News

Join the Graduate School at the 2026 Grad Bash

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:48:37 +0000

Join the Graduate School at the 2026 Grad Bash Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 04/16/2026 - 11:48

The Graduate School will be at this year’s Grad Bash to help celebrate graduate student accomplishments

If you go

Date: Friday, April 24

Time: 4 – 7 p.m.

Location: Koenig Alumni Center lawn

Get ready for graduation by registering for Grad Bash, a special event just for the Class of 2026.

On Friday, April 24, join the Graduate School and fellow graduates on the Koenig Alumni Center lawn to celebrate the accomplishments of graduate students. This event features live music, free food and drinks, and plenty of prizes. When students register, they receive a special С�� collector glass as you celebrate with other Forever Buffs.

Each Class of 2026 grad also can bring one guest. Please include your guest when you register.

More information is available on the Alumni Association’s website.

The Graduate School will be at this year’s Grad Bash to help celebrate graduate student accomplishments.

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2025 graduate student survey results now available

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:24:31 +0000

2025 graduate student survey results now available Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 04/15/2026 - 08:24

The biennial gradSERU survey examines graduate students’ experiences across the entire spectrum of their graduate career and found С�� Boulder students largely pleased—but identified some areas for improvement

In spring 2025, the Graduate School administered the gradSERU (Student Experiences in the Research University) survey. Results from that survey are now available.

The survey found that graduate students remain satisfied with the quality of their education at С�� Boulder, as well as the opportunities presented to them. Financial concerns related to housing and food security, however, were more pronounced compared to the survey’s last iteration in 2023.

GradSERU 2025: By the numbers

4,060 graduate students invited

1,387 responses received

34% response rate

March 11 – May 2, 2025 survey window

87% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their graduate or professional program and reported that their program created a collegial and supportive environment.

37% of graduate students receiving financial support said their stipend sufficiently covered the cost of living in the Boulder (metropolitan) area.

72% of students indicated that they were interested in industry or for-profit sectors, compared to 68% for higher education institutions.

"Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the gradSERU survey last spring. We (the Graduate School) are working continuously with units around campus, including graduate programs, to improve the services and support provided to our students, and your feedback is critical to making that happen,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “Findings such as these help shape our priorities and initiatives in the Graduate School and the wider university for years to come.”

This biennial survey, which ran March 11 to May 2, 2025, was designed to examine students’ experiences across the entire spectrum of their graduate career, allowing С�� Boulder the opportunity to track changes in graduate programs and compare student experiences over time.

It was sent to all graduate students enrolled in the spring 2025 semester (with the exception of professional programs, MBA, Law or entirely online programs), totaling 4,060 students. Overall, 1,387 students responded, for a response rate of 34%.

The students were asked about many different aspects of their graduate experience at С�� Boulder, including finances, academics and advising, their experience with teaching and research, health and wellbeing and career plans. The data broke the students apart by categories such as citizenship status, race/ethnicity and gender, as well as their degree type and program.

The data showed that most students were satisfied with the quality of their graduate program, their opportunities for research and their access to quality advising, and would choose С�� Boulder again, if given the opportunity. Many students also reported a strong sense of belonging in their graduate program and that their program created a collegial and supportive environment, although there were concerns raised that the climate of the programs may not be as good for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups as it was for other students.

Students also felt that their primary advisor was helpful in providing guidance for both academic and non-academic career options. The survey showed that both remain of interest to students after graduation, with nonacademic careers inching out academic careers by about four percentage points.

Given the university’s special interest in improving global education, the Graduate School was interested in the experience of international students. While this survey was conducted prior to many of the current shifts to the federal and higher education landscapes, it provided insight into the general experience for that group of students. What the survey found is that while international students were overall very satisfied with many facets of their education, they were concerned about managing their immigration status/visa, having adequate financial support, and maintaining good mental health.

Financial support was also a concern for domestic students, where only a little over one-third of graduate students receiving funding said their stipend sufficiently covered the cost of living in the Boulder area. Many also reported feeling insecure about having enough money for food or housing.

