuses on developing your critical thinking and communication skills through a cross-disciplinary curriculum. it begins with a foundation of interdisciplinary coursework that introduces new methods of inquiry, encourages collaborative discussion, and fosters higher levels of thinking by exploring the connections between seemingly disparate topics of study. regardless of your choice Each year DU allocates more than of major, cross-disciplinary $375,000 in student research grants thinking will permeate your at the undergraduate level. Du learning experience. regardless of the path you take after graduation, youll have the ability to think broadly, analyze issues from a variety perspectives, and apply analytical reasoning to an issue at hand.

researching for results

in todays data-driven, technological world, almost every sector of the economy seeks graduates who are innovative problem-solvers. To expand your information literacy and to build your analytical and quantitative reasoning skills, Du offers extensive research opportunities across the curriculum. first-year students and seniors alike work closely with professors on diverse research projects with meaningful, real-world applications.
4

22% of our graduates go on to enroll in advanced degree programs within one year of graduation. and with access to the facilities, resources, and professional opportunities typically reserved for graduate students at other schools, you will be uniquely positioned to acquire the tangible, practical skills for solving complex problems todayand in the future.

education in action
in todays competitive job market, being able to say youve actually done something matters. To give you that experience, a university of Denver education goes well beyond books and exams. a tremendous array of experiential learning opportunities enrich classroom learning and prepare you for the future by taking you into the field, laboratory, community, and professional world 69% of our students before you graduate. complete an internship Whether its studying during their time at DU. abroad, conducting fieldwork, leading a community organization, or applying research to a business plan, students are challenged to get out of the classroom and into the world. The result? You will graduate from Du with a wide array of exceptional learning experiences, a healthy list of accomplishments, and the confidence to apply your knowledge in real-world settings.

The University of Denver is intentional about what we do and how we do it. What students find here is a rich educational experience, one in which high-intensity interactions with faculty are invigorated with an extraordinary array of programs and research and scholarly opportunities. A DU education empowers students to integrate and apply knowledge from across the disciplines and to imagine new possibilities for themselves, their communities and the world.
Dr. Gregg Kvistad, Provost

Youll become an action-oriented leader, prepared issues of the day and dedicated to making positive
Most Important Qualities to Employers*
1. Verbal Communication Skills 2. Strong Work Ethic 3. Teamwork Skills 4. Analytical Skills 5. Initiative
*Surveyed employers reported looking for these skills in new college graduates who want to join their organizations. (Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers.) DU intentionally develops active, ethical leaders who possess these qualities.

leadership is often the key to success or failure for organizations and corporations, communities and societies. Without question, the call for able, ethical and willing leaders is on the rise. founded as a great private university dedicated to the public good, the university of Denver takes seriously its responsibility and opportunity to help make the world a better place by fostering leadership, a sense of civic duty and an optimistic outlook for making positive changes.

Karambu Ringera, founder of International Peace Initiatives

and willing to confront the contributions to the greater good.

Prepared
By the time Monica Kumar graduated in 2009 with a major in finance/marketing, she had served as student body president, studied abroad multiple times, worked on various service projects, and taken classes ranging from Pottery to Investments. Now a sales coordinator at Disney and ESPN Media Networks, she says, I constantly draw on the negotiation and communication skills I learned and refined at DU. And because I had so many ways to apply textbook principles in the real world, it smoothed my transition into the workforce.
7

Developing leaders
Some people are natural-born leaders. others develop the skill over time. in either case, your leadership is enhanced, improved and sharpened with each and every opportunity to lead. Du gives you ample opportunity to put your leadership skills to the test through numerous co-curricular activities. Students are charged with the leadership of more than 100 clubs and activities, from honor societies and club sports to student government and special interest groups. in this capacity, youll work together with other students, faculty advisors and campus offices to plan, budget, organize and implement some of Dus many campus-wide activities and events. Our undergraduate business program is ranked #2 in the nation for our ethics specialty. Du is completely focused on giving you the chance to be involved, to lead and to be a catalyst for positive change on campus and in the community.

contributing to the Public good

most students new to Du are experienced volunteers who believe that they should do what they can to help others. This outlook finds a welcome home at the university of Denver, where the commitment to applying intellectual resources to enhance the public good is long-standing and wellforged in the wider Denver community. With Dus vast and extended community partnerships, students find many avenues for giving their time and talents to the public goodin teaching and mentoring, with grant writing and bookkeeping, by volunteering time in hospices and museums, and so much more. 78% of DU students contribute a collective 540,000 hours of volunteer service annually. By leaving the bubble of college life and choosing to spend time serving others, you will build relationships in the community, further understand your role as an engaged citizen, and make tangible contributions to the public good.

