18 September 2018
Tamera Twitty
UCCS expanded its campus space by opening its first downtown location. The university will be joining Colorado College and Pikes Peak Community College with downtown campuses.
Located at 102 Tejon St, the new location will facilitate degree and certificate programs through the College of Education and a mini-Masters of Business Administration through the College of Business. The building will also be the base for the new UCCS speaker series.
The UCCS campus’ expansion on Tejon is the effect of an alliance between UCCS, Nor’wood Development Group, the City of Colorado Springs and the Downtown Partnership.
The programs will work closely with the surrounding Colorado Springs professional community, and aims to create a unique experience for student outreach potential and professional growth.
In the Fall 2018 Semester all classes at the UCCS Downtown will not be available for credit but instead will run like a test of the facilities functions, while also providing an opportunity for students to gain experience and make connections.
During this time the location will offer the Teacher Leader Academy, the mini-Masters of Business Administration program, certificate programs in nonprofit management and cybersecurity and concurrent enrollment programs. UCCSlead and the Chancellor’s leadership class will also be housed in the new space.
Accredited degree for credit classes and certificate programs will be made available by fall 2019.
“This new location will be an excellent opportunity for UCCS to become fully integrated into downtown Colorado Springs and to see what the future holds for an extended downtown presence,”said Chancellor Venkat Reddy in a public release by the university.
The mini-Masters of Business Administration that will be offered at UCCS downtown will be an executive program tailored for business professionals who want to expand their knowledge and sharpen specific skills in the field. The projected outcomes of taking the mini-Masters of Business Administration were listed on the UCCS website as, “…to add value to their resume, immediately contribute newly gained knowledge to a company and achieve more in their career fields.”
The mini-Masters of Business Administration does not contribute to any degree programs, although it will include a certificate signed by the dean of the School of Business at UCCS. If students chose to pursue a full Masters of Business Administration at UCCS, the certificate they earn will wave the GMAT or GRE requirement.
This new branch of the UCCS campus will work as a point of engagement for alumni, prospective students, community professionals, and donors. In conjunction with the idea of community interaction, the UCCS series will showcase faculty speaking events for students and tourists to participate in seminars and lectures.