"The Graduate School is very aware of the precarious financial situation that some of our students are facing," said Adler. "While there are many efforts already underway, such as the efforts by the university to create housing plans for the Louisville U.S. 36/McCaslin property and С�� Boulder South, as well as the exploration of potential other graduate housing opportunities in the area near Main Campus to the north of Boulder Creek, addressing this concern remains a top priority for the Graduate School and many campus partners.”

Findings such as these help shape our priorities and initiatives for years to come.

One such partner, Student Life, also strives to keep Graduate Family Housing rates low and is evaluating opportunities to expand the number of housing options available.

Since receiving the 2023 gradSERU results, the Graduate School and partners on campus have implemented several changes including continued stipend increases, expanded health insurance benefits for spouses and dependents, targeted fee remissions, and the launch of the Futures Fellowship to support graduate student families.

Additionally, the Graduate School has expanded efforts to strengthen advising and mentoring through the Graduate Inclusive Mentoring Community and increased mentor training opportunities in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning. A new Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant is assisting those efforts by supporting departments to strengthen their mentoring practices and in recruiting and retaining Sloan Scholars.

The gradSERU survey is administered every two years, with the first being in 2021. The next iteration will be in 2027. More information about the survey, including past years' data, is available on the gradSERU web page.

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Prestigious NSF fellowship awarded to 40 graduate students

Cay Leytham-Powell — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:41:48 +0000

Prestigious NSF fellowship awarded to 40 graduate students Cay Leytham-Powell Tue, 04/14/2026 - 13:41

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of science-related disciplines

The National Science Foundation has awarded 40 University of Colorado Boulder students with the prestigious graduate research fellowship, which places the university in the top 15 nationwide in terms of number awarded, the federal agency announced.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes outstanding graduate students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, paving the way for their continued work exploring some of the most complex and pressing issues of our time. The program received more than 14,000 applicants nationwide during this cycle and awarded 2,599 students. With 40 of those recipients, С�� Boulder ranked 14th in the country and eighth among all public institutions.

This year’s recipients of the five-year fellowship represent a wide range of disciplines at С�� Boulder, spanning from human geography to quantum computing. Each will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000, as well as professional development and research opportunities.

We are proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized by this highly competitive fellowship.
— Scott Adler

“It is gratifying to see so many С�� Boulder students earn NSF fellowship support,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. “С�� Boulder’s depth of excellence in graduate education continues to be reflected in these awards. I congratulate each of these students on their achievements to date and on the meaningful contributions they will make through their fellowship-supported work.”

As in previous years, many of the С�� students who were awarded GRFP’s participated in an information session and/or workshop organized by the Graduate School, in partnership with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These included specialized writing workshops, coaching sessions and general informational sessions about the NSF and applying for the GRFP.

“The Graduate School is excited about the continued success of our graduate students in securing funding through the NSF GRFP. With all the uncertainty around federal funding, it’s terrific to see such robust numbers, which will fund promising researchers for years to come. Our success this year is a testament to not only our extraordinary graduate students, but also our collaborative approach with campus partners to prepare those students,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are proud of the outstanding students who have been recognized by this highly competitive fellowship.”

This year’s recipients include:

Seth Ack, chemical and biological engineering
Raymond Anchordoquy, physics and electrical, computer and energy engineering
Kat Barr, ecology and evolutionary biology
Dylan Barton, chemical and biological engineering
Grace Berg, environmental engineering
Hayes Brodsky, materials science and engineering
Duncan Byrne, aerospace engineering sciences
Lina Cahill, anthropology
Nyika Campbell, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
Ethan Coleman, chemical and biological engineering and applied mathematics
Jade Coxon, chemical and biological engineering
Michelle Croen, chemical and biological engineering
Ki Finch, chemistry
Angie Gross, psychology and neuroscience
Andrew Gusty, applied mathematics and computer science
Nina Hooper, materials science and engineering
Leo Illing, physics
Catie Kean, molecular, cellular and developmental biology
Marguerite Lorenzo, civil engineering
Danielle Losos, geography
Derric Loya, astrophysics and planetary sciences
Miles Mackenzie, physics
Jonathan Makhoul, chemical and biological engineering
Blake Maly, mechanical engineering
Arianna McCarty, chemical and biological engineering
Emily Nagamoto, geography
CJ O'Neill, aerospace engineering sciences
Lauren Palermo, geography
Alana Robinson, geological sciences
Kate Rodelli, environmental engineering
Eleanor M Salm, atmospheric and oceanic sciences
Tara Shaw, robotics
Austin Shoemaker, materials science and engineering
Tanner R Smith, computer science
Jacob Stewart, electrical, computer and energy engineering
Nora Su, computer science
Julia White, physics
Camille E Williams, electrical, computer and energy engineering
Zoe Worrall, electrical, computer and energy engineering
Denise Yudovich, astrophysical and planetary sciences