integrating Service with learning

Du takes your leadership development to another level through the curriculums service learning component. Part academics and part community service, service learning is best described as active learning designed to deepen and expand classroom learning and develop civic engagement through meaningful service opportunities. Service learning puts the universitys mission to work for the greater good into motion by educating, engaging and equipping you to accomplish tangible public work that improves the lives of others. and service learning gives you hands-on experience in leadership, community organization and problem solving. it begins with building relationships in a community, identifying an injustice and selecting an issue to work on together. Working directly with community organizations, government agencies and educational institutions, you will research the issues, identify root causes and consider possible solutions. ultimately, you will develop a plan for a resolution and help lead the charge to begin to create change. Service learning at Du will give you a head start toward a life of self-fulfillment, as well as a framework for making ethical decisions and meaningful contributions to society. DU has earned a national spot on the Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Service learning is a vehicle for learning about how to engage in the work of democracy, collaborate to solve public problems, and build meaningful partnerships, sometimes with others who may be different from oneself. Service learning helps our students build the confidence to be effective agents of change and acquire skills that can make them better professionals, neighbors, community members and citizens.
Dr. Anne DePrince, Director of Service Learning
9

You will develop a global perspective that informs your ideas and shapes your actions.
We live in a global society. Where we go, what we do, and how we interface with business, education, science, technology and popular culture transcend national borders. even local Essential for Career Readiness
A survey of Fortune 1000 executives found that 65% of them consider knowledge of other nations and cultures and international issues to be very important
10

businesses today are apt to have customers, vendors or employees from around the world. This means graduates who are aware of global issues, familiar with different cultures, and can work with highly diverse groups of people are in high demand. This means an international outlook is no longer a luxury, but a necessity and an essential component of your Du education.

or absolutely essential to college graduates employability. (Source: MetLife, Inc.) Your DU education will give you that edge.

Developing an international outlook

The university of Denver recognizes the practical nature of globalizationthe fact that so many aspects of our lives take place with immense international influenceby incorporating a global outlook throughout your educational experience. DU enrolls 1,048 international students from fully one-third of Dus 61 countries. coursework has an international component. numerous majors and interdisciplinary programs have global themes. Ten world languages are taught on campus. The university

Inspired
Julie Markham graduated in 2010 and is now the founding marketing lead at Greenlighted, a new technology start-up that promotes sustainable companies and generates funding grants for social entrepreneurs. As a real estate/finance major and
Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Secretary-General

leadership studies minor, she traveled to India, Cambodia and Bangladesh to study microfinance institutions and saw firsthand how she could
11

of Denver hosts international scholars, executives and world leaders who address topics of international importance. even without ever leaving campus, a Du education will inform your understanding of current events, historical moments and the global challenges we share worldwide.

help create change. As I continue on with my life, I hope that everything I do will help me to serve as a changecatalyst, she says.

Joining the global community

Developing an international outlook is the foundation for preparing to live and work in a global society. Your next step to discovering how education really comes to life in an international context is to study abroad. 70% of our students You can choose from a wide array of study abroad, which ranks us #3 in the nation. study-abroad options in more than 150 locations around the world.

Some programs are more academic in nature, while others include service learning or internships. Whatever program you choose, studying abroad will introduce you to new ways of seeing and knowing, give you the opportunity to further explore academic interests in a fresh context, and enable you to develop a deeper connection with the culture, history and society of another country. Whats more, study abroad resonates with employers today. They recognize that by living, studying and working in another country, you will have developed a true appreciation for the differences and an understanding of the interdependencies that characterize the world today.

12

opening Doors to international opportunity

The university of Denver has a campus-wide commitment to fostering international study, research and outreach, most notably through the cherrington global Scholars program. found only at Du, this initiative ensures that all eligible students are able to study abroad at no additional cost beyond that of a term at Du (including airfare and visa fees). The cherrington global Scholars program removes economic barriers to this opportunity so as many Du students as possible can see how meaningful, lifelong connections can be madeand how you learn as much about yourself as you learn about otherswhen you study abroad.

It is impossible to be truly alive in the world today and not be affected by global issues. In fact, we define globalization as the rapidly growing interdependency of countries, economies and cultures. A degree from DU reflects the Universitys belief that to internationalize the campus and promote study abroad is an important response to globalization. So we focus on preparing students to live and work meaningfully in a complex yet connected world.
Dr. Eric Gould, Vice Provost for Internationalization

The university of Denver is focused on the caliber of people we graduate. That collective focuson developing in our students the ability to use the intellect and skills they possess in whatever paths they chose to followis what ensures that youll graduate from Du with far more than just a diploma in hand. armed with a breadth of intellectual and practical experiences, an expanded worldview and a steadfast spirit of optimism, you will be prepared to tackle challenges, capitalize on opportunities and achieve success in a life of purpose and significance.

AdmIssIon offIce 2197 s. unIversIty Blvd. denver, co 80208-9401 800.525.9495 or 303.871.2036 [email protected]

learning from a higher place gives you an edge as a DU graduate.

Its not enough to graduate with just a great GPA anymore. Todays employers want to see that students have been engaged in and energized by their education. When a student has conducted research with faculty or volunteered at the same community center for three years or completed multiple off-campus internships, employers see a level of seriousness, preparedness and commitment that sets that student apart.
Mary Michael Hawkins, Career Center Director