In addition to the fellowship award winners, 21 students were recognized with an honorable mention.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in a wide variety of science-related disciplines.

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The SPIKE Center partners with two units to support graduate student success

Cay Leytham-Powell — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:26:39 +0000

The SPIKE Center partners with two units to support graduate student success Cay Leytham-Powell Mon, 04/13/2026 - 08:26

This spring, the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education at С�� Boulder partnered with two units administratively housed in the Graduate School—the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS) and the Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS)—to support graduate student success.

The new Tribal Sustainability Leaders Fellowship (TSLF), in partnership with CNAIS, will support graduate students at С�� Boulder to become the next generation of tribal sustainability and environment leaders. Meanwhile, the CAAAS/SPIKE Graduate Fellows will support two graduate students within the CAAAS in their study of sustainability and how it impacts the African and African American communities.

"At С�� Boulder we have a vision of sustainability that is not concentrated in a single school or sector but one that instead sees sustainability pervading every sector, every academic unit and, ultimately, every student," said Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock in the CAAAS announcement.

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Twenty-two faculty recognized as exceptional mentors

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:14:30 +0000

Twenty-two faculty recognized as exceptional mentors Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 03/26/2026 - 14:14

The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience

Twenty-two faculty have been recognized with this year’s Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, the Graduate School announced this week.

These faculty were nominated by students, department or program administrators, faculty or staff for their outstanding contributions either to mentoring individual graduate students, improving the overall climate of graduate education within their program, or improving the graduate program itself.

“The support and enhancement of mentoring is a priority initiative of the Graduate School and that work couldn’t be done without faculty support,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “The faculty members recognized by this award have demonstrated their willingness to go above and beyond as a trusted mentor for their students and we’re excited to be able to honor these excellent leaders.”

This year’s recipients include:

Hisham Ali, aerospace engineering
David Boromisza-Habashi, communication
David Brain, astrophysical and planetary sciences
Eleanor Browne, chemistry
Theodora Chaspari, computer science
Alison Cool, anthropology
Carolyn Crow, geological sciences
Andrew Grotzinger, psychology and neuroscience
Emily Jensen, robotics
Sungyun Lim, history
Karl Linden, environmental engineering
Mike McDevitt, journalism
Alexis Palmer, linguistics
Nicholas Reinholtz, marketing
Raul Saucedo, philosophy
Anand Sokhey, political science
Sara Staley, education
Katherine Stange, mathematics
Aneesh Subramanian, atmospheric and oceanic sciences
Cara Welker, mechanical engineering
Aaron Whiteley, biochemistry
Erin Willis, advertising, public relations and design

More information about the award is available on the Graduate School website.

The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience.

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Get involved with Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 6–10

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:06:51 +0000

Get involved with Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 6–10 Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 03/19/2026 - 11:06

Join faculty, staff and students in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week, a national event that recognizes graduate students’ many contributions to the university’s community and academic excellence

Join faculty, staff and students in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW), a national event that recognizes graduate students’ many contributions to the university’s community and academic excellence. GSAW offers a variety of free events, workshops and services to С�� Boulder graduate students, and the Graduate School will be giving away a prize from the bookstore during the Graduate Student Appreciation Breakfast.

Keep an eye on this page for more events, including unit-specific events, as they get finalized.

From the Dean of the Graduate School

This week, the Graduate School at С�� Boulder is celebrating what sets it apart—you! Between April 6–10, the Graduate School will be hosting various events in honor of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, and we want to invite you to join the fun.

April 6

Get Noticed by Employers: How to identify and effectively promote the skills developed in graduate school that employers appreciate

12–1 p.m. Virtual

Learn how to identify the skills you have developed in graduate school that are valuable to employers. Discover potential jobs that align well with these skills and how to effectively articulate them to employers.

Graduate Student Appreciation Lemonade Stand

12–2 p.m. Visual Arts Complex, Breezeway

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is excited to show our appreciation for the amazing Graduate Students here at С�� Boulder by hosting a lemonade stand! Free lemonade and light snacks will be handed out while supplies last as a token of our appreciation. If you are an International Graduate Student, bring your BuffOne Card to the Lemonade Stand to enter a raffle to win two tickets to the Colorado Rapids Game (transportation included) on Saturday, April 11, 2026!

What can I do with a PhD in the humanities: Exploring career options outside academia

2–3 p.m. Virtual

Participate in a guided discovery process and collaborative environment with other graduate students in the humanities who are interested in exploring broader career options. Learn about resources for job searching and how to begin the process of developing effective application materials. Students in any field whose work involves humanistic inquiry are welcome to participate.

Trivia Night *

7 p.m. University Memorial Center (UMC), The Connection

Think you’ve got the brains to beat the best? Grab your friends (or fly solo) and head to The Connection for a free night of trivia, laughs and prizes!

April 7

Grad+ Weekly Write-In for Grad Students

8 a.m. – 12 p.m. CASE E313 & SEEC S225

Time to show up and write! Do you need a dedicated space to help you focus on your academic writing? Sign up to attend our weekly write-in sessions. The goal of these sessions is to devote a few hours to your writing each week to help build your writing habit, to promote accountability with your peers by working independently alongside your fellow graduate students, and by tracking your progress regularly.

Graduate Student Appreciation Breakfast

8:30–10:30 a.m. UMC 235

Kick off your day at our Graduate Student Appreciation Breakfast. Join Dean Adler and the Graduate School staff for coffee and a selection of breakfast treats as we celebrate you during Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Food and beverage available while supplies last. Buff One Cards are required at check-in.

Grad+ Seminar Series: Fundamentals for Academic Success or Advanced Learning Lab

10 – 11:15 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Zoom

The Grad+ Seminar Series, led by Leslie-Ellen Blood, consists of weekly check-ins to support goal setting and planning, and to provide an understanding of how values should drive goals and habit structures. Students will find that these seminars provide a solid foundation which should reduce stress and help them find their place in the graduate community.

There are two options:

Fundamentals for Academic Success, Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Advanced Learning Lab, Tuesdays, 10–11:15 a.m.

Mindfulness Practices for Graduate Students: Understanding the Brain and Stress Response/ Mindful Behavior vs Autopilot Behavior

12–12:45 p.m. Zoom

Learn the neuroscience behind stress, fight-fight-freeze response and how mindfulness techniques help calm and reset. Key practices covered include stress mapping, journaling stress triggers and CALM breathing when activated.

What can I do with a PhD in the social sciences: Exploring career options outside academia

12–1 p.m. Virtual

Participate in a guided discovery process and collaborative environment with other graduate students in the social sciences who are interested in exploring broader career options. Learn about resources for job searching and how to begin the process of developing effective application materials.

Walk-in Massages

3–5 p.m. Wardenburg Health Center

Join Medical Services for a special massage experience to support your wellness and relaxation for your mind and body! To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.

April 8

Free Coffee at Laughing Goat

All Day Norlin Library

Mention you're a graduate student to redeem your free drip coffee of any size at the Laughing Goat in Norlin Library.

Walk-in acupressure/ear seeding

10–12 p.m. Wardenburg Health Center

Join Medical Services to experience the power of acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years and can be an integrative approach to your health and wellbeing today. To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.

Defining Self-Care for Graduate Student Appreciation Week

2–3 p.m. Zoom

During this workshop, participants will:

Dismantle common myths about "self-care"
Learn about a framework for conceptualizing health and well-being practices
Discuss challenges related to practicing self-care in graduate school
Brainstorm realistic, affordable practices that can help student well-being
Use guided questions to set a personally relevant well-being goal

April 9

Free Drip Coffee

8 a.m. – 2 p.m. SEEC Cafe (east campus)

Present a voucher (which will be distributed to your graduate program assistant on April 6) to redeem your free 20 oz drip coffee at SEEC café on east campus.

Therapy Dog Sessions

10–11 a.m. Wardenburg Health Center, Room 321

End of the semester wearing you down? Join the Wardenburg Health Center for a stress-relief snuggle session with therapy dogs!

Walk-in Massages

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wardenburg Health Center

Join Medical Services for a special massage experience to support your wellness and relaxation for your mind and body! To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.

Sound Bath Meditation

1–2:30 p.m. С�� Art Museum

Please join us for a special extended sound bath meditation in honor of Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Designed to relax your body and mind with healing music. The sound vibrations will help guide your consciousness toward a calm and peaceful state of mind.

Fiske Thursdays *

7–8 p.m. Fiske Planetarium

Show your BuffOne card at the Box Office and experience С�� Boulder’s immersive 360-degree theater to watch NASA’s Lucy Mission: Updates and Mainbelt Encounters.

Learn more

April 10

Mindfulness Practices for Graduate Students: Noticing Body Sensations: Release Tension for Reduced Stress

12–12:45 p.m. Zoom

Understand why noticing body sensations matters and how it helps release tension. Key practices covered include body scan, mindful movement and tense-release exercises.

International Coffee Hour

4–5:30 p.m. Center for Community, S350

Stop by for free coffee, tea, snacks and conversation! International Coffee Hour is open to all members of the С�� Community. Students, faculty, staff—everyone is welcome!

Graduate Student Bowling Night

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. University Memorial Center (UMC), The Connections

Join the Graduate School and the Graduate and Professional Student Government for a free night of bowling (including rental shoes), billiards, ping pong and video games. Don’t miss this chance to connect, unwind and have fun.

This event is free for graduate students.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - Program Council Friday Night Film x С�� Car Club *

8 p.m. Benson Earth Sciences, Benson Lawn

Join Program Council and the С�� Car Club to watch Tokyo Drift on the big screen, with free popcorn and concessions—for free!

Throughout the Week

Free Rec Center Access

All Day Recreation Center

In celebration of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, the Rec Center is offering free access to all graduate students. Enjoy a free fitness class, free skate rentals during Rec Skate, and free bouldering (from 12 – 4 p.m.) at the climbing gym

A Buff OneCard is required for entry. 

Unit Specific Events

Please find your unit below to see if it's participating. Please note that these events are just for the graduate students in those units and not open to all graduate students.

Education

Breakfast Burritos Grab & Go

April 6, 9–10 a.m. MBE 300A

Sandwich Bar Lunch

April 7, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. MBE 260

Afternoon Snack Break

April 7, 4–5 p.m. MBE First Floor Lobby

Engineering & Applied Sciences

Free Coffee and Snacks for Engineering Graduate Students

April 8, 9–11 a.m. Engineering Center Main Lobby & Jennie Smothers Caruther Biotech Building (JSCBB) Gallery

Join the Graduate Students' Advisory Board as we celebrate the work and contributions of all graduate students with free coffee and snacks from Espresso Affair!

Geological Sciences

Coffee Social Event

April 6, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Benson Earth Sciences, Room 380

A special, dedicated Coffee Social Event to celebrate GEOL graduate students and their many fantastic and lasting contributions to our department and scientific community.

Free coffee, enhanced breakfast foods and department swag for Geological Sciences students.

* = Not affiliated with Graduate Student Appreciation Week

The Graduate School would like to thank our partners for this event: Career Services, С�� BookStore, MSPTIC - Medical Services, Health Promotions, ISSS, Laughing Goat, С�� Rec Center, GPSG, CALM Center, С�� Collar Scholars and Student Life

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Graduate School announces Entry Point! partnership

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:57:09 +0000

Graduate School announces Entry Point! partnership Cay Leytham-Powell Fri, 02/27/2026 - 11:57

This AAAS program will allow the Graduate School to better target students with disabilities for its longstanding SMART program

The Graduate School’s Office of Graduate Access and Retention (GAR) is one of the 2026 partners for Entry Point!, a nationally recognized, signature program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the organization announced last month.

Beginning in summer 2026, Entry Point! will partner with GAR’s long-standing Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training (SMART) program, a summer research program that helps get students from historically excluded backgrounds access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research.

Through this partnership, GAR will expand recruitment for SMART and increase access and consideration for talented STEM students with disabilities who are exploring doctoral pathways at С�� Boulder.

“This partnership helps us reduce structural barriers, enhance recruitment and cultivate supportive academic communities that recognize disability as a valued dimension of diversity in STEM,” said Christina Alston, director of the Office of Graduate Access and Retention. “We’re very excited for what this will allow us to do.”

"This partnership helps us reduce structural barriers, enhance recruitment and cultivate supportive academic communities that recognize disability as a valued dimension of diversity in STEM."

The AAAS Entry Point! program was created in response to the realization that students with disabilities, even those with strong academic records, were not getting hired as part of the talent pool for STEM employment. Since the program’s inception in 1996, 85% of alumni now work as scientists and engineers who have inspired new ideas, supported innovation and advanced new research.

Entry Point! does that by connecting industry, government and university partners with highly qualified STEM students with disabilities for paid summer placements and research-based internships. This year, they will be partnering with GAR and the SMART program to intentionally recruit qualifying students to take part in the 10-week long summer research program.

Since the SMART program launched in 1989, hundreds of undergraduate students from around the country have participated. During their time at С�� Boulder, the students get placed in prominent laboratories, and provided with the necessary training, skills and experience to pursue graduate study through weekly, provided coursework as part of a one credit hour undergraduate course. Additionally, participating students complete a research project, which they present at the end of the program.

The hope is that the program will create a pathway where students can see themselves pursuing a STEM graduate education. Over the years, it’s estimated that roughly half of participants have gone on to attempt a MS or PhD at С�� Boulder and elsewhere.

GAR will also be working closely with Disability Services and faculty across STEM disciplines to ensure that all the recruited students through this partnership—regardless of background, disclosure status or accommodation needs—are supported, accommodated and welcomed into inclusive STEM research environments where students feel they belong.

This year’s SMART program will run from Monday, June 1, to Friday, July 31, with a campuswide poster session on the final day that’s open to the public.

More information about SMART and upcoming recruitment opportunities will be shared with the campus community as the partnership continues to develop.

This AAAS program will allow the Graduate School to better target students with disabilities for its longstanding SMART program.

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С�� Boulder launches Sloan Scholars program

Cay Leytham-Powell — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:27:32 +0000

С�� Boulder launches Sloan Scholars program Cay Leytham-Powell Mon, 02/09/2026 - 16:27

This program will use a recently awarded grant for systemic change from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation to recruit and retain highly qualified STEM doctoral students

The Graduate School at the University of Colorado Boulder has a long-standing commitment to supporting the university’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs and to recruiting and preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers. A new grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which was announced recently, will advance that work further.

The Sloan Center for Systemic Change implementation grant provides funding for the formation of the Sloan Scholars program, a new initiative for doctoral students in certain STEM departments. Through this program, the Graduate School, in partnership with units around campus, will intentionally recruit, enroll and support highly qualified doctoral students as they navigate their way to graduation and beyond.

"We’re proud to partner with units across campus to support their work as they help students succeed. This grant opens up exciting new opportunities, and I’m eager for what we’ll be able to accomplish together."

Building off work already underway from a previous seed grant to promote systemic change, this program aims to identify and remove entrenched barriers to graduate student success, improve student outcomes, and create educational environments that are more effective and support every graduate student.

“The Graduate School is very excited about the Sloan Scholar program and what this means for our doctoral STEM students,” said E. Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School, vice provost for graduate affairs and the principal investigator on the grant. “Mentorship, inclusion and student well-being have long been among our priorities, and this grant allows us to improve that access and the services that we offer by cultivating a sustainable framework that we can use for years to come.”

One of the goals of the Sloan Center for Systemic Change implementation grant is to identify and remove existing challenges within doctoral programs that can hamper student success. With this funding, С�� Boulder will work with faculty and participating departments to improve pathways and access to support across campus so that graduate students can more confidently navigate the system and earn their degree.

During the initial seed grant from Sloan, six departments—chemical and biological engineering, ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental studies, astrophysical and planetary sciences, integrative physiology and computer science—were provided professional development and planning to strengthen graduate student mentoring in a structured and intentional way, and to identify and remove barriers to student success. They will now play host to the initial Sloan Scholars when they come to campus.

With this new funding from the Sloan Foundation, the Graduate School will also expand that program to more STEM departments.

None of this would have been possible, Adler said, without the support of other units around campus, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Leadership Support and Programming, the Center for Teaching and Learning and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

“We’re proud to partner with units across campus to support their work as they help students succeed,” Adler said, adding, “This grant opens up exciting new opportunities, and I’m eager for what we’ll be able to accomplish together.”

More information about the program, including an announcement about the first cohort of students, will be available soon.

This program will use a recently awarded grant for systemic change from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation to recruit and retain highly qualified STEM doctoral students.

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From the Dean: Join me Feb. 18 for a conversation with the provost

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:13:25 +0000

From the Dean: Join me Feb. 18 for a conversation with the provost Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 02/04/2026 - 16:13

This event will be an opportunity to ask the provost questions and engage in a dialogue about your graduate education

To join

Date: Feb. 18

Time: 3 to 3:55 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Dear graduate students,

I’d like to invite everyone to join me in a conversation with Provost Ann Stevens on Feb. 18, from 3 to 3:55 p.m., via Zoom.

This virtual event is your chance to meet our new provost, ask questions about your graduate education, and engage in a dialogue regarding the activities of the Graduate School and Academic Affairs at С�� Boulder.

Registration for the event is not required and a separate Zoom link will be sent directly over email. I hope you can attend, and I look forward to hearing your ideas, concerns or questions. Thank you for all that you do for С�� Boulder.

Take care,

Scott Adler

Dean of the Graduate School
Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs

This event will be an opportunity to ask the provost questions and engage in a dialogue about your graduate education.

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Announcing the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Winners

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:47:03 +0000

Announcing the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Winners Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 01/29/2026 - 19:47

Eleven students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent С�� Boulder at the regional competition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) news anchors, the detection of hazards in water, and improving the structure of nanocrystals were a few of the topics presented during the ninth annual Three Minute Thesis Competition on Jan. 29, 2026.

This event challenges graduate students to craft a three-minute elevator pitch for their complex—and sometimes difficult to make sense of—research in a way that even an everyday person could understand.

This year, the eleven competitors did just that to a packed Glenn Miller Ballroom and a panel of judges who evaluated the competitors on comprehension, content, engagement and communication.

“Now, more than ever, it’s of vital importance that the public understand the valuable work that our researchers and scholars are doing every day, and how it can impact them in meaningful and lasting ways, and the Three Minute Thesis competition allows for graduate students to do just that,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “Congratulations to all of the graduate students that participated in this year’s competition and to those that won. You all did amazing and make me proud to be your dean.”

The 2026 winners are:

First Place

Loraine Loretta B. Smith Glidewell, teacher learning, research and practice, From Fish guts to Fireflies: Finding the Magic of Rural Education in Pre-Service Teacher Learning

Second Place

Mackenzie Bowden, environmental engineering, Detecting Hidden Hazards in Our Water

People’s Choice

Loraine Loretta B. Smith Glidewell, teacher learning, research and practice, From Fish guts to Fireflies: Finding the Magic of Rural Education in Pre-Service Teacher Learning

Smith Glidewell is only the second person in С�� Boulder's history to win both 1st place and People's Choice. She will receive $2000 in prize money and will represent С�� Boulder at the Western Association of Graduate Schools competition. Bowden will also receive $750 in prize money.

This year's judges include Lori Bergen, dean of the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information; Sammy Ramsey or "Dr. Sammy," an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a science communicator who is an international 3MT winner; Leopold Beuken, an assistant teaching professor in robotics and a former С�� Boulder 3MT finalist; and Aaron Brockett, City of Boulder mayor. Bud Coleman, professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, was the event’s emcee.

More information about the 2027 Three Minute Thesis Competition will be available on the Three Minute Thesis competition web page this fall.

Eleven students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent С�� Boulder at the regional competition.

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